Tuesday 4 September 2012

What To Wear At A Festival



I'm wearing a 1960s majorette's uniform with Poundland socks, three-year old tights and some jumble sale wellies and was constantly told I was a shining example of how a festival goer should dress but as long as you feel good don't listen to me, wear what the hell you want to.


So what's the End Of the Road Festival all about then?

Trompe D'oeil at the Garden Stage
Set in the beautiful Larmer Tree Pleasure Gardens in North Dorset it's a boutique festival celebrating the arts, music, comedy, crafts and literature.

The folly at the Garden stage
Now in it's 7th year The End Of The Road is possibly the prettiest and most thoughtfully designed festival I've ever been to.


Everything is truly stunning


Patti Smith told us to keep how great it is under wraps because if word gets out about it's fabulousness it'll get ruined.


You can take knitting classes and have your work displayed in the forest.


You can loose yourself in the woods, marvelling at the thought-provoking art work.


This is The Place For Souls representing individual souls in a metamorphic state. Loads of fellow festival goers were freaked out by them, I want to recreate it in my garden.


 Welcome Peacocks, a tribute to the real thing, made by local school kids.


My own tribute to the peacocks.


Yankee Messiah: It's The House Of John Frum. A collaboration replicating a historical cargo cult practice. 


During WWII a cult sprung up in the Islands of Papua New Guinea where the members acquired cargo from Japanese and American soldiers. In wishing to retrieve the materials that they believed were intended for them by their ancestors they created crude replications of the soldiers aircraft, uniform and equipment.


In addition to four music stages there's the piano stage for hosting musical bingo,


or just for a spot of Sunday afternoon chilling and banging out a few notes.


The forest library where you can borrow any book as long as you bring it back to next year's festival.


This area hosts talks by authors and poetry readings. 


Have I mentioned the music?

  
Watching the awesome punk girl band, Savages, on the Tipi stage.


 Jack White's favourite band, Alabama Shakes, rocked the Woods Stage


 As did Blur's Graham Coxon.


So much so that we barely noticed the rain.


Patti Smith was the highlight of the weekend, in fact the highlight of the entire festival season. She was fricking brilliant.

During Patti's set.
After the live music finishes we head off to the forest to the disco, an open air dance floor where you can dance to anything from The Smiths, The Supremes and Fleetwood Mac until the early hours.

Disco dancing in the forest

I bet you laughed at me taking a fake fur coat, mittens and thermal long johns to a summer music festival. I've got them all on here. It's always blinking freezing at night time. 


  As usual the weather was ridiculous. 

My mate, Freya, knows a thing or two about festival fashion

From glorious sunshine, lashing rain to bone chillingly cold we had it all.


Parasols at dawn!


 But we had a fabulous time. 


Stuff designer shoes, high-end cosmetics and fashionable clothes, I'm happy to stick with second-hand tat & cheapo stuff if it means I can get my festival fix all summer long.

Post-festival me, skanky hair, bare feet and all. I couldn't be happier!

I'm off to catch up with all I've missed in Blogland and might be some time.
See you soon!

95 comments:

  1. It looks flippin' wonderful Vix. I've heard it's a good one. You look like you had a fab time and I love your tribute to the peacocks.
    xxxxx

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  2. Beautiful, as always, and this looks like the best festival yet. What a fantastic place! You look like a fabulous Star Trek lady in the first pic - Captain Kirk would adore you! xxx

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  3. That looks a wonderful fest, I love the forest and art installations.

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  4. beautiful as always, glad you had a wicked time! Adrian can't get enough of Savages at the moment! His band played at 1234 festival in Shoreditch last weekend I think they were there too! I love all the art work on display at the festival-brilliant stuff!
    xxxxxxxxxxx
    PS funnily enough I had a hilarious dream where you and I, Jon and Adrian all went to a festival! it was so fun, we had a great time! As I am sure we would in real life!!
    xxxxxxx

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  5. You are so beautiful in that last pic. Truly happy. I agree about saving cash for experiences rather than pricey knicknacks and gear.

