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Can you believe that Coachella once had humble, counterculture beginnings? It was 1999 when this indie music festival was first held in California. Back then, things were much simpler. You went there to have a good time and to listen to your favorite artists, usually donning your breeziest outfit. That was it.
But nearly three decades later, thanks to brand partnerships and influencers, it’s safe to say that Coachella has now become a grand (albeit competitive) fashion affair—as seen these past few weeks through the attendees who creatively DIY’d their looks, and the vocalists who didn’t pass up the opportunity to wear pieces from well-known luxury maisons.
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Sabrina Carpenter in Dior
No one leaned into that evolution quite like Sabrina Carpenter. Headlining with undeniable confidence, the pop sensation cycled through five custom Dior looks across her Weekend 1 set. Her wardrobe featured distinct options, starting with a shimmery red drop-waist mini dress, then shifting to a mock-neck number with champagne sequins and flowing sleeves.
For Weekend 2, Dior refreshed the same silhouettes in new hues with added stage-ready flourishes that kept the momentum electric.
Ethel Cain in Dior
![Female performer in a black dress on a smoky stage, holding a tambourine with greenery in the foreground and a microphone nearby.]','Female singer wearing an off-shoulder black gown and large black flower earrings, holding a tambourine on a moody stage.](https://assets.mega-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SnapInsta.to_670888055_18525115822074641_3084186272436270471_n.webp)
Ethel Cain brought her signature moody aesthetic to the Mojave Tent in custom Dior distressed overalls for Weekend 1, complete with subtle beaded pinstriping. By Weekend 2, she switched to a sweeping black gown with exposed shoulders—perfectly suited to the gothic undertones woven through her atmospheric songs.
Lisa in Iris van Herpen
The surprises kept coming when Lisa joined Anyma for their immersive ÆDEN performance. Making her return to the Coachella stage, she debuted “Bad Angel,” their new collaborative track, in a metallic bodysuit wrapped within a translucent coverup from Iris van Herpen.
María Zardoya in Alexander McQueen
With The Marías, lead vocalist María Zardoya turned her solo “Not for Radio” appearance into something almost mythical. She stepped out in a custom McQueen creation that blended an ivory shearling bolero over a corset and spiral-cut skirt, leaving many to wonder whether she channeled an angel or a swan. Either way, she was dreamy.
Laufey in Rodarte
Fresh off her “Madwoman” reveal, jazzy lover girl Laufey sang her heart out in a Rodarte Swarovski hand-beaded dress with tulle for her first weekend at the event, reminiscent of ballerinas or whimsical fairies.
Karol G in Etro & Luar
Finally, Karol G made history as the first Latina artist to top the bill. For her main-stage performance, she wore custom Etro: a crystallized blue lace top paired with culottes embroidered in metallic paisley sequins, all layered over a silk duchesse corset and cropped jacket trimmed with crystals. An elaborate headpiece by Luar completed the look.
With the elevation of this year’s Coachella style, the bar is raised yet again. What felt like a playful desert fashion playground has now stepped firmly into couture territory. How the next wave of artists will top this display remains to be seen.
Photos: SABRINA CARPENTER (via Instagram), DIOR (via Instagram), IRIS VAN HERPEN (via Instagram), MCQUEEN (via Instagram), RODARTE (via Instagram), and ETRO (via Instagram)
