The boho aesthetic (once defined by its effortless, free-spirited mix of flowy fabrics, earthy tones, and festival-ready layers) is starting to fade into a sleeker Zara Larsson-inspired vibe.
This year’s Coachella started on April 10-12 (Weekend One) and on April 17-19 (Weekend Two), located in Indio, California, where artists Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G headlined the iconic two-weekend event.
Weekend One showed how much pop culture is being shaped by global artists and social media. Headliner Karol G drew huge attention, making history as the first Latina headliner, and Justin Bieber’s laid-back performance, partly streamed and built around YouTube visuals and clips woven into his set, earning $10 million ($5 million each weekend) by negotiating directly with the promoter Goldenvoice, the creators of Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach. Bieber also further increased his earnings through massive merchandise sales, making him the highest-paid performer ever at Coachella.
With Bieber’s earnings, some people have thoughts on whether he deserved to earn that high amount of money. COMPASS Sophomore Stella Tenny, who attended Weekend one, shares, “I thought it was really cool to see him perform with his younger self and kinda bring back that era, and I think his earnings were definitely worth it.”
Another standout moment from Weekend One came when Major Lazer brought out M.I.A. for a surprise performance of “Paper Planes.” The unexpected collaboration energized the crowd and quickly spread across social media, highlighting the continued influence of early 2000s hits.
Aside from the artists, the next major thing about Coachella is the iconic outfits. The boho aesthetic is dying down with celebrities like Kendall and Kylie Jenner going for a monochromatic and minimalist everyday look, with a white tank, denim shorts, and a baseball cap for Kendal Jenner and a white cropped ruffle long sleeve and white denims for Kylie Jenner.
COMPASS freshman Mia White states how she feels about the Coachella fashion, “I saw a lot of influencers get invited with clothing brands, so I feel like a lot of people online, specifically, didn’t really wear creative outfits.”
Similarly, Weekend Two continued the festival’s momentum and trend of throwback moments, bringing another round of viral performances and unexpected collaborations.
Carpenter had an iconic crossover moment at the festival when she brought out Madonna for a live performance of the infamous “Vogue” song.
Another standout moment from the Weekend Two came when Addison Rae surprised the crowd by bringing out Olivia Rodrigo to perform her new song “Drop Dead.” The unexpected appearance quickly gained traction online, with fans sharing clips across social media.
Overall, both weekends of Coachella highlight how the festival continues to reflect current shifts in pop culture, from changing fashion trends to the influence of global artists and the powerful role of social media in public conversation.
