Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Flower Child: Boho Basics

When you think of Boho style, you might immediately think of  late 1960s hippie fashion.  While that era does standout as a beacon of Boho style, the origins of Boho may surprise you.

Boho is short for Bohemian which refers to the area of eastern Europe know today as the Czech Republic and during the 1800s it referred to the Romani or Gypsy population and as early as the 1860s the term has been associated with a style of free and creative living and a defiance of conventionality--basically because it was a bunch of young, rich elite, living without restraint to their passions and whims and dressing like a group of people they deemed uncivilized.  Kind of sounds offensive when you break it down like that, but don't get offended.  People are so offended all the time, it's so boring.

Today we mainly think of Boho fashion as loose, flowy garments made of natural fabrics, and a little embroidery never hurt, in fact I think the embroidery is my favorite part.  
As I see it, the trouble with Boho is there are bad outfits out there that get labeled as Boho when what they really are is lazy.  It's a fine line between loose and baggy, between comfortable and, well, sloppy.  Boho is a style that does take some thought, so here are a few tips for dressing Boho Chic. 

1.  Loose Not Baggy.  You should be able to breathe, but your clothes shouldn't be falling off you.  And always contrast a loose fitting piece with something more snug i.e. a loose tunic with leggings or a peasant skirt with a fitted tee. 

 2.  Go for the Fringe.  Accents like fringe, beads, ruffles and, my favorite, embroidery, help sell the boho look.  You don't have to go overboard with it though, my dress has an embroidered floral border and some eyelet.  Sweet and simple. 

3.  Avoid Artificial Anything.  Look for natural fabrics in natural colors.  Polyester and neon are a no-go for boho.  I'm wearing an ivory cotton dress, but wool, leather, and linen are also great fabrics.

4.  Accessorize.  While I generally prefer to keep my boho outfits fairly accessory free, wide brimmed fedoras, slouchy bags, and chunky jewelry all add a chicness to a basic boho outfit.

And, now comes the part of the post where I write something to tie it all together and wrap it up.  But, today, I got nothing...........so.........The.....end (?)

Shopping Info:  Thrifted Dress

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