In Search of Baes at LA’s Made In America Festival

Security dancing to Holy Ghost at Made In America: Philly. All gifs by Rocco Avallone.

Jay Z, the hip-hop mogul that he is, started Made In America Festival (with Budweiser fuelling the drunk good times) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September of 2012. In its first year, Pearl Jam, Drake, and Skrillex performed for 80,000 fans (over two days) and the festival generated $10 million for the city. Pretty sweet, right? Fast-forward to 2014 Budweiser Made In America Festival is doing so well in Philadelphia that Jay hatched up a plan to have the festival take place simultaneously, across the country, in Los Angeles.

I was able to attend the inaugural LA leg of the festival this past weekend, where I spent an inordinant amount of time in search of stylish baes and bros. With a lineup so diverse—and kind of random to be honest—I had no idea what to expect in terms of fashion. In between sweating profusely, many trips to the beer garden, and Kanye's Margiela-masked set, this is what I had to witness, but first, before we dive in to LA fest, here are some gifs. that summed up the Philly leg of Made.

So this happened.

"Hippies." Still happening.

Get it.

But anyway back to LA.

THESE PEOPLE WERE REALLY PROUD TO BE MADE IN AMERICA
As soon as I walked in, my vision was flooded with American flag clad men, women, and children. There were couples donning matching American flag gear, babes in American Apparel American flag bathing suits, bros wearing American flag shoes, and girls with American flag nail polish. You name it, it was American flag printed.

THE FLOWER CROWN WILL NEVER DIE
Flower crowns continue to adorn the heads of every other girl at an outdoor music festival. Even Lana Del Rey doesn't wear flower crowns anymore. Ladies stop this madness.

BE ON BRAND
Attendees were so incredibly on brand to the festival and its performers. These guys and girls not only rocked the Schoolboy Q bucket hat, they rocked the Budweiser Schoolboy Q-esque bucket hat.

IF YOU DON'T WEAR A YEEZUS SHIRT TO A KANYE SHOW ARE YOU EVEN AT A KANYE SHOW?
On the second day of the festival, the man, the myth, the legend Kanye was set to perform and Yeezus fans was everywhere. From the 50,000 attendees, more than half were wearing something Kanye-related. (They were also selling WEST jerseys at the merch booth.)

NOW FINALLY… BAES
I searched and searched for baes like a thirsty ass camel would search for water in the Sahara desert. They were few and far between, but I managed to pick them from a crowd, sometimes running up to them screaming like a lunatic, asking to take their photo, which was a really winning approach.

These ladies found me in the beer garden on the first day. I was shocked to spy their relatively minimalist outfits in a sea of American flags and flower crowns.

A couple that dresses well together, stays together. (They probably did a fair bit of sweating together too, unless they stayed entirely in the shade.)

This guy let me take his photo in exchange for information on the nearest restrooms. I took his photo. I did not know where the porta-potties were. He. Was. Furious.

I screamed when I saw this bae. Damian is a fashion designer from Australia. He just moved here last week to get married to his fiancé. His all net-everything is next level. He understands that black is chic, but perspiration is not. He gets thermodynamics. His ventilation game is on point.

The snakeskin jersey, the leather, the white Chucks. This girl was so bae, regardless of her snakebites.

This Jaden Smith look-a-like was everything.

Kimberly was made in Korea. Follow her on Twitter - @keemhatesyou

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More relevant stuff:
Catch Up on the Made In America Series, Directed by Lance Bangs
Yeezus Part Four: Kanye West Is Still a God