Travelle Goes To Coachella with Marina Dobreva
As a dynamic fashion entrepreneur who styles and manages the looks of New York's most fabulous, Marina Dobreva travels the world for inspiration and attends the most coveted media and music events for both work and fun. She tells us all about how to get ready for Coachella. Follow her adventures and fashion gems on @mimidob!
What is a typical day at Coachella like?
It's really what you make of it. For me, it's a mix of music, socializing, relaxing, dancing and being frustrated with phone service. Normally I spend the morning by the pool and go out to support a new emerging artist after lunch.
After my power music marathon I head to the VIP tent to regroup with friends who fly in for the festival from all over the country. We have a quick bite and share reviews of the fantastic talent from that day.
I never miss the closing act with a favorite DJ. That's when the dancing gets serious! There are many parties around the festival to choose from afterwards, but I try to go to bed at a reasonable hour. A Drinkwel Life of the Party Kit helps with the hangover, but if you stay out until sun comes up, chances are you still won’t feel great the next day while running around in the sun.
Anything you wish you knew to pack for the festival?
I definitely wish I knew to bring warm clothes. A common misconception about Coachella is that it’s hot and sunny all the time. While this may be the case during the day, it really cools down at night. If you don’t have a leather jacket or a sweater to put on, you will likely be miserable. The first time I went I also brought a couple of pairs of high heels, but I didn't end up taking them out of my suitcase the entire weekend. It turns out that even at parties, everyone manages to look stylish in comfortable shoes.
What's the perfect Coachella outfit?
Think fringe, flowy, boho and sexy. A beautiful caftan is all that. If you're wearing a jean short or leather mini, pick a unique blousy top and layer a ton of necklaces to dress it up. Or, if you just have to wear that Missoni swimsuit top, wear a flowy long skirt or even silk baggy pants as the bottom. Since all these items take up little space, pack more than you think you need as you may be inspired to mix things differently. Finally, bring your favorite flat boots that you feel confident in.
What do you need to have in your purse at all times?
Always have a charged Mophie on you – your phone will die faster than usual there. The type with 2 built-in USB cords is best. If you are an avid music fan like me, you won’t save much time for dinner as the shows tend to get progressively better into the evening. I end up living off of Chia bars and easy to carry snacks for hours.
A small bottle of sunscreen is another must. As you will be in the sun all day - it's important to keep reapplying it. Don't forget to protect your lips. The air in the desert is dry and without moisturizing lip balm or gloss they can easily crack. I love the vbeauté Hydrating Lip Gloss as it not only moisturizes my pout, but also looks fabulous.
Using your phone to check the time is a waste of already low battery life so it's a good idea to bring a watch. Another way to save some battery juice is by wearing a Ringly which alerts you every time an important call or message arrives. Knowing you won't miss that text, you can enjoy the show instead of looking at your phone .
How is the food?
Unlike some other festivals, Coachella has some amazing grub. There is a wide a variety of kiosks and food trucks that serve everything from ethnic food to really healthy fare, to the naughty treats that you sometimes can’t avoid. If you can skip an act and aren’t running around like a headless chicken, you will find plenty of options with lines that are bearable.
Any desert-friendly beauty tips?
A great body bronzer is key, as coming from New York my legs are a bit pasty for short shorts. Laura Geller makes an amazing one. It has a touch of shimmer and it applies on beautifully. I use it on my arms, collar bones and face.
For beachy hair with volume, I travel with my Dry Bar Triple Sec 3-in-1. It’s a blend of dry shampoo, texture spray and hairspray. It gives flat or unwashed hair an immediate boost. No matter how much you apply, you will never have "hairspray head" as it never hardens.
Those, in combination with vbeauté Hydrating Lip Gloss always does the trick!
