CURTAIN CALL: FESTIVAL WITH ZACK TATE

Festival dressing has evolved. Once defined by wellies, rain macs and practicality above all else, today's festival wardrobe has become an extension of personal style and a canvas for self-expression. The field has become another front row in fashion, where vintage influences meet contemporary sportswear, and individuality takes center stage. While comfort still matters, getting dressed for a festival is now a lot about creating a look that feels considered.

Few understand that shift better than stylist Zack Tate. Known for dressing some of music's biggest names, Zack has built a career on creating looks that feel intentional without ever looking overworked. Storytelling sits at the center of everything he does, whether he's styling a global artist for the red carpet, or pulling together an outfit designed to survive an entire weekend on stage. For this instalment of Curtain Call, Zack steps into the FLANNELS fitting room to talk inspiration, career-defining moments and the changing face of festival style, before building six looks that balance taste, practicality and purpose.

For Zack, many of his outfits pay homage to his musical influences. "I draw a lot of inspiration from music, both the music I grew up listening to and the artists I'm working with. I like stepping into their world and understanding the story they're trying to tell." 

That narrative-driven approach shapes every project, but inspiration rarely arrives in one form. It could be a stranger walking down the street, an unexpected silhouette or a minor detail that stays with him long after a fitting. Rather than working from a fixed formula, Zack prefers to respond to the person in front of him. "I think I'm quite a chameleon. I adapt depending on the client and the world we're creating together." If there is one thread that consistently runs through his work, it's contrast. Masculine against feminine. Structured yet relaxed. Technical and Tailored. "If I'm styling someone in a really feminine look, I love throwing in something unexpected, like a huge chunky boot." The late '90s and early 2000s continue to inform that instinct; an era where Zack returns to for its confidence, attitude and willingness to mix influences without overthinking them. 

That same sense of storytelling made dressing Jade for the 2025 BRIT Awards one of the standout moments of his career. Working during her Angel Of My Dreams era, the look centered around a custom Diesel denim wedding dress that became part of a much bigger narrative. "Diesel had actually created a custom denim wedding dress for one of their campaigns, and we reached out because it fit perfectly into the story we were telling. Everything tied together and really extended the narrative across the campaign. It felt like a really special storytelling moment." It's that same attention to narrative that Zack believes has transformed festival fashion over the past decade. "Festival dressing used to be all about practicality — wellies, rain macs and floral dresses." Now, he says, people are dressing with far more intention. "It's become much more fashion-focused, and while practicality still matters, people want to create memorable looks and lasting content." Social media has undoubtedly played a role, but Zack doesn't see that as a negative. Instead, he believes it's encouraging people to experiment more confidently with their own style rather than following a single festival formula. 

"There was a time when everyone dressed almost the same at festivals like Coachella, but now people are much more interested in creating their own identity and telling their own story." For him, that's where festival fashion becomes interesting. "I just want people to surprise me. It doesn't have to be loud or over-the-top. I just love seeing people embrace their own style and do something that feels authentic to them." That philosophy is reflected in the exclusive looks Zack builds inside the FLANNELS fitting room. Rather than chasing trends, each one focuses on versatility, personality, and ease. 

Pairing Miu Miu’s sporty nylon with chunky hardware, Zack balances lightweight technical fabrics against heavier footwear to create the masculine-feminine contrast that defines much of Zack's styling. It’s an understated and subtle luxury, that naturally meets festivals’ practical requirements. The lightweight jacket becomes an easy extra layer once the temperature drops, while the boots are practical enough to navigate muddy festival grounds without compromising the look. 

Zack’s second look shifts towards elevated sportswear, combining breathable jerseys with bold graphics and reliable cargo shorts. "For me, this is the ideal summer festival outfit." Comfort sits at the heart of the styling, but never at the expense of personality. "You really can't go wrong with cargo shorts." Zack lets the graphic top become the statement, proving that practical dressing doesn't have to feel predictable. 

Zack channels the very essence of summer in his second woman's wear festival ready look. "I feel like it's me in a feminine form." He admits, as he pairs the outfit with accessories fit for Sex In The City’s original fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw. Featuring a sunset hued Fendi straw bag, an Acne Studios tank and Prada's new shorts, with removable hardware for a subtle nod to the house logo. His standout piece is the sunglasses, designed with ear cuffs to double as hidden earrings. "They're giving me that Y2K feel, they're somewhere between glasses and sunglasses, and I think they instantly elevate the whole look."  

In his second menswear look, Zack leans on the bold graphic shirt once again, adding undeniable personality to the look, while showcasing minimal touches of luxury with dark embossed Gucci shorts, its detailed signature logo only visible when you pay attention.  

In his final woman's wear look, Zack sticks with the chunky boots that he so often references as a festival staple. This time, they’re paired with a relaxed Miu Miu ribbed vest and boxer-Esque shorts. It easily ticks the boxes for practicality and comfort, while managing to remain refined. The details stand out in the shorts once again, with the rolled over waistband being an intentionally integrated part of its design. Zack styles this look with the coveted Acne Studios Camero shoulder bag.

Zacks last menswear look takes tonal petroleum greens, minimal branding and lightweight, water-resistant fabrics to create a cleaner silhouette that feels equally suited to a city wardrobe and a festival field. Zack highlights the contrast as to why it works "I love that it's sporty but still really chic.” Rather than relying on obvious prints, Zack allows proportion and material to do the talking. Even the choice of footwear reflects that thinking, opting for a slimmer trainer profile over chunkier alternatives; "That sleeker silhouette feels really current." The finishing touch comes in the form of Prada sunglasses with an ombré lens, keeping the darker palette cohesive without feeling overly styled. 

Throughout the conversation, one piece of advice comes up repeatedly: the details matter. Accessories are rarely an afterthought and are often the element that brings everything together. "The minute you add sunglasses, jewellery or other accessories, everything suddenly makes sense. You could literally be wearing a white vest and cargo trousers, but once you add a great pair of sunglasses and layer some accessories, the whole outfit feels complete." 

Ultimately, Zack Tate's approach to festival dressing isn't about chasing trends or building the loudest outfit in the crowd. It's about expression, dressing with intention, and finding the balance between style and function. Whether he's creating a red-carpet moment or pulling together a weekend festival wardrobe, the thinking remains the same: tell a story, embrace contrast and finish with the details. 

Curtain Call. Only at FLANNELS.