The Art of a Get Ready Playlist

WRITTEN BY LIZ FARIAS

COVER PHOTO: @SHEISSOBOUGIE ON PINTEREST

There’s an entire pre-party world that exists before anyone ever sees you, a quiet little bubble where the night hasn’t yet decided if it will be magical or regrettable. For some, that consists of friends yelling over the hairdryer, someone asking to borrow “literally any gold hoops,” and a bottle of something cheap being passed around. I prefer mine with a locked door, building my energy up before I brave the world. 

Being alone to get ready is both freeing and mildly dangerous. With no one there to weigh in on whether my dress is too wrinkly, music is what carries me from “maybe I’ll just stay home” to “I could absolutely conquer the world in these shoes.” 

I can trace entire eras of my life through these pre-going-out soundtracks. 2019 was my Lizzo summer. “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch” was the line that affirmed me every morning. At 17, touring college campuses in Los Angeles for the first time, I could barely hold eye contact, but her songs helped me find the confidence to explore a city I’d always dreamed of. Whether you’re into Y2K pop, neo-funk, EDM, or the Phineas and Ferb soundtrack (my other guilty pleasure), there’s a playlist for you. 

Sound and style shape how we show up in the world. Right now, my summer lives in these two playlists:

Beach Tunes

A laid-back mix of dreamy indie rock, sunlit melodies, and warm Brazilian rhythms—perfect for linen trousers, loose braids, and effortless style on slow mornings and coastal drives with friends. Listen here.

Passport to Midnight

A bold blend of confident electro-pop, edgy alt-R&B, and glittering anthems—made for leather minis, red lips, and city nights filled with rooftop views and unexpected adventures. Listen here.

As I dress to meet these playlists halfway, the music sets a bar I can’t help but rise to. Styling becomes less about what I wear and more about what I carry inside when the door closes behind me.