Modern Bohemian Style from Poverty to Luxury

This post tells the history of modern Bohemian Style from being the fashion of a counterculture living in poverty to an accepted luxurious personal style. The post presents the look’s roots, its development over the centuries, key elements, and how to get the look.

 

 

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

 

What Is the Definition of Bohemian Style?

Bohemian style refers to an alternative fashion and counterculture with a specific ideology that differs from the tradition and mainstream trends of a given time. The term Bohemian goes back to the French word bohème which translates to unconventional, non-conform. It is used to describe a writer, artist, lifestyle or way of dressing. On the contrary, the French word Bohémien(ne) refers to a person (as a noun) from Bohemia. Used as an adjective, the word describes s.th. as being typical for Bohemia.

 

Where Are the Roots of Modern Bohemian Style?

Like with many style tribes fashion, art, music and political positions are intervened. Contrary to common believe, the roots of Bohemian style reach back to France at the end of the 18^th century. During the French Revolution, artists and writers let a life of poverty. One way to cope with their bad socio-economic situation was wearing used, old clothing. The public associated artists of all kind with idleness, living a outside of social norms and tradition. Thus, the public called them the bohèmes, which is French for an unconventional, non-conform person. Once the political and cultural situation improved, the artists kept their eccentric looks. This means they now purposely expressed their individuality and group identity through their clothing.

Fashion has to reflect who you are, what you feel at the moment, where you're going. – Pharrell Williams #quote Click To Tweet

 

The Romantic Era of the 19^th Century

In Europe, wars and revolutions were fought with the goal of democracy. In 1848, the movement failed. Many of those who wanted democracy left Europe to immigrate to North America (when possible). After more than 60 years of political instability, people desired peace and retreated to romantic ideas. It’s this time, from which many of the key elements of the Romantic Style are taken or at least inspired.

Concurrently, the Romantic Epoch started in art, writing and cultural life. People from the mainstream started to associate the romantic and often eccentric intellectuals of the era with the French bohèmes.

 

 

French Bohèmes, Political, and Orient-Inspired Influences

Both groups wore flowy garments, peasant-like shirts and old clothes with distressed fabrics and anti bourgeois, destitute ideas. Think of Carl Spitzweg‘s oil painting The Poor Poet (1838). The poet’s sleeping cap relates to the Jacobean or liberty cap of the French Revolution. It symbolized the republican resistance. More on the history of hat style.

The romantic intellectuals also wore colorful, often orient-inspired clothing. They accessorized with elements of medieval or nomadic gypsy origin. The gypsies lived in Bohemia, a region on the East European Balkan. Therefore, the counterculture of arts, creativity and disregard to social norms and aesthetics got the term bohémien.

 

How Bohemian Fashion Found Its Way into Mainstream Fashion

In the 20^th century, designers like Paul Poiret and William Morris included various Russian and Middle Eastern ethnic and intricate, highly ornamental (lush floral prints, paisley, swirls) elements into their fashions, respectively.

 

The Impact of the Hippie Era

In the 1960s, the Bohemian Movement became closely related to the Hippie / Flower Power culture. The Hippies rejected the conventional lifestyle, social constructs, materialism, established institutions, the politics of the time and the Vietnam War. The great developments in the production of dye allowed for colorful attire.

The globalization and improved possibilities of mobility (e.g. hitch rides) permitted traveling and inclusion of ethnic dresses and embroideries (see this guide for styling embroidery) as well as jewelry. Since the new movement had its origins in North America, fringes, beading, turquoise jewelry and mixed prints as well as wide dresses joined the Bohemian style choices. The former three elements have their origin in Native American tradition; while the latter goes back to the dresses of the pioneer times. The previous to last addition has its roots in the American Civil War. During that time, women crafted quilted blankets from old clothes and/or left-over fabric for the soldiers.

 

 

Like the French Bohemians the Hippies were poor and often wore old, distressed clothes. Their fashion opposed the mainstream polished, classic tailored silhouettes of the time. Style icons of that time were Jane Birkin, Jade Jaeger and Ali McGraw, just to mention a few. Today Judi Dench comes into mind.

 

Modern Bohemian Style

Like so often in fashion history, the clothes of the counterculture entered in mainstream. The original lifestyle and political ideology (poor, opposition to the traditional values) has gotten lost or at least has been diluted. The once effortless, comfortable, cheap, creative mismatch of fashion elements from various epochs and cultures turned into a curated, relaxed, (often expensive,) well-defined, identifiable style. In other words

From poverty to Luxury.

 

 

 

The look itself is now an (accepted) alternative to the traditional way of dressing as a personal style preference. This style is even work-appropriate  as long as you don’t  have to dress in corporate style at the office or go to a job interview. This fashion choice may or may not come with a more liberated lifestyle and world view.