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  6. Wow--it looked AWESOME!!! Just my kind of festival!!
    I think the hanging babies in the trees is cool myself.
    you looked fabulous as always--I'm sure many thought you were one of the stars!!!
    {{{{{hugs}}}}}
    Tamera

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  7. The festival sounds awesome and pretty much celebrates everything I love! It is making me want to go!

    I love your festival style so laid back but glam at the same time. What a wonderful time you guys had!


    P x

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  8. Wow just looks fabulous - in some ways similar to Latitude.

    The little girl in the pics looks so like my eldest niece.

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  9. Looks amazing, we are thinking of starting a penny jar for next year. Oscar will be 4 by then and will probably enjoy a family festival like Sunrise.
    V
    xxx

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  10. Looked like you ha a fab time, I love how you can do more things than just listen to music. Patti smith must've been awesome!

    I've emailed you btw!!
    xo

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  11. Looks like you had a fab time Vix. Your photographs are great!
    Dx

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  12. Looks like you all had the best of times. What a beautiful setting for a festival and your outfits were a-may-zing - as always.

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  13. Now that sounds like the festival to end all festivals. What an amazing concept, I would love to go to something like that. What a great mix of all the arts.

    You of course Vix were a becon of fun and fabolousness in your festival finery.

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  14. What a brilliant looking festival. I so miss going to festivals. Love reading your posts about them, brings all the nice fuzzy festy feelings back. Sigh!

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  15. What a great festival...glad you had a good one x

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  16. Wow, what an incredibly beautiful setting for a festival -- Patti was right, shhhh! And of course you look fab, I love your way with mixing colours and patterns, I'm too safe! XXX Suzanne

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  17. I want to go to this- how wonderful it looks through your eyes Vix. And How wonderful you look ! xooxxxooxoxox.

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  18. What beautiful surroundings the festival was held in and you certainly had a great time, you are grinning from ear to ear in every shot (or was that the IPA ?)
    Fabulous festival gear, other festival goers look rather dull in comparison. Really interesting to read about it all.
    xx

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  19. This sounds like so much fun, all of it, but especially the late disco. How I would love to drunkenly dance to The Smiths in the open air! Freya is so sweet. She's lucky to have such a cool auntie like you. Glad to be back, I've missed you xxx

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  20. What a fabulous adventura, my dear Vix, ahhhhhhhhhh
    I was so takes by that tree with the soul angels, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
    Isn´t Krista just about to arrived???
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  21. Saw your post before you left (but didn't comment) and have been waiting to hear of your adventures. Wow, it looks like a truly magical festival. And you look lovely as usual. I love the peacock dress and the long purple one. xoxo

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  22. It sounds utterly idyllic, I'd love to go to that! You look like you had a fab time and I can quite believe you needed that fur coat- music camp is always freezing at night too!

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  23. Your post shows what fun you had. It looks/sounds like a magical place and non-stop groovin'. As usual, your outfits were a stand-out. And I'm not surprised you had to wear everything all at once. I've done that too!

    Cheers,
    Rosemary from www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.blogspot.co.uk

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  24. There may be stars on stage but you and Jon must certainly have been the stars off stage. Your positive energy shines!!! You're right - it's an amazing setting. The piano room is compelling growing out of the forest. How funny are the constructs we build for ourselves... Thanks for the glimpse into this amazing festival.

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  25. what a wonderful place to have a festival. omg, freaking beautiful. how were the shakes? i LOVE them.
    you looked brilliant as always. dancing in the forest at night? goodness sakes...you 2 totally rock. wish i was there!

    xoxo

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  26. I go to a lot of shows with Joey but this is a whole 'nother experience!! It looks like so much fun and you're the perfect ambassador!! It reminds me that a loooong time ago, a bunch of my friends were going to a festival but I decided to stay home rather than fight with my parents. So I missed Woodstock.

