On the weekend of August 7–9th, 2015, Outside Lands Music Festival took San Francisco by storm for the seventh year in a row. This is the festival that has everything: oldies but goodies (Elton John), 21st century staples (The Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar), and the indie band you’ve never heard of before but will continue to listen to for years following the festival (Twin Peaks, First Aid Kit), The weather is glorious — San Francisco summer days are a delightful 60–70 degrees — and the venue is unbelievable — Golden Gate Park is lush and fragrant, especially in comparison to the hot dry deserts of other quintessential features of festival season. Outside Lands is, for many, the highlight of their year. For me, it was the festival that inspired my unique sense of mismatched style and sparked my wanderlust attitude. This year, it wasn’t the highlight of my year. Why? Sometimes, too much of a good thing is a reality, and tickets sold out faster than you can say “Angus and Julia Stone”, and I wasn’t on top of my ticket buying game.

For me, FOMO was very real this year. But you know what? That’s okay.

With the money I saved from the tickets, I can now buy ten more festival-style outfits. Festival fashion has become a year-round montage of three days of memories for me, and its rare that you find me straying from typical festival garb. Is it flowy? Is it colorful? Does it make me want to spin around in circles and roll down a grassy hill? Absolutely. Festival fashion is kinda my thing. For three days, festival fashion is kinda everyone’s thing. Dressing the way I do reminds me of the best three days of 2014, and every time I sport tie dye flares or a paisley shirtdress, it reminds me of the effervescent, explosively fun time I spent in the park.

I urge you to have that same feeling. Maybe it isn’t a festival. Maybe it’s a theme park, a day at the beach, or a once-in a lifetime event. Dress according to what you feel — freedom, joy, or excitement. Think of it this way. If you never went to the beach again, how would you want to be reminded of the experience? Your outfit makes your experience kinda yours; when you put on that long caftan or floppy sunhat, I want you to feel the same way I feel every time I slip on my brown felt fedora or my worn-to-smithereens ankle boots.

Some experts say that smell is the most powerful sense, and that particular smells can transport you to any place or any time; personally, I would like to think that clothing is the most powerful memory-formation tool. After all, it’s your choice what you wear, and it’s your choice to transport yourself back to the festival, beach, or experience any time you darn well please. All it takes is a trip to the closet.