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it’s funny how, in recent years, dressing to attend music festivals – especially those of the pop variety – has developed into a fashion genre all of its own.

It’s probably because the very idea of combining party dressing, or at least glamorous dressing, with the traditionally practical appeals to our British quirkiness.

How we love the thought of donning a ballgown and then wearing it outdoors, with wellies or hiking boots. We Brits, you see, are as stylish as the rest of the world, but with a strong streak of common sense and durability thrown into the mix, and it all just goes to show that we can look good in all conditions, even if we have to get dressed in a tent and shower in a communal block, or perhaps make do with baby wipes (often by far the cleaner option).

Anyway, the UK festival scene has become a fashion parade ground, with the likes of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller and Daisy Lowe endlessly snapped at Glastonbury and so forth, wearing either shorts and wellies or tiny tunic dresses and wellies or gladiators, and always with a fab weather-proof hat.

It’s a trend that has spread to all age groups and all types of festival, from outdoor classical music concerts to book festivals, flowers shows and even agricultural shows such as the Great Yorkshire Show, which takes place in July, offering the opportunity to show off your flair in mixing on-trend dressing with equestrian and arable looks. Now there’s something to think about.

There is a lot to be said for minimalist dressing for all-day or all-weekend outdoor events, at least in terms of length, as bare legs are far easier to keep clean and dry than jeans. Swimsuits are ideal for particularly mud-logged venues, although shorts are more usual. However, not everyone wants to flash their legs from thigh downwards, mud notwithstanding, and so maxi dresses do offer a slightly less practical option, although they can easily be hitched up if any nasty-looking puddles come into sudden view, and they do keep your legs warm and protected from midges in the evening.

Seventies’ revival fashions are making quirkily stylish festival fashion even easier to achieve this season, so look out for floaty tops and great floppy hats and, of course, oodles of maxi dresses to choose from. Look out for tye-dyed cotton and wild tribal-style prints for that world traveller feel.

Consider bags and footwear with great care. Bags need to be ones you can sling around your shoulder, or perhaps a backpack, large enough to carry all you’ll need with you for the day without weighing you down, while footwear should be reasonable sturdy and most definitely something that you can hose down with ease.