Welcome to my Friday Fashion episode.
I am reflecting on the word Boho as vulgarly used in place of Bohemian and what it really means. In my seamstress shop last week the word Bohemian was thrown around so loosely that it was clear to me any of the people there knew nothing about Bohemian style. In fact the purchased wedding dresses they brought to the seamstress to be remade in the Bohemian style would turn out everything but Bohemian at the end of her work. I sat and laughed quietly at people who want so much to conform to the mass and comply with fashion.
The region of Bohemia is a region in the Czech Republic. The Czech lands belonged to the Czech monarchy. Later the land passed in the hands of the Holy Roman Empire until 1806, then became a province of the Austrian Empire under the Habsburg monarchy and finally in 1918 became Czechoslovakia Republic. The original “Bohemian People” were travelers or refugees from that part of central Europe, they were gypsies, some of them settled in France in the 15th century, hence the French word Bohémien. Being a gypsy was not a fashion statement dictated by some fashion guru of the era, gipsy girls did not give a hoot for fashion, they felt sexy and delightful precise in their folk costumes reflecting their lifestyle and heritage.
In the nineteenth century France and England nonconformists, free spirits, dropouts, avant-garde people, artists, musicians, writers and people of informal and unconventional social habits, wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds adopted the Bohemian lifestyle and congregated in lower-rent area, around lower class café-pubs in the company of like-minded people where often talks of politics and anti-establishment took place.
(All photo credits given to the respective owners)
In 1960s, the era of the hippies, the Bohemian lifestyle came back strongly as a sign of rebellion, free love, frugality, libertine and looseness of customs. In this new Millennium women even in the aristocratic or wealthy circles are mimicking the gypsies style in the hope of looking bohemian, nomadic, non-bourgeois and voluntarily poor, hence the new coined expression “haute bohème”, which makes no sense to me. Bohème is a poor looking style, not a chic designer style. You either dress down or dress up and flaunt your wealth.
What do you think? Why is this 1969’s hippy fashion so loved today? Is it because there is nothing new to invent, because newer generations want to experience a relatively old past, or because young professionals are not proud of the amount of money they make and want to dress down?
I must say that conforming has bored me always, if everybody wears it I don’t want it. I will wear a Bohemian style if I can make my own interpretation. Everyone wants to wear what others wear and think they are so individual and original. I dress according to my mood. My idea of chic is my idea!!!
I hope you too have your individual style that reflects your personality, exalt the beauty of your eyes, your hair and speak of you in an instant. If not, you might want to consult with me, do not hesitate to contact me. Ciao,
Valentina
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Copyright © 2015 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
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Sep 26, 2015 @ 14:34:37
It’s just comfortable and effortless. I have many “throw over” dresses, paired with cowboy boots and some chic jewelry and you have a great outfit. Thanks 🙂
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Sep 28, 2015 @ 03:03:20
I know it is comfortable and effortless, Nancy, to me it is just a style of the past, nothing new.
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