Style Change: Bohemian Suits Me Best.

 

I've been thinking about several things over the past month or so and each is related to generating some change in my life.  Nothing big or drastic but change just the same.  

One of the things I've been thinking about is my wardrobe.  I don't like my current wardrobe.  It doesn't feel like me. That sounds like something that will be expensive to change, doesn't it?  Not exactly.  I've a few things that fit the style I'm going to move to quite well.  Some won't but that's okay.  I have time to replace them.  It's not something I need to do all at once.

I have leaned hard in the direction of a more classic wardrobe over the past few years.  I've had a few outfits I've liked well enough but this summer especially, I've been thinking about outfits I wore in the pat that made me truly happy and felt like 'me'.  Every one of the outfits I recalled loving the best were more bohemian than classic in style.  So why I am trying so hard to force myself into a classic mode?  

Bohemian has trended at times, true, but it's never been out of style really.  Someone somewhere has been wearing a bohemian style over the past 100 years, so why not me?

What is bohemian style?  It's really a style that crosses over multiple fashion genres. Hippie, western, gypsy, prairie core... Think long maxi skirts, peasant blouses, prairie type dresses, light flowing layers of clothing, bright or rich colors, layered necklaces and bangle bracelets, beads, boots, skirts, hats, kimonos with t-shirts and jeans or shorts.  It is flowy and feminine and romantic and modest but also sexy without being overtly so.  It combines natural elements (stone beads, wood, leather, linen, cotton, lace).  Most often the patterns of the fabric may be floral or native patterns, but it can also be solid neutral colors.  Bohemian style also has a certain drama that I truly love and admire.  

It doesn't have to be all ruffles, lace and fringe, but it is often loose and flowy.

A more tailored bohemian blouse.  Notice the flowy lines of the top, the bright colors and the layered accessories.

A more western but very bohemian look

The natural color flowy top with lace and fringe is classically bohemian.  Here worn with a more modern barrel legged jean.

Off the shoulder blouse with ruffle edges.  Worn with classic jeans

Most of all pieces in bohemian style are as well suited to a rounder, curvier figure as it is to a longer, leaner silhouette so it looks good on many body shapes.

What I love about it is how I feel when I put on a bohemian style.  I feel more feminine, more comfortable overall and that is something I truly appreciate.  I have a tendency too often to feel asexual or even too masculine.  I have a small face with strong features and very short thin hair, and it can all be a bit too harsh when I dress in a very classic style. Bohemian style is softer and works well with my facial features. 

As well, my pear-shaped body can easily give off frumpy vibes because most classics are better suited to other body shapes that don't port very narrow shoulders and wide hips and thighs.  To fit the bottom portion a blouse is often very oversized on top and therefore I appear to be a shapeless lump.  Yes A-line items do help at times if they are proportioned correctly but often, they are not. With bohemian, I can better fit tops to my top size and bottoms to my bottom size without looking as though I have no shape at all.

This morning, I took time to go through my closet and costume jewelry.  I put together seven outfits that incorporate the elements of bohemian style using what I have on hand already.  In future, when I purchase clothing, I will be looking for more feminine, less tailored items and will be phasing the more classic styled pieces out of my wardrobe.  I expect in future I will feel a good deal happier in my choices.

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