I love festivals. They’ve always been a favourite summer activity of mine, and I try to go to at least one a year. For the last few years my friends and I have kept it a little more low key, choosing smaller gatherings, like Hyde Park’s Unity Day and Bingley Music Live, over the big boys.

But when we heard our favourite teenage band, Blink 182, were playing Leeds Festival this year, we knew we had to be there. The first time our group went to Leeds Festival was in 2003, where Blink headlined along with Linkin Park, System of a Down, Metallica and Blur. We still talk about that weekend all these years later, so the chance to relive that magic wasn’t to be missed!

I wore vintage Levi’s 501 bought for £1.02 on eBay and hacked into shorts, a Topshop striped tee, Topshop trilby, Primark knee highs and leopard print wellies. I accessorised with cheap, cheerful jewels (no engagement ring, you’ll notice!) that I wouldn’t mind losing. Although I wish my responsible thinking had extended to my favourite vintage silk scarf – I tied it to my bag and promptly lost it in the mosh pit. 

Walking into a festival site is a fantastic bonding experience – you meet people from all walks of life, all full of excitement and happy to chatter away. Some of my favourite characters from our long walk in were a guy in a fur coat and floral headscarf struggling with a Tesco bag laden with tins of value beans (we helped) and a group of 16 year olds who shared their cans of Fosters with us.

Leeds Festival is held on Bramham Park, a mere 15 minute drive from my house. The Main Stage is my favourite place to be – you can sharpen your elbows and push your way right to the barriers to mosh with other hardcore fans (as I did in my teens) or you can sit a little further back and enjoy the music from the comfort of a picnic blanket (as I did yesterday).

I drank apple cider, the boys were on the lager.

Weezer were by far my favourites of the day – they covered Wheatus’s Teenage Dirtbag, did a fantastic rendition of Hash Pipe and even threw in a little Lady Gaga for good measure.

Taken from the mosh pit just before Blink came on. Honestly, we weren’t hugely impressed – their set lacked passion and wasn’t anywhere near loud enough for seasoned punk pop fans like ourselves. But we jumped and sang and waved our arms with 80,000 others, because when you’re in that festival spirit you can’t help but be happy. What a fantastic day!

Banana Republic silk blouse via charity shop, Mango tweed blazer via car boot sale, H&M jeans and leather belt, Zara boots, Topshop ring

It was chucking it down when I snapped these shots, hence my snug boots and indoor location. Far from throwing a strop over the less-than-Augustial weather, I grabbed my boots with glee. I paired them with this silk Banana Republic blouse I picked up at the weekend, and the tweed blazer I found at a car boot sale ages ago.

I’m delighted the weather is finally cool enough to pull these pretty pieces out of storage. Have you been saving anything for the new season?

PS – With all that being said, I really do hope the weather is lovely and summery for Leeds Festival this weekend. Autumn can come back on Monday!

PPS – A Little Bird was featured on Style Clone yesterday – see the post, written by the wonderful Claire, right here.