The Afropunk Festival is over but the fashion will live rent-free in our heads forever: Here are 10 of the best looks

  • I attended this year's two-day Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn, New York.

  • Attendees came decked out in their own interpretations of "punk."

  • While the outfits ranged from punk rock to flower child hippie looks, the common theme was Black joy.

Like many, I had seen snapshots and videos of the Afropunk festival — begun in Brooklyn in 2005 as a grassroots celebration of Black alternative music — throughout the years, but something seemed to always get in the way of me going. I didn't quite know what to expect at the festival, but I did know one thing: attendees would bring the fashion. Yes, the music at Afropunk is a draw for many — with artists including Teyana Taylor, Vince Staples, and Flying Lotus performing this year — but it's the fashion that keeps people coming back year after year.

Sheer joy radiated from the festival-goers. Their outfits ranged from punk rock realness to soft flower child vibes, but each person I saw looked so comfortable in their skin and their self-expression that the happiness was contagious.

I knew going into Afropunk that I would get a lesson in fashion, but what I wasn't expecting was a seminar in Black joy.

Here are some of my favorite outfits from this year's festival.

This man was pretty in pink

Man in pink shorts and top and heels with long braids at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

When people think of Afropunk, leather-adorned rocker outfits tend to come to mind. But this year, I saw several people taking a note from SZA and opting for more whimsical looks.

This man's look was pure 'flower child.'

Man in orange shirt and jeans at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

You expect to see flower crowns at festivals like Coachella, but Afropunk was no different. Flowers were everywhere, adorning 'fros, braids, and Bantu knots.

Pink was everywhere.

Side by side Black woman in pink dress at Afropunk
Christina Montford/Insider

Pink has been the color of the moment, with Barbie fandom oozing into every aspect of culture lately. Some were able to take Barbie pink and make it punk.

Pastels were in abundance.

Topless man in purple pants and flowers in his hair at Afropunk festival
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Pairing pastels with chains was an easy way for some people to take their fits from preppy to punk.

Some went for angelic white.

Woman in white dress outfit at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

A stark contrast to many of the more goth 'fits, some festival-goers opted for more angelic looks.

This woman embodied a warrior.

Woman in chainmail outfit with chainmail headpiece at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

Of course, some people opted to stick with the traditional punk route. But hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

While this woman channeled her inner goddess.

Woman in all pink see-through tulle outfit with flower headpiece at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

Pink and florals don't seem like a mix that you would see at Afropunk but somehow the girliness of these two style choices worked together perfectly.

Some attendees opted for tribal prints.

Woman in red top and orange tulle skirt at Afropunk festival
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Tribal prints are always going to make an appearance at a festival and honestly, I'm not mad at it.

This attendee's outfit drew a crowd.

full body shot of man in flat blue hat and dashiki at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Afropunk

Mixed prints can be tough to pull off, but leave it to the Afropunk crowd to get it right every time. There was a line of people waiting to take a picture of this 'fit.

Homemade headdresses were on display.

Side by side woman in orange dress and flower headdress at Afropunk
Christina Montford/Insider

A great way to add flair to a look is with a headdress. This year, people really used headwraps, headdresses, and hair pieces to express themselves.

And this woman gave punk pixie.

Woman in black bodice adorned with rosettes and wearing matching rosettes in hair at Afropunk festival
Christina Montford/Insider

Again, this year was all about taking feminine elements and giving them a punk rock spin. This outfit paired tulle and flowers and still somehow came out looking spunky.

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