Corinne Jones July 20, 2014

Bestival fancy-dress outfits – in pictures

Since 2004, Bestival on the Isle Of Wight has become as well known for its fancy-dress revellers as its music

Bestival dressing up: Bestival dressing up Kent Mathews and Dan Smith — King Kong and his love interest
Dan Smith and Kent Mathews set up a photography studio on site at Bestival in 2009 and 2010, capturing the best “outer space”- and “fantasy”-themed outfits against a white backdrop Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — A mime artist
The results, says festival organiser Rob Da Bank, “look like a fashion shoot. You wouldn’t think these people were stepping back outside into a festival” Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Bestival dressing up Florence and the Machine — Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — The Lion, the Witch and… this Wardrobe?
For Kent Mathews, dressing up is about “being part of something. Many of the outfits are hilarious and designed to make people smile… it creates an alternative reality. Everyone enters into it, and it’s fantastic escapism" Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — A "fashion" photographer Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Orbital Bestival dressing up — Orbital, pictured at the festival Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — A centaur Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — The Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — Mother and baby Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — Jack Skeleton, from The Nightmare Before Christmas Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up — Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up Ent — An ent, a character who appears in the film The Lord of the Rings as an ancient shepherd of the forest Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Bestival dressing up: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith Bestival dressing up Lily Allen — Lily Allen in a Barbarella-inspired outfit Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Leave a Comment Cancel comment