Coachella has already served up special moments: Justin Bieber singing the YouTube hits that made him, Seventeen cover star Sombr's debut performance, Addison Rae bringing out Maddie Ziegler to dance “Aquamarine” together. And on Sunday night of weekend one, Karol G took the main stage as the first Latina artist to headline Coachella in the festival's 27-year history. As a fashion editor, I couldn’t help but notice her sneakers.
Getting ready for the festival myself, I toggled between two shoe options: leather boots or white Reebok Classics. The sneakers won out because my feet already tingled in anticipation of the day ahead, plus they made for an unfussy pair to a sequin top, ripped jeans, and pink socks fashioned as leg warmers. I sent a picture to a friend and received a "hot stuff" response in return. Exactly the validation I needed to walk out the door!
The Coachella crowd largely agreed with the instinct toward easy dressing. Festival veteran Kendall Jenner (spotted this year making out with Jacob Elordi) wore a simple white tank top and shorts. By day three, Alix Earle opted for a sweatshirt and the freedom of reckless abandon. Lived-in style references from the aughts recirculated, like Kate Moss at Glastonbury in 2003 in only a vest, micro shorts, studded belt, and mud-clad Hunter boots. My Coachella group chat pings with a relic from 2007 of Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron followed by, "Hey so this is the moodboard."
The white sneaker fits squarely into this conversation, and it also makes the most practical sense for festival-goers walking the dusty, sun-drenched 1.5-miles from the entrance to the stages (or even me running to Addison Rae after missing the opening song from the bathroom line).
By the time I hit 17,745 steps in my own Reeboks, Karol G was taking the stage. The set was elaborate and cavelike, featuring boulders, staircases, metallic outfits, and an all-female mariachi band in royal blue suits. A water sequence with her dancers, choreographed by Parris Goebel, was one of the most electric, visually arresting things I've ever seen at a festival.
Mid-set, Karol G changed into a pair of custom silver Reebok Freestyle Hi Shoes. The Colombian artist recently joined the brand as a global ambassador in time for the relaunch of Reebok’s Classics, so the choice on stage felt like a grounded detail in an otherwise otherworldly show. She splashed around in a pool in them. She danced with surprise guest artist Becky G to “Mamiii” in them. And I looked down at my own Reebok sneakers, feet still intact after a full day, and danced with the rest of the pit.
The best Coachella performances make you forget you've been on your feet for ten hours. Karol G's did that. For me, it belongs up there with Beyoncé's 2018 set, the last time I felt a high-energy crowd completely in the performer’s grasp. Near the end, she addressed the crowd in English, a shift from the Spanish she'd spoken throughout: "I am Carolina Giraldo from Medellín, Colombia. And today, I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella." She paused, then continued, "It feels… late," and dedicated the show to her community. Flags from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and El Salvador went up across the crowd. She closed out with the crowd feeling the sentiment of the line she’d opened with: Latina Forever.
Jessica (aka Jess) is a Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan, working across both fashion market and styling for print stories, as well as digital fashion and commerce coverage. Prior to joining Cosmo, she worked in fashion at Vanity Fair. Jess lives in New York City and loves spotlighting emerging designers you might not have heard of yet—while also being an unabashedly devoted Love Island fan (dating back to Season 1 of Love Island UK, that’s how serious). See more of her work here, and follow her on Instagram if you love her.
