The Fashion Of Roots Picnic 2016 [Photo by Idris Solomon for Okayplayer]
The Fashion Of Roots Picnic 2016 [Photo by Idris Solomon for Okayplayer]

The Style Of Roots Picnic 2016

Photos by Idris Solomon for Okayplayer

You already knew this year's Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania marked a historic explosion of sonic style. Lolawolf, Willow Smith, Anderson .Paak, Lil Uzi Vert, Metro Boomin, Leon Bridges, Kaytranada, DMX and Blood Orange invaded Festival Pier, which capped off with a special collaborative performance between The Roots and Usher.

But if the artists onstage were makin' movies with their live sets, the festival-goers in the crowd were making Festival Pier a fashion runway of progressive street style. Coming out dressed to impress for a sunny, summer day in Philly is a Roots Picnic ritual, and as Will Smith rapped onstage in a surprise rendition of "Summertime" with Jazzy Jeff  and daughter Willow: "Everybody come lookin' real fine / Fresh from the barber shop or fly from the beauty salon."

Just as Okayplayer was there to document the musical magic for posterity we invited photographer Idris Solomon to document the vibrant personal style of all the beautiful people in attendance, as well as taking their temperature on the current political situation happening in America, memories of Prince and Muhammad Ali, and the acts they were excited to see this past Saturday. Were you there? Wardrobe set to "Slay"? If so, you should probably play "Where's Waldo" and try to find yourself in our gallery above. If you weren't, well, you should probably still let the FOMO kick in and check it out to see what you missed (you can also read our recap of the event here), and maybe get some style inspiration for the forthcoming first ever Roots Picnic in New York!

The most FOMO fashionistas among you will have another chance to show out because the Roots Picnic is coming to the Big Apple on October 1 and 2 at Bryant Park, and will feature performances from Deerhoof, EPMD, Trombone Shorty, Styles P, Freddie Gibbs, Jeremih, John Mayer and D'Angelo, as well as three collaborative performances between The Roots, Wu-Tang Clan, David Byrne (that's right — Talking Heads David Byrne) and Nile Rodgers.

Tickets for the festival will go on sale this Friday, so keep an eye on the Roots Picnic website.

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