Coachella Influencers Face Backlash Over Costly and Criticised Stylist Choices
Videos posted by Coachella influencers have sparked widespread mockery online after they disclosed spending thousands of dollars on outfits curated by professional stylists, with many viewers branding the looks 'tragic' and poorly executed. Typically, influencers share elaborate 'get ready with me' clips, but this year, numerous social media stars admitted to going to extreme lengths to stand out at the Californian music festival, including splurging as much as $10,000 on stylist services.
Panic and Disappointment Over Stylist Selections
While some influencers expressed satisfaction with their ensembles, others, like TikTok user @montselewin, voiced significant discontent. She complained that she 'didn't like almost every single piece' of the clothing selected by her stylist, which followers described as 'a joke'. In one video, @montselewin wore a pink scarf as a skimpy top paired with a crochet mini skirt, telling her audience, 'I'm trying not to have a panic attack right now.'
The influencer later admitted feeling partly responsible, modelling an eclectic mix of items including grey basketball shorts, a gold bikini, a leopard print headscarf, and a brown sequinned skirt, all of which she felt were 'poorly sourced'. Her followers reacted with confusion and humour, with one asking 'is this satire' and another admitting, 'I've laughed at this for 10 minutes'.
High Costs and Mixed Reactions Across Platforms
@montselewin is not alone in her stylist woes. Her original video garnered nearly five million views, highlighting a broader trend of influencer dissatisfaction. In the caption, she revealed working with a stylist who 'thrifted' the outfits, meaning they were bought secondhand. She explained, 'I sent a separate Pinterest board for each outfit with a LOT of pins and filled out a detailed form about everything I like and don’t like. In hindsight, I’m not sure if it’s even possible to perfectly match every single preference someone has.'
Despite expecting to dislike a few pieces, @montselewin was shocked to find herself unhappy with almost everything, confessing that fashion has always been a struggle for her. She sought styling advice from followers, but while some offered helpful suggestions, others expressed disbelief at the quality of the garments. Comments ranged from 'Look two is my cleaning outfit' to 'Please get your money back' and 'You hired someone for this?', with one user quipping, 'Is your stylist from Disney Channel?'
Other Influencers Encounter Similar Criticism
Similarly, TikTok user @jooshica faced divided opinions after spending $10,000 on a stylist. Her first outfit, featuring a purple puffer under a white denim jacket with cream trousers and a matching hat, drew reactions like 'Please tell me you didn't actually spend 10k on that.' However, some of her other looks received praise, with one follower noting, 'All of them are good except the first.'
Instagram user @missdarcei also hired a stylist after followers criticised her past Coachella outfits. She shared various looks, including a corseted pastel floral dress that fans called 'cute but not Coachella', with comments urging her to 'fire your stylist' or 'ask for a refund'. In response, Darcei joked about attending in a t-shirt and jeans, though fans clarified the criticism was directed at the stylist, not her.
TikTok star @adee.ah spent hundreds on a stylist, inspired by other influencers seeking professional help. Her first outfit, a black top with sheer sleeves and a skirt paired with a neon pink bra, led to comments like 'this has to be ragebait' and 'Girl, sue someone, ANYONE.'
Spoof Videos and Extravagant Spending Highlight Festival Culture
These 'stylist for Coachella' videos have inspired spoof clips, where users humorously wear outrageous clothes to mock the influencers. The trend coincides with the star-studded festival's return to Indio, featuring acts like Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter, which typically floods social media with Coachella content.
Adding to the extravagance, Australian influencer Pia Whitesell, 42, revealed the eye-watering cost of one Coachella outfit, totalling $11,200. She wore a $3,260 Magda Butrym dress, a $3,550 Balenciaga bag, $995 Bottega Veneta sunglasses, and $3,460 Fendi boots, aiming to be the best-dressed festivalgoer.
Overall, the backlash underscores the high stakes and often disappointing results when influencers invest heavily in professional styling for high-profile events like Coachella.
