While trying to discover your personal style, I’m sure you must have come across different fashion styles. The list is endless, from chic to minimalist, Afrocentric, eccentric, and many others. But your being on this page means one thing—you’re interested in bohemian fashion style.
And if that’s the fashion style you want to imbibe, you’ve come to the right place.
You’ll find all you need to know about Bohemian style in this guide. We’ll also show you how to pull off outfits that exude this style starting with the pieces in your wardrobe.
Ready to dive in?
Let’s get right into it.
Brief Origin of Bohemian Style
Before we establish what this style entails, let’s take a look at its origin.
The bohemian style began in the 19th century as a counterculture that appeared in France after the French Revolution. It stems from the Bohemians. That is, people who are from or live in Bohemia, the western region of the Czech Republic.
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As written in The Bohemian Free Thinker, the word Bohemian also defines someone who lives an unconventional lifestyle, has a free spirit, and doesn’t conform to any rules or standards.
Furthermore, Bohémien was also the term the French used in describing the Romani or “Gypsy” population of France. They are said to have originated in northern India and migrated to Mid-West Asia and Europe about 1,000 years ago.
And that was how the English language adapted to describe people who were non-conformist, unorthodox, unconventional, and held anti-political views.
However, today the word has evolved. It no longer has a pejorative undertone but instead has become complimentary.
It now connotes anything hip and chic. In addition, it not only relates to fashion but also includes home decor, artistry, restaurant, and music styles.
What is Bohemian Fashion Style?
Some call it Bohemian chic or boho while others call it boho chic. Whatever you call it, the meaning remains the same.
Bohemian style incorporates effortless, relaxed fashion. Its dominant features are loose clothes, casual accessories, bright-colored prints (mostly floral), natural accessories, earthy tones, maxi pieces, and an overall artistic outfit.
Many people mistake Bohemian style for hippie style. But the two aren’t the same. To prove this, let’s see what makes them different.
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Is Bohemian Style the Same as Hippie?
Though boho is related to hippie, they aren’t the same.
Hippie style is known for its psychedelic colours, long hair and casual, unconventional dresses. On the other hand, boho-chic is laidback and features natural colors instead of loud ones.
Boho style has more mainstream acceptance. However, while hippie is unisex, Bohemian style focuses more on femininity.
How to Adopt Bohemian Fashion Style
1. Be Ready to Layer
Bohemian style involves putting together different looks from your wardrobe to achieve a unified outfit. Most of the time, this may involve layering.
A pro-tip is to keep your kimono, denim jacket, or tunic handy.
2. Wear Clothes with Details
This includes busy prints, ruffles, fringes, feathers, tassels, etc. These boho details come in different fashion items ranging from clothes to handbags, shoes, purses, shawls, etc.
They can be either crocheted or made with materials such as lace, applique, embroidery, beads, sequins, crystals, macramé, etc.
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3. Invest in Sustainable Fashion
Boho style is sustainable. And that means you’ll be doing more thrift shopping and recycle your old pieces to create new boho chic looks.
So when you buy jackets, scarves, shawls, dresses, denim, leather, and other vintage outfits to look boho-chic know for sure that you’re saving the planet too.
4. Wear Maxi Stuff
Be ready to shop maxi dresses, skirts, kimonos, tunics, etc. Boho chic style is free-spirited, remember?
So, keep your major clothing free-flowing, loose-fitting, and not constricted to your body. But if you feel like they’ll be too loose on your body, pair them with tight-fitting pieces.
For instance, you can pair your maxi skirt with a tank top for a cute boho outfit
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5. Accessorize Attentively
Boho fashion also incorporates colorful scarves, chunky jewelry, gypsy earrings, wide-brimmed hats, suede ankle boots, open-toed sandals, flip-flops, etc.
The details aren’t only in the clothes. They lie in the accessories too.
Use these tips when you want to dress the modern boho chic way. And remember to keep things natural. Work with neutral colors and save the bold ones for non-bohemian fashion style outfits.
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