There is so much that I can say about my experience at Bonnaroo 2009. But one thing I realized is that music festivals such as this are a fashion trend birth place. Or, in the case of the fanny pack, a place of re-birth. I know that it tends to be a fashion faux pas that lost trend status somewhere between their late 80′s peak and the mid 90′s. But as far as function goes, they are quite useful.
By the end of the festival, I managed to fit more into my colorful fanny pack (revived from childhood use) than I ever thought possible. I started with the basics on day one: camera, money and phone in the large pocket and hand sanitizer in the other. On the last day, the big pocket held my camera, phone, money, sunglasses, a granola bar and toilet paper while the small pocket had hand sanitizer, lip balm and more toilet paper. I had at some point had my hat and my rain poncho involved AND used the strap to hold on to my water bottle.
Now I was not exactly the epitome of cool. At best I was one small step above a stereotypical tourist. But, even if my old-school fanny pack does not meet today’s daily fashion standard, it is definitely a useful tool in the music festival world. And who knows, with a few updates, the fanny pack could be sneaking its way back into the fashion world.
Gucci makes a “Canvas Belt Bag” that is nothing more than an updated fanny pack. Coach makes a “hip bag.” And its not unlikely that others will follow. Plus, festival go-ers, or Bonnarubians as Ani DiFranco called us, were not the only ones to don a pack. Erin McCarley wore one mildly more modern than my own. (Photo from LuckyMag.com)
So make way for the fanny pack. The comeback has begun!
