Party goers at the Filter Magazine Kickoff party enjoy their free Aerie Totes!

Friday morning came and before we knew it, we were off to our first day of the festival! We rode the Ferris wheel, ate amazing food and soaked up the California sun. We danced, sang, and had an amazing time to bands including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Alt-J, Passion Pit and Jurassic5, who all rocked the day and night away. Aerie bags and wristbands were handed out to appreciative party-goers who couldn’t wait to get their hands on their free bandeaus. To top off the night, we experienced our first celebrity sighting when we spotted Lucy Hale. Talk about an OMG moment!

#AerieFest Arm Candy!

On Saturday morning  we headed off to the Empire Polo Club for day two of the festival! We spent the day checking out trends (lots of shaped sunglasses, flower crowns, crop tops and high-waisted shorts) and snapped Instagram photos of girls wearing Aerie. Day 2 bands that rocked included The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, Phoenix, Major Lazer, Yeasayer and The xx. We turned in our dancing shoes and ended the night with Coolhaus cookie sandwiches and pizza from Spicy Pie…  both excellent food choices!

Aerie totes spotted in Indio

Despite the sad realization that Sunday was our last day in California, we knew were guaranteed to have a good time. We hit the concert grounds running! Pretty Lights put on an amazing show and La Roux played her hit song “Bulletproof”—she had the whole crowd dancing! The weekend ended with a killer performance from Wu-Tang Clan followed by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Aerie loves Indio.

All in all, it’s safe to say that Aerie had two weekends in Indio that we will never forget. Until we meet again, California!

Aerie swag from the FILTER Magazine Kick Off Party!

Chloe Bridges and Anna Sophia Robb from The Carrie Diaries stopped by the party!

The first day of the festival started off with a setting of sunshine and palm trees. We spent the day scoping out the fashion of the other attendees—we spotted countless crop tops, high-waist shorts and bandeaus! And of course, we checked out our favorite bands. We started off the day listening to the tunes of Alt-J (a favorite of the entire #AerieFest crew) and made our way to over to Passion Pit, Modest Mouse and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Some of our top bands of the day were Jurassic 5 and Bassnectar.

We began Saturday night rocking out to The Postal Service. After 10 years they sound better than ever, and we had a great time dancing the night away. Phoenix was amazing, as expected—and their surprise guest, Mr. R. Kelly himself, didn’t disappoint. Another favorite of ours, New Order, are still killing it after all these years. Other Saturday shows that topped our list: Hot Chip, the XX, Janelle Monae and Major Lazer.

Aerie girls!

Despite the desert storm on Sunday evening, the weekend ended with a bang. A long set from the Red Hot Chili Peppers (they played for over an hour!) included hit after hit. It was a great way to finish the festival, but we would not have minded if the rumors about Daft Punk came true. The crowd was going nuts for Wu Tang as they took the stage, and it was like witnessing history watching Rodriguez perform on the Gobi stage.

A beautiful night in Indio.

Overall, weekend one was a total success. Be sure to follow Addie’s adventure during weekend two on our Twitter & Instagram.

If you’re not familiar with Indio’s biggest festival, it’s a music festival that spans two weekends. It’s filled with good tunes, celebrity spottings, funky fashion and, most of all, great times! And no matter what band you’re there to see, you’re bound to have an awesome experience (just make sure you stake out enough wiggle room to dance the night away). We understand you probably have a pretty packed list when it comes to concerts – so we’ve created a to-do list outside the concert grounds to ensure that your time in Indio isn’t wasted. Take a look at our top spots below:

• World’s Biggest Dinosaurs – As seen in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, these massive concrete dinosaurs are just 10 minutes west of Palm Springs. Don’t worry, though, they don’t bite!

Worlds Biggest Dinosaurs. Photo Credit: 101 Things To Do Palm Springs

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – Take the tram 2.5 miles up the side of a mountain and you’re instantly in a forest that seems totally out of place in the middle of the desert. It’s about 30 degrees colder there, too, so be sure to pack your favorite AE Sweater!

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Photo Credit: Active Rain

• Shields Date Garden –This place has a wide selection of dates (no, no… not like actual human dates, we’re talking about the purple dried fruit that looks like an overgrown raisin). Try everything from Chocolate Covered to Honey, or try a Date Milkshake, as requested by our Music Man, Brad S. Buy a sampler pack, but don’t be surprised if you finish it before you even leave Palm Springs.

Shields Date Garden. Photo Credit: Roadfood.com

• Las Casuelas Quinta – Great Mexican food isn’t hard to find in Palm Springs, but we love this restaurant for their great patio. We suggest indulging in one of their Burrito Especiales.

