Rave & Festival Bottoms

A festival bottom is whatever you wear on the bottom half to a rave, a festival or a day event. That covers a lot of ground: shorts, mini skirts, chaps, bikini bottoms, garter bottoms and full-length pants. There is no rule about length, and plenty of people dance all weekend in bell-bottoms.

What the good ones have in common is that they survive the day. You are moving for hours, often standing in heat with no airflow, and at some point you will end up sitting on grass or a curb. High-waist styles are popular for that reason more than for how they look: they sit at your narrowest point and stay there, so you are not pulling anything back up between sets.

Two things are worth knowing. Chaps are the piece most people have not considered: they go over shorts or a thong, add a full leg to the silhouette, and add almost no heat. And cheeky describes the cut, not the size, so a cheeky short in your correct size still shows considerably more than a regular short does. Size for the waist and decide on coverage separately.

Grouped by shape, with the rest of each one next door.

• High-waist cheeky shorts: the backbone of the category. Holographic, sequin, flip sequin, lace-up and mermaid scale, and the thing most other pieces are worn over.
• Mini skirts: skater, bustle, ruffle, sheer mesh and tiered. More movement than a short and more air, usually with a built-in or separate bottom underneath.
• Chaps: vinyl, sequin, mesh and crochet, worn over shorts or a thong. Full leg, almost no extra heat, and the piece that changes a silhouette fastest.
• Bikini bottoms and thongs: doubles as swim, which is what makes it work for pool parties and day events.
• Garter bottoms and belts: straps down the thigh, worn for the look rather than to hold anything up. Pairs with fishnets or bare legs.
• Bell-bottom pants: lace, sequin and sheer, for anyone who wants full coverage without giving up the finish.
• Festival tops: the other half. Halter, crop and bikini tops, cut to end above a high waist.
• Bodysuits and one-pieces: skip the waistband question entirely. The most searched shape in rave wear.
• Plus size rave and festival: the same shapes in extended sizing, on its own page so the fits are easier to find.