Jennifer Nicholson’s tips for going to Coachella

“It’s an Instagram dream,� Jennifer Nicholson says of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which starts Friday for the first of two successive weekends. “When it comes to fashion, you see everything there first.�

Nicholson, the fashion designer daughter of actor Jack Nicholson, recently returned to her career after a five-year hiatus while raising her children. She has opened a new boutique, Pearl Drop, on Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, as I wrote last week. (And I’ll have more details in this Sunday’s Image section). So this year, she is going to Coachella with a model in tow. “It’s the best advertising in the world,� she says, referring to the chance to get her new designs in front of the legions of festival style photogs who cover the event, not to mention stylish festivalgoers themselves.

Nicholson has been a Coachella regular for years, and she’s learned a lot along the way. Here’s how she survives in style, in her own words:

To sleep: The Safari Tents. It’s like fairy princess camping. You still have to use Porta Potties, but there’s air-conditioning, a refrigerator and a chest of drawers. And I like how they put down wood floors and the grass peeks up through the slats. I also like to bring sheepskin rugs and colorful blankets to make the tent look cute. Another key thing is a Jawbone wireless Jambox speaker, so your iPhone can be your music player.

To eat: The food trucks are amazing, especially Gravy Train. If you are camping, bring two coolers, one with lots of iced drinks, including water, Vitamin Water, beer and hard lemonade, the other cooler with your favorite snack foods like chips and salsa, cheese and crackers, fresh strawberries, apples, bananas and almond butter — 72-hour picnic style!

I’m wearing: Light layers and comfortable shoes. A GoldDust hippie dress, my own Dream Catcher jacket and Heyoka leather purse, big sunglasses, big hat and short boots (Chloe Susannas). Statement accessories such as Alex and Lee necklace and Borgioni stretchy beaded evil eye bracelets (which look great mixed with festival-pass bracelets as you will flash your wrist often.)

Don’t leave home without: Mustela face wipes, Colgate Wisps single-use toothbrushes and toilet seat covers are a must.

Favorite memory: Hanging out with my old friend Amanda de Cadenet backstage in 2011. It was a funny moment for her, because her ex-husband (Duran Duran’s John Taylor) and her current husband (The Strokes’ Nick Valensi) were playing back to back!

ALSO:

Coachella 2013: What to see and do

Jennifer Nicholson is designing an image of her own

Boutiques that emphasize locally made wares pop up on Lincoln Blvd.