Written by THARUSHI GUNARATNE for THE DESIGN COLLECTIVE
Let’s take a peek into history to discover the origin of the term boho. Boho is derived from the French word bohémien, and it was coined in the late 19th century to describe the Gypsies, or more accurately Romani, who were thought to have come to Europe from Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The Romani were wanderers who lived on the margins of society, excluded from the mainstream. In the early 1800s in Paris, their culture was romanticised because they lived outside conventional society. Over 200 years ago, bohemian was a term describing an exotic sense of style, usually associated with the artists of the time as well as with writers and certain eccentric intellectuals.
In the early 20th century, designers started taking bohemian fashion to the next level. Among them was Paul Poiret, who incorporated a variety of ethnic details into his designs, including Russian and Middle Eastern elements. Likewise, textile designer William Morris created a variety of patterns for both interior design and fashion, featuring lush floral prints, paisley and swirls, all intricate and highly ornamental.
Today, the term bohemian describes someone with an unconventional, often dismissive, view of social structures and traditions. Modern boho encompasses trends from the beatnik and hippie eras when the cultural aesthetic was similar to the bohemians, and it still represents a counterculture spirit.
Bohemian style is more than just a fashion trend – it’s an actual culture on its own. While it’s closely associated with the hippie fashions of the 60s and 70s, these days, bohemian fashion is a part of the mainstream culture.
Today, the wide variety of boho clothing and accessories make the style an actual phenomenon, one that follows the lines of effortless, relaxed fashion, with its loose-fitted clothing items, casual accessories and overall artistic, creative mishmash of elements.
If you are a bohemian spirit and want to build up your own wardrobe, a capsule collection filled with boho staples is a great kick-off point. You just need a few key pieces you can mix and match easily. Because the thing about going the bohemian route is that everything matches everything from tops to bottoms to accessories and one-pieces!
Here is our example of the perfect capsule collection to help you get started.
One of the easiest rules to apply when it comes to creating a bohemian capsule wardrobe is to start from a curated colour palette. Include both warm and cold hues. Incorporate three shades of brown (caramel, maroon, latte) or fours shades of blue (turquoise, steel, sky blue and navy) and avoid solitaire, isolated colours. This tip will help you curate a boho wardrobe where everything is easily matched, which adds to the versatility of the collection. Even if you just consider yourself a “boho lite” or just slightly whimsical dresser, these outfits are the must-haves for a boho chic look.
Palazzo Pants
Wide, flowy palazzo pants that swish as you walk are so in right now! You can wear them the ‘traditional’ way with a tank. Give your outfit some structure to keep it from veering into sloppy territory, for an easy summer look.
The Maxi
Opt for one garment of clothing that does the job for you. A wide range of bohemian garments from tunics to maxi dresses and long skirts to blouses, flows and is flattering to any body type.
All Over Print Kimono
Kimonos are a staple for any aesthetic but also one of the trendiest items right now! For a bohemian flair, opt for all over print kimono. They make great layering pieces and are light enough to wear during any season.
Accessories
One of the easiest ways to identify bohemian jewellery is to ignore all the ultra-glossy and perfectly polished metallic pieces and go for more muted, matte metals instead. Similarly, if they come with turquoise gems, tribal engravings, natural gemstones or Moroccan-inspired designs, even better. Just like clothing and accessories, bohemian jewellery is focused mostly on natural materials, often incorporating genuine gemstones. The options are endless when it comes to boho layered jewellery, the more the merrier!
Sandals
Boho leather sandals are truly a godsend. They’re the perfect choice for any warm weather occasion — they’re summery and light, yet they still look polished and fashionable. Natural coloured leather accessories are the perfect complement to these shades. High-quality leather in modern shapes keeps it chic.