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  27. OMG!! i love your blog. These pics are awesome. Nice look :D

    A chic kiss ;)

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  28. I was waiting this post so much!! The festival was great and you and Jon were fabulous!I have to make that creepy babies tree in my garden, I love the peacock overloaded places, the natural library and the music in the forest!The blue lurex dress is even better worn by you!You are the most gorgeous star of the festival!
    Love

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  29. This looks like the perfect festival for you - great music, all sorts of arts and crafts and books and beautiful surroundings. And you and Jon look so happy!
    Love the peacocks, real and otherwise, and the metamorphosing baby souls!
    Great frocks, as usual, Vix. You truly are the Festival Queen! xxxxxx

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  30. Honestly this place looks like heaven! And I bloody love Alabama Shakes. Great album.
    Love the first outfit, actually love the lot.
    (lots of love for this post as you can tell!)
    xx

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  31. OOh I love living vicarioulsy through your blog posts. I had a wonderful time. Thank You. X

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  32. Holy moly you look fabulous! And I'm loving your Freya's take on festival fashion... particularly the tutu :)

    Glad to have you back xx

    ps I’ve nominated you for a blogging award here: http://mancunianvintage.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/seven-things-about-me-award/

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  33. This type of post is exactly why I love reading your blog, always bright and fun, always real and always super duper interesting! And style to marvel at xx

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  34. Vix in wonderland! I loved looking through all the photos, it looks like a crazy time, So many brilliant looks x

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  35. Such pretty photos, so very woodstock!

    Tara
    The Style Rawr!
    xoxo

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  36. Fab festival and gorgeous you. You and your man look so blissful!

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  37. Squee! How frigging fabulous are you,and how brillant that you had a memorable time!Looks like a BLAST from start to finish!!!
    I frigging LOVE that majorette uniform;I have a similar sort of frock form Kitty I may have to jig up in like fashion!
    Hurrah to see you back and feeling satisfied!!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  38. Ahhhhhhh, I LOVE Patti Smith! You are so lucky to see her live. I have not been able to catch her yet although she is coming to Seattle here with Niel Young in November I think. But it's indoors at a huge stadium and just not the same as seeing her at a festival like this one. How FAntaStiC!! If you've never read her book Just Kids I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed one bit.

    Lovely photos of great fun with two beautiful people!

    Coming up, pictures of your travel guests!!

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  39. Wowzers there is so many cool things to see at that festival.
    I really like the knitting area. =D
    I love your sunglasses they remind me of blowing bubble and fishies! *hahah*
    Your fur coat is divine and its better to be cozy than freeze your a$$ off!

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  40. Lucky you! I spent the weekend with a cold. I've been a fan of Patti Smith since Horses, 1975? Just Kids is a wonderful book and so is Woolgathering. What a fun festival! I wanna go!

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  41. I loved this post so much and poured over every photo, as though seeing the pictures would take me there too. Fookin' fantastic. Of course, I had to show my hubs Nick the Patti Smith picture as she is his all time favourite. Each of your looks are so cheerful and edgy, both of you.

    xo Loulou

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  42. That is absolutely amazing! I would LOVE to see that place! I love artsy, eclectic, brilliant things like that! There should be more of that kind of creativity brought together for everyone to see! I notice you were stylin', as usual, throughout the entire festival! Way to go, girl! Love that last picture of you. Oh, and also the one with the peacock tribute!!

    xoxo
    Lynn

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  43. And I respect you because you don't hate rain!

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  44. This festival looks like a blast with the ethereal plaster baby tree, the forest library, and all the great music including Patti! So you look in the dictionary under "festival goer" and there's your pic, huh? Looks like it was a fitting wrap to a summer of festival going.

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  45. It looks and sounds like you had an amazing time Vix. I can understand why Patsy doesn't want everyone to hear about its fabulousness!

    Great outfits as usual, to think you wore all of that in one weekend. I bet your shattered (but very happy) after such a busy weekend.

    X x

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  46. It all looks amazing Vix, love the library where you bring the books back next year. And the night time disco sounds fab. I didn't laugh at you taking wellies, fur coats etc. I've spent too many UK holidays freezing and wet not to have learnt that lesson! Love the last pic of you especially, you look so free and happy. xx

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  47. Fabulous photos Vix, looks like you all had an amazing time, and what a great festival. I would like that one and go to it if only I didn't hate crowds. Stunning outfits and so glad the sun came out for you

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  48. I think you look stunning in the last photo!!! You suit skanky hair and bare feet. You photos are fabulous, I think I would like that festival.

