Despite every negative thing you may have heard about the “influencer infested” music festival, Coachella undoubtedly serves as the pinnacle of modern fashion and music. The annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held in the desert of Indio, California, and showcases both established and upcoming artists and bands. 

One of the most defining parts of Coachella is its boundary-pushing outfits showcased by celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Emma Chamberlain. In previous years, bohemian styles were so common it was difficult to distinguish a single person from the crowd. Nevertheless, 2022 brought completely new fashion trends including plenty of rhinestones and glitter. Both Harry Styles and Phoebe Bridgers rocked sequined Gucci outfits while separately performing their hit singles “As It Was” and “Motion Sickness.” 

Along with shimmer, neon pink and green outfits also packed the crowds surrounding the Coachella stage. Following this trend, Conan Gray sported a hot pink Valentino look that snatched the attention of all 250,000 audience members. 

Regardless of the emerging 2022 festival trends, Coachella did not abandon its boho-chic roots. “Euphoria” actress Sydney Sweeney decided to wear a classic summer dress accompanied by star-studded cowboy boots, referencing her viral “country music star” quote.

Aside from the heavy fashion scene, the main attraction is the large variety of artists and bands. International artists like Måneskin from Italy and Black Coffee from South Africa performed alongside artists more familiar with Californians. This year’s headliners were Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia, which stirred up controversy all over the internet involving Ye.

Previously planned headliner Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, backed out of the event because of undisclosed reasons. Even without a formal announcement, it is extremely clear that Ye needed a step back from the limelight when hearing his recent statements about former ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s boyfriend, Pete Davidson. He was replaced by Swedish House Mafia, reuniting for the first time since their split in 2012, and The Weeknd. 

Many milestones were passed during this year’s production, including the first Indonesian performance at Coachella, by Niki. Harry Styles gave a sneak peek of his upcoming album, “Harry’s House,” by singing two exclusive songs that are not yet named. 

A music festival can never escape a good scandal, and the Revolve Festival accompanying Coachella this year checked that box. There were no instances of error on the artists’ part, however audience members complained of poor service and lack of basic necessities such as water.

Maintaining many of the Coachella staples, scandal and sneak-peeks, this year’s event has been a success and will hopefully be exceeded by next year’s performances.