Now that you're good and excited for your trip, it's important to make sure you've packed everything you need for a successful visit to Indio. Let me emphasize this point: strategic packing for music festivals is CRITICAL. You don't want to miss your favourite band because you're burned to a crisp, do you? See the list below to make sure you win at Coachella-ing.

WHAT TO PACK FOR COACHELLA

1. a cross-body bag

A good crossbody bag is crucial for hands-free partying once you get on the Polo Grounds. Not only are they convenient for stashing all your stuff, the crossbody style is still super trendy and you'll end up using it all summer on Sunday Funday bike gang adventures and with maxi dresses. I like this one by Madewell - it's real leather and won't break the bank.

2. sunscreen that actually absorbs w/o making you look like powder

We've all done it: you slather on a good coat of sunscreen before leaving the house with the intention to apply more midday...and then you forget and have a nose redder than a beer league pitcher. Protect yourself from the ruthless desert sun with these 50 SPF sunscreens. I like the ones from Shiseido - they hydrate and don't leave a chalky film. Bonus: Sephora offers travel sizes, perfect for tossing in your bag.

3. a cute suit

Extremely shocking news: Coachella isn't awesome just for the concert. There's a very healthy chance you're going to be logging some serious time at a pool so come prepared. Our Sandy Savasana Bottoms are colour-blocked in very Palm Springs-apropo hues and provide enough coverage to keep you feeling comfy at a DJ set at the Ace.

4. killer shades

If there's one place that I recommend blowing the budget pre-trip, it's on your sunglasses. Think about it: they're going to show up in every one of your photos! Since you'll be wearing them with every outfit throughout the weekend, they'll need to be versatile. These Stella McCartney shades are in a universally-flattering ecru shade and the oversized teardrop shape is on point without being so outrageous that you'll regret them in a year.

5. a bag that's easy to pack

Sure, you'll be strategic when you're going to Indio...but at the end of a long weekend, the last thing you'll want to do is to struggle packing everything into a too-small duffel. The Everyday Gym Bag is roomy enough to easily stow away a weekend's worth of gear AND fits as carry-on on most airlines.

6. wipes!

There's no way to overstate it: having wipes at Coachella is a GAMECHANGER. They are good for so many things: taking makeup off late at night when you're exhausted, taking a layer of desert grime off your face every few hours, cleaning your hands so you don't have an OCD man-down situation after the bathrooms...the list goes on and on. I like these ones from Sephora - they're cheap, they smell inoffensive and they come in small packs so they fit easily into most bags.

7. bright lipstick

It doesn't matter if you wear a plain tank top and cutoffs or an elaborate outfit - bright lips are always fun and less risky that vibrant eyeliner (yeah, it looks good...but once the temperatures start soaring you risk looking like Ke$ha after a night on the town). I love Casablanca from Nars - it's a great consistency and the colour looks good on everyone, guide's honour.

8. comfy pants for the plane ride home

After an amazing weekend of frivolity in the sun, you are going to be tired...really tired. Do yourself a favour and remember to pack comfy pants for the plane ride home. The Work It Out Track Pant is my new MVP for comfort - plus, they look pretty cute with a pair of Chuck Taylors and are warm enough that once you land back home your legs won't freeze.

Are you going to Coachella on Weekend 1 or 2? What bands are you most excited to see? And what are your must-have items for beating the heat in Indio?

We can’t help but daydream our way through spring with visions of sing-along, top-down, hair-blowing-in-the-wind road trips with our best pals. This is, after all, what summer’s all about, right? Between

snack-time

No need to make pit stops for snacks – plan ahead so you have both sweet and savoury (healthy) snacks to combat cravings and the munchies. Save your time, money and indulgences for meals since they are harder to plan for anyway.

travel friendly snacks
• apples/bananas with a natural nut butter
• raw mixed nuts or trail mix
• bliss balls
• carrots and hummus
• pita chips
• a few pre-made PB&J sandwiches
• plenty of water in reusable bottles (freeze a few to use as ‘ice’ for your cooler)

dining out

One of the best parts of visiting a new town is getting a taste of the local culture (literally). The name of the game is balance – sip a glass of wine, munch on an order of fries and then make healthy choices when possible.

eat this, not that at restaurants
• if you’re hungry enough for an appetizer, order a house salad with a vinaigrette dressing or a cup of broth-based soup (rather than cream-based). If those appies don’t tickle your fancy, split a small plate with your dining buddy (think hummus with veggies or pita bread, ahi tuna or a shrimp cocktail)
• go for items that are grilled, baked or steamed and resist ones that are fried or battered (think grilled chicken or salmon with a baked potato or steamed veggies)
• if your sweet tooth needs taming, order sorbet or fresh berries (nature’s candy, I tell you!) or split a more decadent dessert with the table. Guilty - I’m never one to deny myself the gift that is chocolate
• remember that most restaurants are quite accommodating these days for specific dietary needs or preferences, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or to make substitutions. How big are the portions? Is it enough to share? Can I sub steamed broccoli for cheesy broccoli? Side salad for the fries? Brown rice for white rice?

stretch your legs

When it comes to long trips don’t let your roadmap interfere with your training plan. Get out to stretch your legs and spend a little time discovering the cool cities you’re passing through.

staying active on the road
• look for a local lululemon in the city and check out their community board for tons of info on the best studios, local events and complimentary classes going on during your stay
• practice yoga outdoors (think park, mountain top, beach) or in your hotel room. Check out the gift of yoga or a yoga app for a more guided practice
• rent a bike (or bring your own on the back of your car) - bike share programs (like Bixi) are all the rage! Go for a ride and explore your surroundings
• no equipment? No problem. Lace up your sneakers and head for a run. Use a resource like MapMyRun to find safe and reliable routes!
• take advantage of hotel amenities, run your own mini-bootcamp in the gym, play tennis or do a few laps in the pool

Summer is so close we can almost taste it and the sampler plate of warm, sunny days in March was a nice touch, Mother Nature. We’re already filling up our calendars with weekend trips and mini-vacays. Have any other foolproof road-trippin’ tips for staying healthy on the go?

Last year, Alexis advised people heading to Coachella on the plateaus and pitfalls of getting awesome in the music festival circuit. She wrote her entry from a wistful yet wise point-of-view, dispensing such sage advice as “your sunglasses will be in every photo – if they are the weak link in your bag, fix it” and “fanny packs are critical for hands-free partying.” This year she is attending Coachella and shares her motivations for returning below.

The countdown is on, my friends. Seven days!

I have been to Coachella before. In fact, I wrote a blog post last year about my experiences in Indio and how to best prepare for the ensuing mayhem. While experiencing some remorse over not going again, I reasoned that I had made the pilgrimage to Coachella before and that it was time to cross other goals off my list.

I was wrong. What I realized while gazing at my pal’s mobile uploads all festival weekend (yes, I am a masochist) was that sometimes an occasion is so awesome that hitting it twice is the right answer.

So now what? My ticket, accommodation and flights are booked. My mates and I are already planning the Ace Hotel and Trader Joe’s visits. I’ve replaced 2011’s acronym F.O.M.O. with W.W.Z.S.D. (what-would-Zoe-Saldana-do) for outfit inspiration. All that’s left is the music.

Oh yeah - the music! With all the VIP-poolside-margarita-hotel-hopping-palm-tree distractions, it’s easy to forget that Coachella is all about the tunes. Last time I went, my buddy Eric made a playlist that we ended up playing on repeat the entire weekend. It was a great way to get familiar with lesser-known acts; to this day I still associate Bloc Party, Wolfmother and Gnarls Barkley together with our 2006 Coachella “soundtrack.”

Without further ado, here is my 2012 Can’t-Miss Coachella Playlist. It’s impossible to get all of my favourite acts on one list (the festival really is THAT big) so feel free to add your favourites and get the party started.

