phatgirlzvintage

[phatgirlzvintage]

#1. Boho is back, and not because of TikTok.

What do you think of when you think of boho?

For me, I think about floaty dresses, walking barefoot in the grass, crochet, gorgeous earthy tones and patterns, the French revolution, world peace, Woodstock, the 90s, and don’t forget the bohemian queen Sienna Miller.

Boho is very much a free-spirited style. It mixes different cultures and artistic expressions and merges them into this all-embracing style, with a specific emphasis on nature, think “Earthy girl”. The Boho style stands for freedom, peace, art, love and joy. It is more than just a fashion trend; it describes an unconventional and creative lifestyle. The origin of bohemian style is debated; however, it is believed to have been influenced by the nomadic lifestyle of the Romani people in the late 19th to the early 20th century. A lot of elements of boho-chic became very popular in the late 1960s, fashion then meant bohemian maxi dresses, florals, loose fittings and silhouettes, paired with oversized sunglasses and handmade junk accessories. The Boho colour palette is made up of earthy and rich colours such as maroons, deep yellows and greens and more neutral shades such as beige, pastels and browns, completely avoiding fluorescent and neon colours as this would go against the earthy, natural shades. Boho fashion is about feeling comfy and at ease, garments are often made with comfortable, soft and natural fabrics, like chiffon, cotton, suede, denim and leather. It also consists of embellishment that are eye-catching, like beadwork, embroidery and studs.

With Y2k and 90s still dominating the fashion world for the 5th year in a row (and rightly so), boho has now made a comeback. in 2004, Sienna Miller was spotted at Glastonbury in an era-defining outfit, that was thick with bohemian influence, an official festival look was established in that moment, from then to around 2007, there wasn’t an it-girl in town that didn’t implement Boho into their daily outfit, think the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie, billowing fabrics and cropped jackets. In 2022 we saw Boho all over the runway, from Albertta Ferretti’s multitiered sundresses and gladiator sandals to Altuzarra where Gigi Hadid appeared in tie-dye.

This year, back in February at Paris Fashion Week, we saw Chloé reintroduce bohemian chic in their AW24 collection. We were presented with flowy maxi dresses with lace bodies and mini capes and coats.

Something about this comeback makes me feel so happy as a fashion designer and slow fashion business owner. I can’t decide if it is because this style was brought back by the runway, or because I see more and more people choosing a more sustainable lifestyle and not submitting to the TikTok microtrends that are destroying this decade’s fashion. And if you think I’m mad, I am. I am tired of microtrends and overconsumption, capitalism. Two months ago, everyone was trying to dress like Griselda Blanco, this month everyone is wearing leopard print jeans and bows, or was that last month? You see, identities are no longer shaped by our communities, it is now shaped by the latest algorithmic trending item being shoved down our throats. “Oh my god girls you HAVE to buy these, the material is amazing” meanwhile the material is 90% polyester, and the garment was made by a five-year-old in an illegal sweatshop in a third world country, that has a 70% chance of ending up on a giant waste tip in Africa in a year’s time because God forbid, we outfit repeat. Pursuing overconsumption in the quest to explore your identity is the new norm. But that is a topic for another article, but hopefully I have made you think about your fashion choices going forward.

Styling boho

A good pair of jeans is a boho wardrobe essential. Wide legged denim jeans with embroidery would be my go-to. These embroidered high-rise jeans by Citizens of Humanity are perfect and can add the boho vibe you are seeking to the outfit.

Another boho essential is this long puff sleeved halter neck top that has been made with the classic floaty fabric, the epitome of boho vibe. Top from Miss Rosier.

Another essential that I personally love is a long patchwork maxi skirt.

This patchwork tiered midi skirt is so beautiful and such an essential if you want to achieve the boho look, this skirt can be worn with a simple white fitted t-shirt and some black platformed sandals.

Lastly, my favourite boho staple. Crochet.

A crochet bag, a crochet dress, a crochet top or even a crochet hairband. Anything crochet (and I want to emphasise – ETHICALLY MADE CROCHET), is the epitome of boho vibes.

Crochet is a versatile craft that is inspired from several centuries of needlework, and its popularity continues to grow even today. Yarn is usually made up of old materials, used cotton, denim and recycled plastic fibres which makes sustainable and kinder for our planet. The possibilities are endless with crochet, you can pretty much make anything with some yarn and a crochet needle. Anytime I tell someone I crochet (unless it’s a fellow crocheter I am talking too) they always assume I’m like an old lady who makes lumpy sweaters all day. This stereotype needs to go.

The earthy girl boho style has always been one of my favourites, I feel it’s a combination of a little bit of baddie a little bit of boho. Think healing crystal jewellery and some sparkly lipgloss.

These are some of my personal favourite styles from Pinterest.

Maybe after reading this, you are on board with the rise of bohemian style, or maybe not. It isn’t for everyone, but you can incorporate the trend into a look and not succumb to it entirely. Personally, I love it. I am hoping we see more trends come back gracefully on the runway and not by a TikTok influencer pushing it for commission who has no understanding of fashion at all. Don’t be scared to at least try the trend, fashion is fun and all about experimenting. Treat yourself to something new (and something you will wear more than once!) or even check out some online thrift brands or vintage pages on Instagram and Depop. You might find a hidden gem.

If you have made it this far, thank you for reading my work. I hope you come away from my writing having learnt something new and feeling inspired. - Kat

Written by @katydataurus