What is Bohemian style of clothing?
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle usually involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits; followers of such a way of life are called bohemians and they dwell outside the bourgeois mainstream culture. Wikipedia
But you need not live on artistic or literary pursuits (very difficult to do so nowadays) or reject all burgeois practices (can’t live without Macdonalds or Iphone) to adopt the Bohemian style of clothing or as it is known today as the Boho chic style (a stylized version of the bohemian style).
The boho style stands for a lot of things we all want in life – a free nomadic lifestyle, adventures, care free spirit, individualism, creativity. These qualities are represented in the bohemian clothing style in the form of these essential elements like using long flowy silhouettes, earth colors and earthy elements etc.
Bohemian elements you need in your wardrobe to be counted as Boho
1. Use of Natural materials
Woven or knitted fabric is favored over synthetic fabric in this style. Cotton, linen, velvet, silk, leather, suede, the fur are the chosen fabric on account of their being natural fabrics. Hand Crocheted cardigan or dress is an example.
Wooden beads and glass beads are preferred over plastic beads. Leather and canvas are preferred over synthetic vinyl for bags.
2. Earthy natural colors
Natural colors like beige, brown, earthy red, white, ochre, orange, dark green are usually given preference over other colors for clothes as well as accessories.
List of colors for Boho fashion style
All earthy colors and neutral colors are suitable for the boho style. The colors you can include are Olive Green, Rust Orange, Mustard Yellow, Terracotta, Sand Beige, Dusty Pink, Mocha Brown, Cream, Slate Gray, Caramel, Deep Burgundy, Khaki, Burnt Sienna, Dusty Blue, Natural White and indigo blue.
3. Design elements like tassels, fringes
These additions are incorporated into shoes, skirts, bags, jackets, purses shawls and tops. Lucky charms are added to bracelets and necklaces.
Feather earrings, coin bracelets, shell chokers are all bohemian accessories which are much in demand.Check out posts on making tassels, making beaded tassels, making fringe trims
4. Flower embroidery
An embroidered bag is a must have in a gypsy wardrobe.
5. Long dresses and necklaces
Long Maxi skirts, maxi dresses, kimonos, sarongs are all staples, as are long necklaces.
6. Multi purpose Shawl ties
Shawls are used as Headwraps, head ties or even bag ties. A Bandana tied as a headwrap also looks quite bohemian.
7. Printed fabric
Floral Prints, tie and dye, batik and ikat prints are all very popular in boho clothing. Imagine the typical floral gypsy outfit. Nature inspired and tribal prints are also seen.
8. Layering of clothes and accessories
Layered necklaces are a typical boho style. You can create a layered look in clothing by wearing a loose cardigan over your top or an oversized shawl wrapped over your outfit.
The lagenlook style proclaims you as a true blue boho.
9. Loose flowy style
Breezy blouses and dresses are staple bohemian clothing. The summery look of loose clothing is very casual and appealing, especially when paired with ripped jeans or embellished denim. Check out the 18 ways that you can embellish and decorate your denim jeans
Cotton Kaftans, sarong beach wraps all fit this style. Flowing loose Lace dresses are also very much Bohemian
10. Casual shoes
Beaded sandals, Clogs shoes, Roman sandals are the preferred bohemian types of shoes. Ankle boots and Cowboy boots are also worn.
11. Statement jewelry in metal
Chunky metal necklaces in silver ; Any number of chunky rings; Anklets – all bohemian.
12. Oversized clothing and accessories
Oversized cable knit sweaters and oversized sunglasses are very much a part of the gypsy boho look
13. Wide Brimmed hats
14. Interesting Head pieces
Checkout this article for wonderful inspirational pieces of bohemian headpieces .
15. Distressed Denim
Slightly flared Denim jeans or cut-off shorts, which are made to look worn and rugged are big in bohemian style.
Splattering paint on it, writing with markers, washing in bleach, scraping with distressing tools, patching with other fabric – there are many ways you can convert your staid denim to suit your bohemian sensibilities. Checkout this tutorial on 15 ways to distress your jeans.
Dreadlocks
Another important element of a bohemian style is the Dreadlocks
A true blue Bohemian would definitely be having the dreadlocks.They complete the whole gypsy look.
It is very easy to go overboard with the Boho style. Especially if you are petite and you are adopting the full boho-chic look of overflowing oversized long clothes. You are likely to be submerged, overwhelmed, and be invisible in your clothing. Keeping your figure, body shape in mind is advised, as in any style.
One advantage of the bohemian style is that there is no dilemma of matching accessories. You can mix and match and layer to your desire and still look good. You can incorporate chosen gypsy elements in your style to look sufficiently boho-chic – like a breezy top paired with denim and long necklaces. Or add a big oversized bag with fringes along with sandals to your free-spirited, laid-back, and nature-inspired approach to dressing.
Just ensure that you do not end up looking disheveled and frumpy in the boho-inspired clothes you have chosen.
Fashions come and go but the Boho style remains true in the minds of its followers. A boho-chic girl always remains true, come what may in fashion.
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Thank you! I’ve been wearing Boho Gypsy style for decades and didn’t even know it! Great article and very interesting clothing to complete the Gypsy Boho look.
Love Boho style – nice article