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  49. Oh Wow i have never heard of this festival but it looks amazing and so magical and peaceful. I love all the displays and the separate areas they created in the woods i think i could have lost myself quite happily in there. Those dolls hanging i think would have freaked me out a little bit. Love the knitting hanging. You looked gorgeous and so relaxed love the staged vintage room to. dee xxx

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  50. You look great - looks fun!
    Love the "Poet box" in your first pic!!

    Sal x

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  51. You look so gorgeous at your post-festival photo. :) It looks a wonderfull weekend. Love your outfits, and Freya looks so sweet. :)
    The place of the festival looks like a little fairytail. Overhere festivals are on farmland. This looks so amazing in those woods. wish I could be there.
    xxx hope you have a lovely day.

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  52. That looks like such fun. Those baby things would freak me out too though. It always gets cold at night when you're camping anyway, so always wise to have thermals lol. You've done well to have tights for 3 years. I've recently bought myself some better quality tights from TK Maxx because I really get through them, maybe it's because I'm tall but I just can't make cheaper tights last. Where do you buy yours? Xx

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  53. You look fab Vix!
    The 'venue' so to speak is beautiful! Oh how I love that folly and the ponds and the peahen and her chicks!
    xxx

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  54. OOOOh I am so ENVIOUS!!! Promise you'll take me there when I come over? It looks absolutely amazing - I love the piano room (wallpaper!) and the library, the beautiful rambling gardens, the weird hanging baby garden is awesome, your frocks are FABULARSE and Jon is a total spunkrat, as always! I absolutely love this so much - I would be in my element - thank you so much for this splendid post, amor! Love you more than peacocks! Sarah xxx

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  55. This is AWESOME, I love this so much! I am super jealous of you seeing Patti Smith and going to this super cool festival!

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  56. Speaking of things missed in Blogland - Vix, I have totally missed you! I have determined to make time for blog commenting again (life has just run away with me for months now and I've been reading but not commenting) so I'm straight back to all my very favourites.

    I'm off to Bestival at the weekend - first festival ever. Eep! I'm taking your advice on board about festival fashion. I can't compete with the skinny minnies in denim hotpants so I shall wear things I like and feel comfy in. No point pretending to be something I'm not!

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  57. Patti is right, you've got to keep it under wraps and keep it a secret... It's like a psychedelic heaven - and you the goddess in the midst of it! xoxo

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  58. Beeeutiful!
    You are such an adorably crazy lady Vix...I would get totally freaked out by those hanging incarnations on a tree!
    And you do know how to rock a festival too!
    By the way I love Jon's fur topi! Everything in this post is so cool*loss for words*

    You must go to Shimla someday:) and further into the Himalayas too, though you are very much of a beach girl!

    Kiss,
    Shubhi's Revels!

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  59. Love you as a funked up majorette - I bet Desiree is jealous of that one! You are truly the festival Queen. (ps. I also love the place of souls - very cool)

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  60. Amazing!! You have made me want to go to a festival now and that is SOME achievement! What a beautiful setting and you had such a fun time by the looks of it. Looking fantastic too - love those sunnies and your awesome maxi dresses. Totally rocking them...lovely post, really enjoyed it, Avril xx

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  61. Amazing!! You have made me want to go to a festival now and that is SOME achievement! What a beautiful setting and you had such a fun time by the looks of it. Looking fantastic too - love those sunnies and your awesome maxi dresses. Totally rocking them...lovely post, really enjoyed it, Avril xx

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  62. This looks beautiful! My kind of festival - I love the tree library and the tree of souls. Peacock chicks! How wonderful!

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  63. What fun. Thank you for the tour of your wonderful festival. I'm so jealous you got to see/hear Patti Smith live.

    Those gardens souls would definitely freak me out!

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  64. I wish we had a festival like this one!! I love the art in the forest, and being able to dance in an outdoor disco after seeing Patti Smith perform would be soooo fabulous. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through your festival adventures. You both look like you're enjoying yourselves.

