ONCE upon a time, music festivals used to be about the music.

But these days it's just as important (if not more important) to make sure you're wearing the right clothes.

I mean, surely you won't enjoy the eclectic sounds of the Avalanches unless you're wearing the latest white lace maxi dress, accessorised with every single piece of jewellery that you own.

Perhaps it's tiny denim shorts with designer gum boots and an Indian headdress.

On the topic of Indian headdresses, are they fashionable, culturally inappropriate or just plain annoying? I'll let you work that one out.

And don't you love all the city-slickers playing "dress ups"? Finally, they can pretend to be free-spirited hippies. But let's be honest, it doesn't look that good if you're covered in mud.

A colleague and festival fashionista has informed me that this year's hottest trend is "glitter roots".

Basically, you slather some glitter onto the roots of your hair.

Seriously.

That just sounds like sparkly dandruff to me, but hey, who am I to judge?

For some inspiration, we thought we'd share some of the other "cool" things we've seen people wearing at North Coast music festivals:

• All white: It's either going to be muddy or dusty at North Byron Parklands, so you'll only get to wear that $300 white dress just this once.

• Overalls: No longer stuck in the fashion vacuum of the 1990s, overalls are actually a good way to carry everything with you.

• Bikinis: It's winter, people. And you're probably going to be in a mosh pit at some point. That's your first and only warning.

• Superhero costume: Any excuse will do, right?

• Onesies: If your whole group wears the same thing, you'll be able to find each other no matter what.

The truth is, anything goes at Splendour, and I mean ANYTHING.

Just check out this photo gallery of music festivals gone by if you're looking for inspiration:

Still stuck for ideas?

Here's my tip: Open your wardrobe. Close your eyes and grab about seven or eight items. Wear them all.

Doesn't match? Doesn't matter. In fact, it's probably better if it doesn't.

Find a felt hat.

Put on some gumboots.

And you're done.

Trust me - you'll fit right in at Splendour in the Grass 2016.