Festival Fits & Glitter Freckles: Pinterest Breaks Down 2025’s Hottest Summer Style Trends

From pop princess glam to pastel goth grunge, this year’s festival season is serving bold beauty and unapologetic fashion energy. As Gen Z gears up for Electric Island, Osheaga, and beyond, Pinterest is where outfit inspiration begins—and searches are skyrocketing. We caught up with Sydney Stanback, Global Trends & Insights Lead at Pinterest, to chat about the viral styles dominating summer 2025, how fashion is becoming genre-specific again, and why glitter freckles might just be the new flower crown. —Noa Nichol

Pinterest is often where trends are born—what do this year’s top festival fashion searches tell us about Gen Z’s evolving sense of self-expression?

What we’re seeing on Pinterest is that Gen Z isn’t committing to one single aesthetic. They’re confidently exploring multiple sides of themselves through fashion. From “main pop girl” to “pastel goth,” each trend is less about following rules and more about playing with identity. Pinterest gives users a safe space to experiment visually, which is why we’re seeing a mix of maximalism, nostalgia and moodier self-expression thrive in parallel.

From “pop girl aesthetic” to “dark angelcore,” how do you see music genres shaping the visual identities of festival-goers in 2025?

Music has always shaped festival fashion, but in 2025, it’s defining entire style identities. Pop fans are leaning into glam with glitter freckles, bold minis and glossy finishes, while those drawn to darker sounds are channeling “dark angelcore” (+330%) and “ethereal grunge (+307%).” On Pinterest, music isn’t just heard; it’s seen, worn and used to build a visual identity from head to toe.

Brands like Scummy Bears are tapping into this trend with their rave wear and festival fashion, offering a mix of edgy, playful looks for both men and women. Outfits from their artist collabs with Sullivan King, Kompany, and Midnight T. rep the scene with bold and trippy graphics. They add a unique twist if you want to combine dark aesthetics with fun, vibrant festival style.

With a 516% spike in searches for glitter freckles and a 1058% jump for leopard print mini skirts, what does this tell us about the return of Y2K maximalism?

The resurgence of Y2K maximalism speaks to Gen Z’s love of expressive, unfiltered fun. On Pinterest, users are embracing sparkle, bold prints and nostalgic staples with a 2025 twist. It’s not just about replicating early 2000s looks. It’s about remixing them in a way that feels both fresh and deeply personal.

The rise of “soft goth” and “pastel goth” suggests a moodier vibe—what’s driving interest in these darker, dreamy aesthetics?

These softer goth aesthetics are resonating because they blend emotional depth with creativity. Searches for “soft goth style” (+1558%) and “purple gothic nails” (+963%) suggest Gen Z is tapping into introspective, romanticized looks that reflect both inner moods and outer style. Pinterest gives them room to explore these aesthetics in a way that feels affirming rather than performative.

Searches for “leather outfit aesthetic” and “hardcore punk” are also surging—do you think we’re seeing a rebellion against hyper-polished fashion, or something deeper?

There’s definitely a shift happening. As hyper-curated content floods other platforms, Pinterest users are gravitating toward rawer, edgier aesthetics like leather, DIY punk and vintage rockstar vibes. These are looks that embrace imperfection and attitude, which gives users space to show up more authentically.

With 20% of Gen Z Pinterest users saying outfit planning is a top reason to attend festivals, how is Pinterest evolving as both a planning and shopping platform?

Pinterest is where the outfit planning starts. Users build boards weeks or even months in advance, collecting looks, beauty inspo and accessories. Increasingly, it’s also where the shopping happens. With features like visual search and shoppable Pins, users can go from idea to purchase and bring their vision to life. 

Can you speak to the connection between festival fashion and emotional identity? How are users using aesthetic boards to explore or assert who they are?

Festival fashion is more than just getting dressed. It’s a way for users to express how they feel and who they want to be, even if just for one day or one weekend. Music festivals in general are safe places for Gen Z to creatively explore their identities. Pinterest boards are not just aesthetics – they’re personal mood boards that capture a mindset or emotion. Whether it’s the streetwear look of “rapper core” (+393%) or the charm of “Clairo style (+126%),” these looks help users visualize and embody different aspects of their identity.

What regional differences—if any—are you noticing in how Canadian festival-goers are planning their fashion and beauty looks versus global users?

Canadian users are leaning into layered looks and more functional fashion like oversized track jackets and leather pieces while still embracing expressive details like whimsical nails and pastel makeup. There’s also strong interest in hybrid aesthetics where softness meets edge, which reflects the diversity of Canadian festivals.

Pinterest boards curated by designers like Ramisha Sattar are helping people plan down to the detail—do you see this influencing how brands or retailers show up at festivals this year?

Absolutely. Creators like Ramisha are bridging the gap between inspiration and execution. Their boards don’t just showcase trends, they guide users through how to pull a look together. Brands that show up with that same level of thoughtfulness with outfit pairings, accessory edits and beauty breakdowns are better positioned to connect meaningfully with Gen Z consumers.

If you had to sum up 2025’s festival fashion moment in one word or vibe, what would it be—and why?

Multiplicity. This year’s festival looks aren’t about one dominant trend. They’re about exploring the full spectrum of self. Whether it’s full-glam, grungy, nostalgic or otherworldly, users are showing up with layered identities and curated contradictions. It’s about celebrating all sides of who you are, loudly and visually.