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  65. That festival really looks amazing!! You got some great pictures! you did not mention food do you bring your own is there good food there?? Um Forest Disco that sounds like way to much fun!! ~You look fabulous love the Fur my daughter is like got this thing with fur when ever we go to the thrift store now she tries on like every fur coat hehehe I think she will want one this winter for sure :) Thanks for sharing Love Heather

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  66. That Freya looks like she knows how to celebrate! You look festival-marvellous! I love the peacock art. I miss festivals! xx

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  67. oh wow.... great photos! looks like youre having a fantastic time....
    http://sepatuholig.blogspot.com/

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  68. That looks like the most aesthetically pleasing festival ever. I love your majorette uniform. You are a shining example of how everyone should dress all the time. I'm glad Patti Smith is still rockin'. She is amazing.

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  69. What a cool festival, looks like great fun and I love your outfits!

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  70. What a wonderful festival. Beats what passes for one here - usually just beer and band on the back of a flatbed truck. That garden of souls was a bit much for me, but everything else was totally inspiring.

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  71. great pics!!!

    xoxo
    becks
    http://fabulous-junk.blogspot.com

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  72. Ahhh this festival looks and sounds amazing, I must remember it for next year, i'd love to go!!
    xxxx

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  73. Yay to festivals! I definitely want to go next year, it looks great.

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  74. Just amazing Vix, you sure do know how have a good festival time. I love all of the quirks to this festival, it sounds like such a lovely place to be. Totally chilled and inspiring, plus you look fabulous! xxx

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  75. Wow, this looks like magical land! I wanna go! :(

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  76. Oh, this looks absolutely amazing! It's true though that all the best festivals get ruined when everyone knows about them. You have the best festival attire I have ever seen, but my fave pic of you is the post-festival one! You can tell you had a fabulous time.

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  77. Did you see aband called cashier number 9? xx

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  78. You look fab as usual such great photos it looks so fabulous.

    The tree of souls is a tad spooky, at a quick glance I thought it was dead seagulls hung up lol!

    I have never been to a festival and somehow I feel I am missing out x

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  79. This festival sounds absolutely heavenly, as are you in your multiple festive outfits. You are a true example of living life to the fullest without hesitation! I am constantly inspired by your style and your life.

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  80. first of all i love you in all your lurex glory you look so gorgous vix!!! and i would love to be at that festival too!
    kiss,mary

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  81. Wow it looks fantastic! I love the quirkiness of it all.

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  82. awesome ... want to go there too one day!!!!

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  83. This looks absolutely awesome. Tried to get Patti Smith tix for Glasgow but sold oot - boo. Read her autobiog about time with Robert Mapplethorpe on flight back from San Fran and really enjoyed it. xx

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  84. Hi my dear!! Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment and thinking of me as usual-although I've not blogged, I have still been reading up my fave blogs and its great to see you at your festival best!! This festival looks absolutely awesome and you and Jon really know how to rock a summer season with all the festivals you go to-looking fab-u-lous as always and clever enough to be keeping warm at night too! Have a great week ahead xxx

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  85. you are so much fun.what a cool place.I would enjoy that.love the place for lost souls looks neat.xx

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  86. utterly brilliant.... am doing double Patti this week....can't wait!!x

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  87. That festival looks amazing!! And so do you of course!

    L xx

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  88. I heard Grizzly Bear were at that festival - did you see them? I am going to see them in Wellington (NZ) in November!

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  89. What a gorgeous atmosphere Vix! I love it all. Even the babies hanging from the trees haha. Thats a good way to avoid trespassers. Might have to replicate that in my front yard. You look fab and fur is def the best way to stay warm. I'm not into the whole freezing my a$$ off at night thing.

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  90. That festival looks amazing and you obviously had a fantastic time! I love all your outfits but the Majorettes uniform is a stunner.

    Nikki x

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  91. HOLY SHITBOX a majorette uniform?!!!!!!! **grips laptop** What a bloody gorgeous number it is and I reckon half the festival-goers would have wanted to do a number on you seeing you in that, but there ya go, my mind dwells in the gutter;)). That has to be the most beautiful, inventive and inspiring music festival I have ever heard of. The pics are amazing and I'd have a huge grin on my face afterwards too:) xoxoxo

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix