Walking around Pier 80 at this year’s Portola Music Festival, festivalgoers rocked everything from cow prints to gothic twists and metallic leggings to fuzzy Labubus, solidifying Portola’s reputation for a style that is as eclectic as its lineup. Attendees came from across the Bay — and around the world — bringing with them Depop finds, thrifted treasures and fast-fashion looks.
Among the best-dressed were attendees Teiana Cataldo and Allison Baymiller, who wore matching flared halter-neck jumpsuits from Warriors Within Design, a local San Francisco label. Cataldo’s black-and white bandana-patterned jumpsuit was paired with a turquoise bolo tie and oversized belt, while Baymiller’s version came in purple stripes with a multicolored pashmina.
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“I met the designer at [Lightning in a Bottle],” Cataldo said. “She was so nice and so kind and handmade all of the fits. They’re so beautiful and so comfy to dance in.”
“It makes me happy to be supportive of a small business,” Baymiller added. “They’re affordable, high quality and super unique.”
For both, Portola’s draw was as much about the atmosphere as the outfits. “There’s consistently a good lineup every year,” Cataldo said.
Nearby, Ori Hartenstein and Joanna Vidal stood out in full cow-print ensembles. Hartenstein wore a bucket hat, button-down and shorts, while Vidal paired cow ears with a halter top and matching pants.
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“The inspiration was we were passing by Outside Lands and saw this couple wearing all rubber ducky,” Hartenstein said. “We were like, we gotta do it. We went online, we found the cow fits — the best ones — and we bought them.”
For Vidal, the festival’s energy sealed the experience. “This is our first time [at Portola],” she said. “The energy, the weather, the music. It’s absolutely f—ing perfect today. It doesn’t matter where you end up, it’s gonna be good.”
Frequent festivalgoer Kyle leaned into gothic and industrial influences with a black pleated mini skirt, cropped pinstripe top, and layered studded belts. The pièce de résistance? An oversized metallic pendant of an anatomical sacred heart, set against harness details and stacked bracelets that gave her outfit a battle-ready edge.
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“My style is inspired by a lot of Gothic fashion and probably like 80s fashion, Martin Gore from Depeche Mode,” she said. “I like a lot of religious iconography and medieval fashion as well. I am my armor.”
French engineering manager Julian turned heads in bold, shiny gold leggings paired with a Daft Punk tee, looking equal parts playful and functional. He said the gold shade of his pants made him feel like dancing — for Julian, grooving and vibing is the most important part of the festival experience, with one of his favorite artists being the main draw.
“Obviously LCD Soundsystem,” he said. “I have great memories of seeing them in other places.”
Meanwhile, Devon and Jose came coordinated in matching flame-print outfits sourced from Shein. Devon, a dog walker, was attending Portola for the first time, while Jose, who works front desk at a hotel in San Francisco, said it was his second year. Asked about their goals for the weekend, the pair kept it simple: “Have fun, have a good time. It’s gonna be a good time.”
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First-time Portola attendee Annie, who works in the wine industry in Australia arrived in a metallic green romper, face jewelry and a frog headband that gave her outfit a playful, whimsical energy.
“I got [the romper] at a Burner shop in Reno,” she explained. “The headband I got at an Australian thrift shop.”
Her style, she said, is defined by color: “Give me anything color. I like to not own items that everyone else owns.”
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Nicolas Dionisio, a trainer and instructional designer from Phoenix, opted for a softer look: a tie-dye tee layered under mustard-colored overalls with a Labubu keychain from Pop Mart peeking out of his front pocket. “The overalls were a gift from a friend,” he said. The shirt, he explained, came from an artist he found online during COVID. His fuzzy rainbow creature crossbody bag was also a Pop Mart find.
“This is special,” Dionisio said. “I wanted it not because it’s expensive, but because it’s cute, iconic.” The Labubu, he added with a smile, was “my little club demon.”
Whether thrifted, handmade, or more commercial fare, the looks at Portola were emblematic of the attendees: expressive, bold and joyful.
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