Reaching the height of its popularity in 2005, the boho chic style is a retro hippie style that first flourished in the 1960s and evolved over the ensuing decades. The style is characterized by billowy skirts, embroidered tunics, and hobo bags, among other things. While admittedly this style continues to evolve, it has seemed to remain essentially the same. The style is also one that allows a woman to show her feminine side through the clothes she wears.
The characteristic that differentiates the boho chic style from the true bohemian or hippie look is that it is true style. Those donning the boho look are not poor and unable to purchase a trendy upscale wardrobe pieces. Instead, those arrayed in the boho chic style are purchasing pieces to outfit their look from expensive stores with big names. Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs, and Anna Sui are just a few of the designers who have featured boho chic styles on the runways for their collections.
The boho chic style is about taking the basic style elements seen in the bohemian look and personalizing them. There is no set standard for how a certain piece of apparel must be worn. A gauzy cotton tunic can be left loose and worn over a skirt. Alternatively, that same tunic can be worn with the same skirt and cinched with a leather coin belt. There are no set colors that should be worn together. Rather, it is a basic mix and match approach, with the only style constraints being the desires of the person wearing it.
While at first glance it may appear that boho chic is a cluttered look thrown together at the last minute, it is not. It is instead a well-executed, classy look. The look, while appearing carefree, is thoughtfully constructed and not in the least overdone. Pieces are purposefully chosen and put together with intentional thought. The key to successfully dressing in this style is to think chic.
Boho chic style has been brought to attention by celebrities like Nicole Ritchie and Sienna Miller. Twins Mary Kate and Ashley Olson seem to favor this fashion trend as well. In Britain, it is Kate Moss who became the trendsetter for leading the way to capturing the essence of this style. While these celebrities have most certainly received attention for appearing in this style, it is apparent that any woman dressing in boho chic most certainly makes the style her own.