2012 can’t-miss coachella playlist

*Please note: due to certain, ahem, “restrictions” we are no longer able to list these songs in downloadable playlist format. We are working on a solution soon so we can continue sharing the sound love with you.

santigold – disparate youth
Santigold is probably in my top three of artists I am most excited to see. The buzz surrounding her live shows is ferocious.

the weeknd – the morning
The Prince-esque guitar, the unabashed crooning, the auto-tune, the collaborations with Drake…invest in The Weeknd because this show is guaranteed money in the bank. Do yourself a favour and listen to some Frank Ocean while you’re at it.

the black angels – young men dead
I first got to know The Black Angels after one of their songs was featured in Red Bull’s seriously awesome “Art Of Flight” snowboarding video from last winter. If the apocalypse comes as promised this year, “Young Men Dead” will be my soundtrack.

justice – civilization
French people know how to dance. They know how to party. They can wear scarves without looking like twits and eat cheese without gaining weight. Let’s just face it: they’re cooler than the rest of us.

pulp – common people
Between Madness, Tim Armstrong, Mazzy Star and Pulp, the old school acts at Coachella this year are legit. Watching Jarvis Cocker strut his stuff is a can’t miss.

beirut – santa fe
Santa Fe = the catchiest song of 2011. Beirut is producing some of the most innovative music in recent memory. Get into it.

miike snow – paddling out
Okay, I already loved Miike Snow in a borderline-creepy way…and then they released their most recent album and full-on obsession gripped my headphones.

kaskade – 4 am
Kaskade may fall into guilty pleasure territory (see also: David Guetta and Avicii) but I don’t care. We all know these shows are going to be the hot mix so pack your dancing shoes and let’s make it happen.

explosions in the sky – your hand in mine
If you’re looking for a timeout from beat-heavy hip-hop and electro dance parties, check these guys out. Their most recent album is interesting all the way through and only gets better with every listen.

childish gambino – freaks and geeks
The lyrics to this song are so clever. I have a feeling that Childish Gambino is going to be huge so catch him here for “I saw him when…” memories years from now.

bon iver – calgary
It’s always an incredible experience watching an artist perform at the pinnacle of their career. Justin Vernon is known for his interesting live collaborations - let’s hope he has some tricks up his sleeves.

radiohead – weird fishes arpeggi
Thom and the crew are known for pulling Neil Young-style “we’re not playing anything but our latest album’s tracks” antics on tour…but if I have one wish it’s that they put this gem on their playlist.

dr. dre featuring snoop dogg – nuthin’ but a g thang
While you may not listen to these dudes on the regular anymore, this is a Coachella must. Snoop’s never been caught slippin’ – make sure you aren’t either and make this show a priority.

azaelia banks – 212
This is going to be a CRAZY SHOW. Believe it.

the horrors – still life
A favourite of music bloggers everywhere, this could be the sleeper hit of the entire festival.

girl talk – play your part (part 1)
The raging debate about the legitimacy of mash-up artists aside, Girl Talk is going to be a PARTY. Get sweaty in the crowd or safely observe how crazy humans can get from afar.

david guetta featuring kid cudi – memories
78 million views on YouTube can’t be a coincidence. Guetta is FUN – get over the street cred and turn up the party (this also applies to Kaskade, Avicii and anything else that hurts to the hipster bone).

florence and the machine – cosmic love
This show is going to be one for the books. Let’s hope the festival planners put Florence and company on during the gorgeous Indio sunset.

st. vincent – marrow
Every track on St. Vincent’s third album “Strange Mercy” is absolutely magical. Check her out if you need a little mellow time in between party acts.

m83 – wait
I’m already getting goose bumps just thinking about this being performed.

Hopefully this playlist will give you ideas for your own list.  Alexis will be one of 20,000 girls wearing a fringe purse, jean cutoffs, bohemian blouse and taking Instagram photos (she knows she’s being SUPER original )– give her a high five if you see her in Indio!

If you are reading this in the back seat of a car while en route to Palm Springs for the Coachella Music Festival, congratulations! You have made a fantastic life decision. Our resident music maven couldn't agree more. Inspired by Coachella, Alexis offered to share her sage advice on the subject of summer concerts. We happily obliged (and took feverish notes).

alexis talks coachella

I had the pleasure of attending the 2006 Coachella Music Festival and had the time of my life. Unlike an indoor concert, which is also rad, outdoor festivals are about more than just great music. It’s about taking part in a weekend experience that revolves around joy, human connection, and just letting go and living in the moment.

Music creates the possibility to completely ditch our traditional views on boundaries. If you want to muscle your way to the front of the crowd, panting off every word of your favorite song without thinking about personal space and mingling sweat, you can. Stop and think about the wonder of that, really. Where else would you do this - the bus? The possibility to drop our inhibitions and lose ourselves in a beautiful moment - what a revolutionary and special opportunity.

what to see & hear at coachella

If you're headed to Coachella, take note of the list below. It may possibly have the longest title and it surely has the most valuable information you need for the weekend.

Top Five Bands In The Fine Print of The Coachella Poster That You Will Be Bummed About Missing In Five Years If You Don’t Go Now

Yelle – Can you say ‘dance party’ in French? You will be able to after this kinetic show.

City and Colour – Your eyes aren’t playing tricks…there IS an extra ‘u’ in ‘Colour,’ eh! These Canadian dudes are absolutely amazing.

Two Door Cinema Club – All my friends in the know swear these guys are the next big thing. See them now before you’re paying triple digits for club shows.

The Foals – See above statement.

Delorean – Any band that names themselves after the car in ‘Back To The Future’ can’t suck – it’s science!

The biggest little wristband

lex's guide to summer festivals

As a veteran of many outdoor music festivals, I can tell you that there are things that you will be happy you have with you – items that can save your happiness and keep you grooving. (We're talking about more than the wristband to get you inside the gates.) If you're Coachella-bound, you've already packed but there is still a long season of summer concerts ahead. Take my word and be sure to pack the following, no matter which festival you flock to.

Top Ten Items You Must Pack In Order to Keep Your Sanity

Lip balm – Running around in the summer heat? No matter how much water you drink, you will be dehydrated.

Fanny pack – Trust me. You think a trendy bag is a great idea for your perfectly planned hipster outfit? You won’t be thinking that when your keys are on the bottom of the mosh pit at Kings Of Leon. We actually make a wicked fanny pack perfect for hands-free partying. You can most likely find it at your local store. 

Denim cutoffs – They go with everything, they get better the dirtier they are, and nothing is hotter than a white tank, a bikini top, and your favorite old jeans hacked up.

Wunder Under Crops - I’m not even saying this because I work at lululemon, guides honor. When I went to Coachella (pre-working here), these were my staples. Perfect for changing into post-show if you’re camping, a great layer under a mini-dress if the weather is cloudy, great for the tired drive or flight home…you will be glad you packed these.

A really stylish hat – You can take any outfit from 0 to 60 with an original and stylish hat – plus sunburns are SO passé (Mom alert: remember your sunscreen!)

Floral-print minidress – The trend of the season and hippy-ish enough for your Woodstock moment.

Jewel-tone lipstick – You can be wearing the most boring getup ever but swipe on rich coral lipstick and VOILA! You are the most on-point member of your crew.

Comfortable shoes that aren’t ugly – So we wouldn’t want you to wear orthopedic shoes with your designer frock, but heels + crowds + grass fields and your dogs will be barking. My grandma used to tell me to be good to my feet and I think you should listen to my grandma.

The lucky owner of the biggest little wristband

Rock star sunglasses – They will be in every picture from your weekend. If they are the weak link in your bag, fix it – you will regret beat shades.

Socks – Your feet are going to be dancing machines. Slather on moisturizer and throw on socks during your voyage home. They won’t be as trashed when you wake up in real life.

Now go! Have the weekend of your life! And write us to let us know how it went – we are vicariously living in the moment through you (and Jacqueline, the lucky owner of that sexy wristband). Shine on you crazy diamonds!