The History Of The Boho Style

The term 'Bohemian' itself began hundreds of years ago as a word that described the local eastern European gypsies, who hailed from an area called ‘Bohemia’. They were traveler who led unusual and nomadic lifestyles. Because of this they had to travel light and by layering their clothing, there was less to carry. On their travels they encountered many different cultures and they would adorn themselves with textiles, trinkets and treasures from afar.

What we know as 'Bohemian Fashion’ was born out of necessity. After the French Revolutionary war, the economy and social hierarchy of Europe changed dramatically. No longer did artists, musicians, writers or intellectuals enjoy patronage from well-to-do sponsors. Instead they were left to their own devices and it meant, for a lot of them, they simply didn’t have the money for the latest 'on trend' items. So they began to wear second hand clothes, mix-matched clothes, and basically anything they could afford, styled by their inherent creativity. What was a reaction by a poverty stricken class of people, has morphed into something much larger.

As time marched on, these same creative, mix-matched souls began to use their fashion as an act of rebellion. No longer did they feel the need to conform. This liberation led their choice of clothing to become a form of personal expression and it could be as unique as they desired. The artist became the art. The rules of how to dress, how to act, how to be, had been thrown out the window by these free thinking pioneers. They led simple and authentic lives, passionately dismissed materialism and ignored the status quo of the day. Ironically, the style itself shied away from minimalism and generously incorporated minimalism.

Exotic prints and textiles were mixed with historically outdated fashion, colours co-existed in bold ways that fashion had never seen before. Bohemian fashion had arrived.

This unruly ideology has wandered the globe over the years much like the gypsies that inspired it, and has likewise been picked up in some way by every free spirit the generations have blessed this earth with. Rich undercurrents of returning back to nature and retreating from the civilized world heavily influenced the symbology often used in Bohemian Fashion.Such as, feathers, leafs, stones and shells. As this concept meandered through different cultures it has adopted many unique looks along the way. 

Boho Chic Becomes Mainstream Fashion

As we can see the things we associate with 'Boho Chic', have their roots in our collective history. The gypsies of years gone, layered up out of convenience and necessity. When we layer up our clothes and our jewels to create our daily masterpiece, we follow in their well trodden alternative footsteps. Even some of the prints we wear are deeply rooted in history. Paisley, for instance, is recorded to have been first invented as far back as 221 AD and was a print that was commissioned for a local religious group, with its signature tear drop shape representing eternal life! There is always more than meets the eye, if one scratches beneath the surface.

Historically speaking, Bohemian Fashion has been linked with counter-culture underdogs being opposed to oppressive mainstream culture. Ironically, nowadays the term ‘Boho’ gets thrown around left right and centre and the fashion itself has, in some ways, become completely mainstream. Some would argue that the term ‘Bohemian' in its truest sense should no longer be used in this modern version of the concept. But let us remember that it is up to us, the individual, to ensure that we follow not just trends, but follow our hearts and stay true to ourselves.