Try Las Casuelas Quinta for an authentic Mexican cuisine. Photo Credit: Las Casuelas Quinta

• Palm Greens Café– The perfect spot for health nuts and omnivores alike. We dream about their banana chocolate chip gluten free cookies and fresh pressed green juice. Music Man, Brad and Social Media Coordinator, Cassie ate breakfast here every day during the AE Spring Break 2013 Photoshoot.

Try a delicious meal from Palm Springs Cafe. Photo Credit: Facebook

 

• If you’re staying at the Ace Hotel, stop down at the Amigo Room. It’s how a hotel bar should be – old Hollywood, a cool and varied crowd and an awesome beer and cocktail list. Check out trivia night on Tuesdays for a chance to win fun prizes – our AE team won tickets to the Palm Springs Film Festival as a runner-up prize while they were on location during our Spring Break 2013 Photoshoot.

Ace Hotel. Photo Credit: Cassie P, Social Media Coordinator.

• Jiao- If you’ve had enough fish tacos for one trip, try this Asian-fusion joint. It’s located on the main stretch of Palm Springs, Palm Canyon Drive, and has a great outdoor seating area. The menu changes weekly, so everything is fresh and original.

Stop by JIAO for an Asian-Fusion inspired meal. Photo Credit: JIAOps.com

• Vintage Shops-– Take home a piece of quintessential 50’s and 60’s Palm Springs by stopping by any number of antique stores that line the Coachella Valley strip malls. From furniture to pop culture artifacts to vintage clothing, there’s something for everyone in just about any store you walk into. We suggest checking out Deja Vu Vintage Finery and Route 66 West.

Check out Deja Vu Vintage Finery for one of a kind cothing and jewlery. Photo Credit: Deja Vu Vintage Finery

Thanks for checking out our guide to everything Palm Springs. We hope to see you there!

The Stone Roses –  If you don’t know The Stone Roses, make it a point to get familiar. They came out of Manchester pre-Oasis, and while there are similarities in the music, The Stone Roses sound has more of a psychedelic and house music influence. Start with “Fool’s Gold” and “Waterfall”.

The Stone Roses. Photo Credit: NME

Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes released their debut and most successful album in the mid 80′s, but the sound is much different than what you would consider classic 80′s music They fit right in with 90′s alternative and include classics like “Blister In The Sun”, “Kiss Off” and “Add It Up”.

The Violent Femmes. Photo Credit: MXDWN.com

Dinosaur Jr. -What more can be said about this legendary indie band? When Guitar Hero first debuted, most of us in the know thought it was about the adventures of singer/guitarist J. Mascis (well, it should have been). You’ve seen him in Portlandia, but now it’s time to see him live—which is how Dinosaur Jr. was meant to be heard.

Dinosaur Jr.

The Postal Service – When you put out just one album 10 years ago that became an instant classic and haven’t toured since, you’re bound to generate some excitement. This is a rare opportunity we suggest you don’t miss. There are other dates this summer but no indication of anything afterward.

The Postal Serivice. Photo Credit: The Dallas Observer

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Speaking of 10-year anniversaries, these L.A. natives first headlined Coachella back in 2003 (and again in 2007). They have the headline spot Sunday night to close out the festival. Flea recently partnered with Thom Yorke to form Atoms For Peace, so we have to wonder… surprise guest?

The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Photo Credit: The Sheaf

Alt-J –One of the more—if not most!—buzzed about new bands. The unique blend of post-rock, folk and electronic elements doesn’t sound quite like anything else… and maybe that’s why it’s so addictive.

Alt-J. Photo Credit: Factmag.com

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend release their third album, Modern Vampires of the City, about a month after Coachella. We are excited to get an early listen to the material, in addition to all the great tracks from Contra and their self-titled debut album. If the rest of the album sounds anything like killer single “Diane Young”, we’re in for a treat.

Vampire Weekend. Photo Credit: Pretty Much Amazing

Hanni El Khatib –Another artist touring in support of a sophomore album. Head In The Dirt takes all the rawness and energy from Hanni El Khatib’s first album but is maybe a bit more polished. This one has been in heavy rotation at AE—check out the remix of single “Penny” by DJ duo Classixx at http://www.ae.com/classixx.

Hanni El Khatib. Photo Credit: 92.3 WTTS

Whether you’re here to see bands you’ve loved for decades or are stoked to discover new tunes, this music festival has a killer lineup that will satisfy any music connoisseur’s craving. For those of you going, safe travels and see you soon at a festival that you will never forget!

First on our list, of course, is our new Festival Bra. This bandeau is great for showing off a splash of color and it’s perfect under flowy tops and low-cut tanks. Plus it’s a great way to stay cool in the festival heat.

