Boho Through The Years

The boho style has a lot of history attached to it. If you are an enthusiast of boho fashion, read this piece to lean about where it all began!

Where It All Began?

The Bohemian style is a lot more than a style but a culture. The Bohemian culture first appeared in France. The French revolution gave rise to the Bohemian culture. The proletariat of the time did not have much money or resources to come up with fashionable looks and often donned comfortable and cheap clothing. The artists of that time had no status and thus often struggled to earn a living.

With the fall of the bourgeois, the artists were then seen as role models and formed a cult of their own. The cult had a laid-back style where everyone expressed themselves with the way they dressed. The Romantic Movement gave rise to self-expression and the Bohemian cult was seen as freedom thinkers who chose comfort over everything else.

Self-expression through clothes became a widely accepted phenomenon and people applauded artists who expressed their innermost beliefs with their lifestyles and wardrobes.

Post Liberation Boho Looks

Henri Murger, the renowned French Novelist wrote that the 'Bohemian people were a group of artists and intellectuals who wore threadbare coats, worn-out shoes and had a very comfortable persona. The Bohemian of that time had adapted to the medieval clothing styles and donned colorful fabrics. They had long unruly hair and wore hats as a style statement.

Later, during the Aesthetic movement, the cult of Aesthetics fought against the social norms and decided to bring the old fashion to speed. They believed that the whole industrial revolution was a dehumanizing movement where workers were exploited, and they chose to rebel with their clothes. They wore loose clothing, and the fabric was exclusively soft. Organic dyes were used to colour these clothes, and the embroidery was not from the factories but hand-made. They still, however, voted against the restrictive clothing. The cult was completely against the corsets and wanted their clothes to be more comfortable.

The name 'Bohemian' was a common slag among the masses, meaning 'Gypsy'. Since the followers of this movement were against materialistic views, they lived life with necessity rather than a luxury which showed through their clothing.

Come the 20th Century

Bohemian fashion took a turn, and in the 2Oth century, it was a fashionable choice for both the poor and the rich. The fashion then evolved with floral prints, swirls, and accessories. This era then eased into the Hippie Era, wherein in 1960, the cult grew bigger, and people stood against the conventional lifestyles. There were new additions to the attire. One could now find flared silhouettes along with

patterns of mixed prints and embroideries. Many people also incorporated their ethnic wear into their attire, ensuring it represented their culture.

The hippies completely dismissed social constraints and chose to voice their opposition through their dressing style. Their fashion stood opposed to the popular fashion of tight-fitted, luxury clothing. From then on, the Bohemian style has seen several seasons and changes. In the 21st century, the style is isolated from its history and is only seen as a mere fashion statement.

In the 20th century, however, the Bohemian style was more closely associated with the younger generation, where people used it to differentiate themselves from their preceding generations. The cult turned fashion trend welcomes more variations that gave birth to styles such as Beatniks, stripped shirts, floral dresses, and turtle necks.

Furthermore, Bohemian style turned into something that was a mix-match of different clothing articles thrown together to achieve a unique look. The counterculture continues to exist in the upcoming generations as the fashion industry is very welcoming of quirky and unique ideas. At present, it is not an alternate style, but a fashion statement that people carry day in and day out.

What Is The Bohemian Look?

If you are looking at the cult from the outside, you might not know what the Bohemian look constitutes. Here are some elements of the Bohemian Style that have passed the test of time:

· Natural Fabrics- The bohemians were against synthetic fibers as they were a product of bad working conditions. They preferred the use of natural soft fabrics.

· Loose Clothing - Restrictive clothing meant confining to societal norms, which is why bohemians often opted for loose oversized clothing.

· Scarves - Colorful scarves wrapped around necks added a pop of colour to worn-out and faded clothing.

· Worn Out Clothing - Clothes with withered fabric were preferred over brand new clothes.

· Persian and Indian Designs - Designs from the world's cultural hubs were favored as they showed diversity and had interesting looks.

· Layering - jackets or long coats over a dress or loose shirts were a common fashion style. Layering with mismatched clothing was also quite popular.

· Handmade Jewelry - Instead of buying jewelry, Bohemians preferred making their own. This showed that they cared and put love and effort into their self-expression.

· Hoops - Hoops were and still are a very prominent part of the bohemian look. The Bohemians wear Hoops of all shapes and colours.

· Patchy Clothing - Clothing with patches is a conscious choice for many boho fashion followers. It gives off the 'poor' look, which is one of the core principles of the boho look.

· Ruffles - Ruffles and out-of-the-ordinary sleeve styles are an interesting choice for bohemian followers to make a fashion statement.

· Robes - Loose clothing is not just limited to dresses. Robes and kimonos are also popular style statements in Boho fashion.

Boho Now

Nowadays, we can see just about anyone donning on the boho look to make a fashion statement. It is no longer the fashion statement for the poor but has become a trend for people from all walks of life. The evolution of the boho look is quite the journey many should learn about!