 

Key Elements of Modern Bohemian Style

As pointed out above, Bohemian is all about wearing rich items in a capriciously way. Key materials are lace, crochet, suede, leather, wood, rattan, denim, silver, gold, turquoise, coral, amber. Key patterns are ethnic-inspired like lattice, ikat, tribal, folklore as well as floral and paisley prints. Furthermore, ornamental repetitive Middle East inspired pattern are part of the style. Embroidery, beads, mirrors, lace, gold-color paint and fringes often serve for embellishment. More on looking ageless in the Global Trend.

 

 

Key pieces are low rise frayed jeans, corduroys and patch pocket flared jeans, delicate dresses and tunics with floral, paisley, ethnic or ornament prints, peasant and tired (often crinkled) skirts. Furthermore, crochet or cable-knit sweaters, vests and cardigans are essential style elements. Other typical clothes are peasant blouses, button-down prairie camisoles, dip-dyed or tie-dyed (more on the history of dyeing) tanks and T-shirts as well as beaded, embroidered or mirror embellished boleros. A denim jacket, favorably in a natural looking wash, is a Must-have.

Often pieces are in maxi length like a maxi double-breasted coat, maxi-skirts and floor-length dresses. Dresses and tops often have an Empire waist. Sleeves are blousy, flatter style, ruffle-hemmed, puffy or embroidered. More on styling awesome maxi dress outfits.

 

Favorite Accessories

Accessories reach from ornament-like jewelry, hammered cuffs, feather cuffs, wood bangles, over-size semi-precious gemstone rings often with raw stones, teardrop earrings, coin, wood and beaded necklaces, rough leather messenger or saddle bags, slouchy velvet evening bags, ethnic fabric hobo bags and totes and head bands. Jewelry is often from India or of American Native origin including Alaska jewelry.

 

 

More examples of best earrings for your style.

 

Typical Footwear

Footwear includes shearling ankle boots, flat strappy tan leather sandals or gladiators, flat Mary Janes in satin, denim or crochet. Clogs, wood-wedges and espadrilles are further options. The 1970s style block heel tan boots are winter favorites.

 

The Iconic Bohemian Style Flared Jeans

The photo below featured the high raise flared jeans that is the icon rooted in the 1970s. More on the 70s style.

 

 

 

Crocheted Clothing

Crochet vest and jackets have their roots in the Hippie Era. During that time, yarn left-overs determined many patterns. More on Retro Crochet patterns. However, today these items have a solid color – typical a neutral.

 

Where to shop for Boho style

Today, a wide variety of Boho clothing and accessory lines exist. Examples are Anthropologie, Free People, Island Style or Wendy Mignot. You may also be lucky to find great peasant skirts and shirts as well as Boho dresses at Fashom (mention it in your style profile) and Leafy Souls. The cheapest option for clothes – except second hand – is H&M. A great source for shearlings, leather jackets and vests (with and without fringes) is LeatherCoatsEtc.

Great places to search for jewelry and vintage clothing are flea-markets, second hand stores (thrift stores), and any tribal markets worldwide.

 

What Are the Best Colors for a Boho Look?

Neural earth-inspired colors like warm browns, and muted blues. Fashion colors for accents are muted warm reds, and muted yellows and warm muted pinks. Black, navy and dark brown are on the deep end of the colors.

 

How to Have Modern Bohemian Style?

Use the key elements and layer. The goal is to try to create a relaxed gypsy look. Recall this look bases on the poor (read vintage, second hand), Hippies (distressed, ripped, tie dye, ethnic pieces, long hair), and traveling gypsies (colorful clothes, mixed origin, jewelry). Try

• Fitted bralette or corset over flowing shirt or vice versa
• T-shirt, vest, long cardigan
• Underskirt under a skirt
• Dress over pants
• Plaid shirt over paisley or ethnic print dress. More on mixing prints and patterns.

 

Influencers with Bohemian Style

There are many influencers on Instagram and in the blogosphere who don their interpretation of the look. Some of my personal favorite bloggers donning the look are

• Debbie of Your Style Story,
• Samantha of Fake Fabulous,
• Patty of Not Dead Yet Style,
• Shauna of Chic Over 50,
• Rhoda of Southern Hospitality,

just to mention a few.

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References

Döbler, Hannsferdiand, 1972. Kultur- und Sittengeschichte der Welt. Kleidung, Mode, Schmuck. Bertelsmann Verlag, Gütersloh, Germany.

Robinson, Julian, Calvery, Gracie, 2015. The fine art of fashion illustrations. Frances Lincoln, Limited, London, UK.

Young, Carolin, 2016. Style Tribes. Frances Lincoln, Limited, London, UK.

 

Recent photos of me: G. Kramm

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