With thanks to adidas Originals

Everywhere you looked there were minis worn with knee-high boots, boys in jorts, ribbons affixed to hair, halter tops and strapless tops, Sambas and Gazelles for the practically minded, Ruby sequins and stripes, the classic festival-uniform of bikini top + denim shorts, and many, many tattoos.

We lost count of all the brat merch, both official and DIY (much more brat, tbh): neon green tees printed with ‘toitū te tiriti’, ‘gay son’, ‘dux and on the benefit’ (very brat!) and the much more succinct, ‘cunt’.

On-stage, the ensembles reflected Tāmaki Makaurau’s summer heat, with Olivia Dean in a fluttery gold slip dress adorned with sequins, Clairo wearing gingham capri pants and bra, Remi Wolf donning a leopard print cap and bright blue sunglasses (we also loved 2Hollis’ Rick Owens high-tops, Joey Valence and Brae’s Warped Tour-core and Beabadoobee’s striped hood). You could tell who in the crowd was part of which musician’s subculture; though most were clearly there to indulge in their version of a brat summer.

Headliner Charli xcx took to the stage as the sun set in front of a euphoric, heaving (and very sweaty) crowd, wearing a crinkled black crop top and mini by the brand ATXV and her glorious curly black hair styled by New York-based Kiwi Matt Benns. The freshly awarded Grammy winner was spotted in the crowd listening to other acts before her set; she later made an appearance at a private after-party at Ponsonby bar Goblin.

Photographer Abigail Dell'Avo went along with her Olympus MJU 2 camera to capture some of the Laneway looks amongst the sold out 30,000 people crowd, and Tasmin Reade asked festivalgoers a few hard-hitting questions.

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Nastarsir Ruangwong and Joseph Nuval

What is your favourite place to shop?

We love thrifting at St Vinnies in Onehunga – I got this Levi’s jacket for $1.

Are you wearing sunscreen? Which one?

Coconut Le Tan, SPF 50!

Muroki

Who are you most excited to see?

Olivia Dean.

READ MORE: Hey Muroki, you have good hair

Teuila 'Ofamo'oni-Ah Hi and Geoffrey Matautia aka @southsides 

What is the last lie you told?

That Teuila is pregnant (for fun).

Evie Burgin, Faith Holley, Joy Holley and Tessa Keenan

What political matters are important to you?

Mental health, honouring Te Tiriti, housing!!

Zoe Laws and Ollie Baldwin 

Who are you most excited to see?

Charli and Clairo!

Shelly Slack and Stephen Ward

What's the secret to a long marriage?

The secret is being best friends!

Abbey Gamit, Kev Shen, Tommy Jiang and Tyrun Posimani aka All My Friends collective

What is your unpopular fashion opinion? 

Tyrun: I don't like flip flops.

Abbey (while wearing a tank top with words and jorts): I hate tanks with words and jorts.

What are you loving at Laneway? 

Brat green, the gays and cowboy boots.

Holly Brake and Troi Dennis

Where did you meet?

We met at school, but we are not high school sweethearts. We reconnected years later when we met on Hinge, she (Holly) messaged first...

Anna Bentley and Erin Mattingly

Where’s your outfit from?

Anna: An Aussie surf shop, H&M and Docs.

Erin: An Eagles jersey from Trade Me, Poppy Lissiman and adidas Sambas.

Zoe Walker Ahwa and Rebecca Wadey

Where are your dresses from?

Rebecca: Ganni - but if you read our Nice Things column you’d know that already!

Zoe: Batsheva's Laura Ashley collab.

Favourite song off brat?

Zoe: I'll lose it when she plays the 365 remix and Sympathy is a Knife.

Rebecca: Ummmm, I Think About it all the Time.

Zoe: Spring Breakers is also a very Ensemble song!

Tom Hoare, Elijah Broughton, Beth Gray

Who is your favourite local designer?

Isaac Kettle.

Theo Newbold, Brittany Cooper, Turner Bloom, Luke Guilford and Harry Davis

What do you like to cook?

Luke: I’ve been making some delicious ceviche with some high quality fish.

Thoughts on Donald Trump?

Turner Bloom: Evil man.

Favourite font?

Harry Davis: Anything on Pangram Pangram.

Favourite household item?

Theo and Brittany: Eames Chair, have spent over 5-10k! We have matching tattoos!

Tyrone Antunovic and Jack Mcdermott

Favourite local artists?

Cursed Arcade and Park Road.

Ben Smith

How are you coping in this suit?

Quite breezy.

Favourite colour?

Brat green!

Did you love the colour Brat green before Brat?

Yup! My room was brat green.

Lucy Guo

What is your favourite place to shop?

Facebook Marketplace, the algorithm is so good.

Mitch O’Sullivan, James McCracken and Abigail Dell’Avo

Who is your favourite artist at the moment?

Mitch: Ravyn Lenae.

James: Loe Shimmy.

Abigail: I;ve been bopping some FLO. We love girl group RNB baddies!!!

Cait Johnson and Alice Hansen

Who are you most excited to see today?

Clairo and Fckers.

Tasmin Reade and Charlotte Long

Drink of choice?

Charlotte: Sangria.

What is your favourite book?

Tasmin: Orlando by Virginia Woolf.

Who or what inspires your style?

Tasmin: The Devil wears Prada and/or my very chic granny 💅🏻

Tiana Karaka, Abby Soraya, Nick Lamain and Shinae Karaka

What star sign are you?

Cancer, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Virgo.

Elloise Jennings and Ian Bamber

What’s in your bag?

Elloise: Brat shirt! Nivea Sunscreen and a lighter.

What is the significance of your taonga?

Ian: I got it from my Dad for Christmas.

Chris Steel

What's your day job?

I am a youth worker, a DJ (I play house music)... oh and I am a kids' clown!

What is your dream pair of Adidas?

Ooooh, I love the Gazelles; I want to get a green pair.

What size shoe are you?

Size 9.

Ruby and Rosa Ewing

How do you pronounce Adidas?

Ad Dee Das.

What are the shirts you are wearing?

Croatia National Football! We are super big fans. Blue is the away jersey, and white is home.