Girlhood Flourishes at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Festival

Within moments of arriving at Daisy Chain Fields, the festival's spirit was palpable.

Thousands of attendees gathered, creating an electrifying atmosphere despite the sweltering heat exceeding 103 degrees. The festival's inherently positive nature, coupled with its charitable mission, undoubtedly contributed to the uplifting mood. All proceeds, amounting to approximately $10 million and matched by Melissa French Gates to a total of $20 million, were donated to ten non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting women and girls. The lineup, curated by women and headlined by festival founder and pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo, featured artists like Chappell Roan, Doechii, and Bikini Kill, with special appearances from icons such as Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morissette, and Sarah McLachlan, the founder of Lilith Fair, who served as a significant inspiration for the event.

Despite the extreme temperatures, festival-goers embraced vibrant attire. Daisy chains adorned heads as crowns, hair gems shimmered in the sun, and protest-inspired pins decorated bags, collars, and outfits. Tall leather boots were a common sight, as prevalent as sneakers. However, the standout fashion trend of the festival was arguably the babydoll dress, a garment that has become synonymous with Rodrigo's "You Look Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" era.

Amaya, 23, found her babydoll dress for just one euro at a Spanish thrift store. She explained, "I thought it was cute. Then I put it on, and it just felt like the babydoll vibe, like Olivia Rodrigo." She and her friend Julia, also 23, had planned to coordinate their entire outfits but only managed matching blue eyeshadow due to the heat hindering their initial plan for matching tights. Julia elaborated on their fashion choices: "We wanted to give off a babydoll, riot grrrl feel, but still be sweet and feminine. We're exploring our gender identities through fashion and music."

Francine, an 18-year-old from Fresno, California, cited the riot grrrl movement as her primary style influence. Her mother had exposed her to feminist punk bands like Bikini Kill and Jack Off Jill during her childhood, with a Bikini Kill album cover even adorning her nursery wall.

Initially, Grace and Logan, both from Whitefish, Montana, appeared to be in typical boho festival attire, exuding a youthful and radiant energy. However, Logan explained their outfits were a tribute to their Western heritage. "We're kind of embodying what people dress like back home," she said. "I'm wearing my cowboy boots, which I use for line dancing, and just my everyday jeans. My top is a leather vest from Depop, but it got a bit hot, so I ended up taking it off." The pair had recently relocated to California for college.