The Crocheted Cover Up (find it at aerie.com soon!) is flirty and fun in any color. Its lightweight fabric is ideal for rising temperatures and the lace hem adds a bohemian touch.

A romper is a super easy solution to stay stylish in the desert heat. We love the Lace Romper because it’s a blank canvas—then you can go crazy with accessories. Complete your festival look with a pop of color—add some funky jewelry and a vintage fringed bag.

The Juliet Bikini is a great versatile piece for any festival goer this season—it does double duty as a bathing suit or corset top! Wear it with a great pair of denim cutoffs and every style site will want to take your picture!

These Printed Sleep Shorties are such a fun addition to any festival outfit. The pattern adds that perfect pop and flair to any outfit, and we love their island vibe. Pair them with a cute flowy top and a colorful Festival Bra. Before you know it, you’ll be the one setting trends.

Remember, festival season is all about taking essential pieces and adding your own personal touch to make your outfit funky and fun. This is your time to explore trends that you may not necessarily try on a regular basis, so experiment, be creative and most importantly, have a blast!

Ellen and Addie prepping for Indio.

What music are you most looking forward to during your time at the festival?

AP: Festival season is all about having fun in the sun while looking chic and dancing the night away to your favorite bands. Music is a huge passion of mine. It’s hard to say what concerts I will be attending (I want to attend them all!), but some bands that I’m super excited to see are Phoenix, Sigur Rós, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bassnectar and Yeasayer!

EH: I cannot wait to get back to the desert and check out the bands attending this year’s festival. I have been slowly attempting to listen to every band on the lineup since it was announced, and I’m sure my coworkers have appreciated my daily music selections. Recently, I’m loving the tunes coming from Hot Chip & Phoenix, and I cannot wait to see The XX in person. Pretty Lights and Vampire Weekend are definitely topping my list and I think I share the sentiment with most people that the Red Hot Chili Peppers closing the show on Sunday night is the best way to end the weekend.

What are you packing and what trends are you most looking forward to seeing?

AP: Another thing I love about festival season is the fashion! You can find some seriously funky people repping amazing trends during this festival. I’m a big fan of the bohemian look so I’m excited to see a lot of fringe and lace going on. No matter what, festival season is all about experimenting with trends that you may not normally wear in everyday life, so have fun with it!

EH: It’s safe to say that I have been planning outfits for Indio since I left California this time last year. I’m so excited to check out the desert’s best fashion show and see all of the crazy ensembles the festival crowd puts together. I’m predicting a sea of crop tops and booties from the girls and hopefully a few fashion tanks from the guys. Check out the essentials Addie and I will both be  filling our suitcases with:

• Aerie Festival Bra: This year’s edition of our Festival Bra is the perfect to wear under a low-cut tank. The hidden underwire gives you the support you need to dance all day, and it comes in a variety of festival-ready colors. Pair it with some fun, flowy shorts (another festival essential) for a rockin’ outfit.
• AE Crocheted Festival Dress: This is perfect for channeling our inner flower child. Pair it with booties and lots of arm candy to complete your look.
• A great pair of sunglasses: No matter what facial frame you have, you can never go wrong with a classic pair of sunnies. This year, Addie is going for round frames and Ellen will rock a pair of cat-eyes.
• Aerie Juliet Balconette Bikini: Let’s face it – Indio wouldn’t be Indio if you didn’t hit up at least one pool party. We love the new Juliet bikini from Aerie for its fun, tropical prints and the practicality of staying cool in the desert heat.
•  Booties: A solid pair of booties will take any outfit to the next level. The AE Fringe bootie is perfect for a look that’s both comfortable and versatile.
• Backpack: Surviving a day in the desert heat requires carrying around a few necessities and we are all about backpacks this year. With enough space to carry the essentials, the backpack makes walking around all day and dancing in the sun a breeze. The AEO Studded Canvas Backpack is our personal favorite.

And most importantly … DON’T FORGET YOUR FLOWER CROWN!

Most looking forward to running into…

AP: If I were lucky enough to run into a celebrity in Indio, I would have to say Kate Bosworth would be my choice. She’s the quintessential festival girl… edgy, chic and definitely a party girl.

EH: Nothing beats prowling all of my favorite blogs for a recap of the latest festival fashion coming out of Indio. I am looking forward to seeing what my fave Indio alums, Vanessa Hudgens and Diane Kruger, have put together this year.

We’re so excited to bring you the music festival experience if you can’t be there in person! Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pose and Facebook for the latest news on what’s happening in Indio.

Our last day at Coachella… we danced, we laughed and we sweated it out.