The Streetwear Lover's Guide to Notting Hill Carnival

The biggest weekend in every Londoner's calendar is finally here! Yes, we are, of course, talking about Notting Hill Carnival, London's annual celebration of everything Caribbean. Over the weekend, millions of people from near and far will descend onto the streets of West London's Notting Hill neighbourhood to party the day away at one of the carnival's many stages.

Naturally, with such a large event comes the added pressure of making sure you're looking sharp, so for those who aren't planning to wear a string vest or go shirtless, we've got you covered. Just because it's carnival doesn't mean you have to go too far out of your comfort zone, so we've prepared a selection of tips and tricks to make sure you're looking your best this weekend.

Yeah, we know what you're thinking: 'But the weather doesn't look that good?!' Well, what if we told you it doesn't matter? Each year, up to 2 million people attend Carni, and let's just say for those who haven't been, it can get congested in some spots. Unless you have ice running through your veins, you're going to get warm from the heat of the crowd, so make sure to utilise those lightweight layers.

Believe us, unless you're staying out late into the night, you're going to want to ditch those hoodies and sweats. Instead, be sure to embrace short-sleeved shirts, tees and maybe even a tank top if you can pull it off.

Part of any good Carnival experience is getting lost, and with the notoriously sh*t phone signal, it can be a bit of a nightmare to find your friends afterwards. To ensure you have the highest chance of being spotted or spotting your pals, be sure to wear something that's easily identifiable.

Unique graphic tees, loud colours or intricate prints will all come in handy in this scenario, so don't shy away from going for the maximalist approach when it comes to your outfit.

As tempting as it may be, Carnival is not the place to be wearing your deadstock kicks or any other footwear or apparel that might be valuable for that matter. We've all had something spilt or knocked over us by accident, so it almost goes without saying there's more risk of this happening this weekend.

In terms of footwear, make sure to wear something that cleans easily. Leather kicks are the way forward in our eyes because at least you know they're likely to shape up nicely afterwards. Also, don't go flexing a full white fit because you're basically begging for it to be covered in someone's Magnum.

In the (un)likely event that the sun does make an appearance, you're going to be praying you bought a hat along. With the booze and the heat, Carnival can be an unforgiving place if you become dehydrated, so make sure to pack some H20 and pack some headwear!

A simple cap or bandana will not only elevate your outfit but will also go a really long way to ensure you don't end up with heatstroke on a Bank Holiday Monday.