Bohemian fashion is one of the many styles I haven’t explored or experienced before. I love scrolling through Boho outfit inspiration on Pinterest but I have never attempted the style for myself. Knowing very little about it and it’s history, I decided to research and explore this style for the first time.
Despite being heavily associated with Hippie fashion (which became popular in the 70s as a political statement), Boho style first appeared in the 19th century. It stemmed from the Bohemian counterculture that appeared after the French Revolution. This culture was based around the economy at the time which saw many artists facing poverty that they had previously never experienced. Used and often unfashionable clothing was worn, allowing people of the time to express an eccentric sense of individuality through their clothing. This meant the use of natural fabrics, historical patterns and creative silhouettes. Most Boho clothing is loose-fitted and flowing, paired with accessories like long necklaces and weaved handbags.
Boho Chic takes inspiration from Bohemian fashion and incorporates more modern and popular trends into the style. This style is viewed as separate from Bohemian fashion as it is considered more conventional and “trendy”, however, the self-expressive and creative elements from traditional Bohemian fashion are still prominent.
After doing my research and gathering inspiration, I raked through charity shops and sale rails. I decided to explore this style as I found plenty of secondhand clothes that fit into this fashion genre more than traditional bohemian style. I also think Boho Chic clothing is easier to incorporate into my wardrobe and more wearable for me. Putting together outfits fitting this style was surprisingly easy as Bohemian has resurfaced in runways fairly recently, especially for the summer.
For my first look, I found a secondhand dress originally from New look. The bold-patterned, off-the-shoulder dress was practically calling out to me to buy it for this post. Complimented by a pair of white wedges and a long beaded necklace, topped with a woven shoulder bag and the outfit was complete. This style was certainly out of my comfort zone but I was surprisingly comfortable. I’m used to more form-fitting clothing so it was a nice change. As well as that, bold patterns like the one on my dress are rarely found in my wardrobe but the slightly muted colours calm down the busy-ness of the pattern. It was overall a stylish and unique outfit that I’ll undoubtedly wear again.
My second outfit is a little more accurate to Boho Chic compared to the first one. The acid-washed denim shorts with the lace panels on the sides are very early 2010s, they are fairly modern looking and easy to wear with other styles. The top, originally from Superdry, is also modern and easily styled. I wore the same necklace, wedges and bag as the last outfit. I enjoyed putting this outfit together and wearing it was a treat. The shorts were a bit big for me but thankfully the top is long and flowy so it covered it up perfectly. This made it hard to wear for long periods and I felt slightly self-conscious. However, Ryan cheered me up by informing me that I looked like I jumped straight out of Mamma Mia.
Despite this fashion style being far out of my comfort zone and unlike any of my usual clothing, I enjoyed putting these outfits together and experimenting with these looks. I love the colourful and intricate pattern on the dress I got for my first look and I love the lace in my second one. Exploring this style was fun but this post was a long time in the making. I had the first outfit planned and practically ready before I took my long hiatus last year. Most of the clothes in this post are secondhand but finding the perfect shoes for this post was especially difficult as every pair I found in charity shops weren’t my size. The wedges and bag are the only brand new items I bought for this post, everything else was secondhand.
I enjoyed learning about and exploring this style and I’d recommend trying it out to anyone unsure of it. As it is far outwith my usual style, I might find it a little tricky to make some of these pieces more wearable but I think the style is perfect for dipping your toes into in the summer for going on holiday or to the beach for a day or two if you don’t want to commit to the style fully, which is fine. Fashion is all about finding styles you like and exploring them on your terms, whether that means wearing them almost every day or once every couple of months. There are no rules when it comes to fashion.
Thank you for reading x
Photography: Ryan Duff
Thrifty Mango 