I wear steel tip work boots, cut offs, wife beaters, coveralls, welding jacket,goggles, a cowboy hat and call it good for the most part.

I suggest planning for comfort over style for the most part. Have clothes ready for any temperature,or weather condition. Costuming is fun and all that, but seriously- being able to stay warm or cool as the situation dictates is WAY more important to your good time.

Also, nothing with sequins, feathers, or any of those little things that can fall off onto the playa. MOOP is not your friend.

But for a few good cheap simple ideas- slips are good,lingerie, a corset or two, boy shorts, knee socks, a pair of high boots that you can walk in ( again comfort over style) and you got pretty much a costume.

And all can be found in thrift stores for cheap.

Cute panties, good socks, comfy shoes sunglasses and a sunhat. Add sunscreen and you're good to go. Throw something warm into a bike basket in case night catches you fast. I HATE wearing clothes during the day, even light, airy ones. At night, tights, boots, and whatever strikes my fancy, as long as it's got an adjustable thermostat (layers, etc.)

Leg warmers are the one thing that I always recommend...I wear them every night and they do wonders to keep you warmer.

Daytime: slips, cute underwear, bikini tops, wraparound skirts of any kind (including a random piece of fabric just tied a the waist)...but the best thing both comfort and style-wise was my kimono. Sooo comfortable and I got tons of compliments too. Check out some old-school bathing suits too--super cute and most have awesome support built in.

Nighttime: I find it easier to have a few layers going and one large coat. Hats are awesome and cute. Arm warmers are also good, as are scarves. Having warm things on your feet/ankles, head, neck, and wrists will go a long way toward keeping the rest of you warm.

As noted by others here, I go for comfort way over style every time...eight years has proven that I will gladly wear the same comfy slip five days straight than the uncomfortable but oh so cute corset thing that doesn't breathe and is kind of itchy. This goes twenty times over with shoes...comfort over style every. time. I wear heels pretty much all the time, so I dig platform sandals in the day and fairly high boots at night. Oh, and don't forget the slip-on slippers/sandals that you'll want when you're stumbling to the bathroom first thing in the morning or at night, or just lounging at camp making breakfast or whatnot.

Underwear to keep dust out of certain places. Other than that nothing, but a hat, during the day and at night I bundle up completely, it gets freezing cold!

Ditto ditto on the fishnet thing. It defies logic but somehow they help to insulate the body, trap it's heat.

Also ditto ditto on comfort over style, but I like to wear platforms whenever I can cuz I'm convinced that the higher up you are from the ground, the less dust you breathe, and since I'm short, every little bit helps. But if you're not comfortable with platforms then don't. The added altitude isn't worth the risk of turning an ankle.

Also, sarongs are wonderful since they're really versatile and you can find so many lovely patterns and colors these days.

Find a way to attach your stuff to your body -- I have a sturdy leather belt with metal O-rings to which I caribiner pouch, camera, water bottle, etc. to free up my hands. Make sure everything you wear has storage, lots and lots of pockets, deep ones, and some that fasten closed somehow.

Don't forget goggles, but tinted for daytime use and clear for nighttime use, and scarves or dustmasks. The dust storms the last few years have been fierce.

Ya know what? You really should check out the Playalicious Playwear tribev-- playaliciousplaywear.tribe.net/

Have fun!!!

I agree on the fishnets. If that isnt' enough, a pair of flesh colored tights under the fishnets is even warmer. My favorite night time apparel is fleece pajama bottoms. They are warm (even warmer with tights under), comfortable and come in an amazing array of colors and patterns. I bought our coats at a thrift store and added a strip of faux fur to the collars, sleeves and bottom for an easy playa coat.

During the day, I wear a lot of skirts, cute dresses and tank tops with bra shelves. I HATE wearing a bra on the playa but am too top heavy to go without support. I also wear cotton pajama bottoms during the day. I just bought a pair of pajama bottoms with bright colored circles all over. They look like a twister game made into pants. I cut them off and sewed hot pink and lime green lace on the bottom for some wild bloomers. I tend to go for bright colors and light, breathable fabric.

Other essentials........sarongs and scarves to cover my shoulders from the sun and my face during a dust storm; my playa bag with sunscreen, camera, snack, paper & pen, kleenex, etc. that I carry everywhere; my lanyard with mini flashlight, lip balm, bike lock key that I wear everywhere; comfortable tennis shoes and slippers to wear around camp and the first morning trip to the potties.

That is awesome that you might get to go to BM this year! Those who have pointed out that sequins in the playa are not a good idea, are correct. However, there is an easy, fun way to salvage your skirt (since you seem crafty). Make an organza overskirt for it, and sew it at the waist and hem. That way you still get all the sparkly glittery funness of the sequins without the dreaded moop effect. Believe me, you will feel awful if you leave a trail of sparklies wherever you go. Hope it works out for you and you get your cherry popped!

I love sarongs. During the day they can be a dress or skirt or keep the sun off your shoulders. And I love to dunk them into the melted cooler water, wring them out and wear them wet during the hottest part of the day. Sleep under a wet sarong, or hug friends with a wet sarong, its all wonderful.

I go with ruffled undies, boy shorts, boots and a bustier, and something to manage my curly long hair. That's my style there. And goggles and resp mask as needed.

I know I am completely insane, but black corsets (the trick is to change out of them at least once a day, and not to sleep in them). Usually worn with a very not bike-friendly long iridescent green prom skirt I found at Goodwill, sides tied into balls with two simple hair ties. And black Hot Topic boots I got in high school and are now permanently playafied.

There's also this long-ass iridescent purple jacket that someone from a costume camp lent me last year and I never returned it because it was so toasty warm and I couldn't for the life of me find their camp during the daytime. Might return it this year, or give 'em something equally toasty and cool-looking in return. Because egads, I love that jacket. ^____^