Long hems, flowing fabrics, tie-dye – these are the things we think of when we hear the words “Boho Clothes.” You’ll see these and other Boho Chic fashion elements in our online store.
But Boho Wear is much more than just fashion. It’s a culture.
The very essence of Boho, or Bohemian, is dressing effortlessly, without pretentions or caring about famous name brands like Gucci or Chanel. The point of dressing in Boho Clothes is to express your openness to possibility, your freedom of thought, and your desire for clean, simple living close to nature.
Where does the need for this expression come from? How did it come to be associated with certain types of clothes, all under the name “Bohemian”? When and how did it become popular not just in the United States, but in Australia and all over the World?
To answer these questions, we must go back to a movement that you’ve probably heard of but may never have known the history of - until today.
What Was The Hippie Movement?
Most of us know what Hippies are. They were our parents and sometimes our grandparents back in the 60s and 70s. They wore their hair long, dressed in peasant blouses, and participated in anti-war protests. Or maybe your parents were the types who looked down on those Hippies, or “freaks” as they sometimes referred to themselves.
German Roots
The hippie movement is famous in the United States, particularly in California, but it didn’t actually start there. It originates across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way in Germany in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
During this era in Germany, a popular movement called Lebensreform stressed the importance of reconnecting with nature, the evils of industrialization, and the significance of the human being as a whole person comprised of spiritual and physical parts.
Out of Lebensreform grew a youth movement called Der Wandervogel, a counterculture response to contemporary German folk music clubs and social groups. Der Wandervogel formed their own clubs where they rejected modern trends such as urbanization, encouraged freedom of expression through fashion, and praised the rural traditions of their nation’s historic peasantry class.
When some Germans immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century, many of them brought these Der Wandervogel ideals with them. Some of these immigrants moved to Southern California. Regardless of where they went, young Americans were touched by their unorthodox ways and decided to adopt them.
The Beat Generation
The Hippie movement’s German roots are only part of the story. The rest of it comes from the Beat Generation.
The Beat Generation began in the United States as a literary movement and later morphed into a counterculture in the 1960s. It emphasized what were then considered shocking, anti-traditionalist values such as Eastern religions, experimentation with psychedelic drugs to become freer and more enlightened, sexual liberation, and individual expression.
Members of the Beat Generation were originally called beatniks. But eventually, this movement simply became part of the 1960s counterculture. The names changed from beatniks to Hippies.
The Hippie Movement
Beat Generation’s values combined with the nature-loving and free-thinking of Der Wandervogel birthed the Hippie movement in the 60s and 70s.
The Hippie movement influenced the popular culture of the era. Nowhere is its influence more obvious in the United States than the Woodstock festival in 1969, where some 500,000 Hippies listened to live performances by Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and scores of other popular music artists.
Thanks to Woodstock and other festivals, as well as endorsement by the star musicians and celebrities of the time, hippies became a vocal, mainstream group.
Even though it waned in popularity after the 70s, the hippie movement is still influential in the United States to this day. Especially in fashion.
Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
Today, you’ll find that Hippie fashions and culture have influenced another major music and arts festival in the United States: Coachella.
This annual event takes place in Palm Springs, California in the spring. Each year, the music lineup includes famous artists and bands representing several different genres, as well as art installations and, of course, a fantastic display of fashion.
Coachella is one of the premier fashion hubs of the season. You’ll find a lot of styles reminiscent of the carefree Hippie days, such as ethnic-inspired outfits and mixed materials.
Coachella is today’s inspiration for the next Hippie generation. What better encapsulates the Hippie movement than a music and arts festival where people are encouraged to express themselves through wild and creative clothes and lose themselves to great music?
What Did The Hippie Movement Look Like Around The World?
The Hippie movement was not just a California phenomenon. In the 1960s and 70s, it spread from the United States to the rest of the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, India, and Australia.
The Hippie Movement In Australia
Australia had its own counterculture movement in the 1960s. Though not explicitly associated with Hippies, the people in this movement held many of the same values, such as freedom of creative expression and getting back to nature.
Australia also had a Woodstock moment with the Nimbin Aquarius Festival, held just four times throughout the 60s and 70s. After the festival, some of the attendees formed communes where they lived off the land in the ultimate expression of getting back to nature. Some of these communes still exist today.
What Does Bohemian Mean?
Now that we know where the term “Hippie” comes from, what does all of this have to do with Bohemian?
“Bohemian” was once a term used to describe groups of wandering Romani peoples in Europe in the 19th century. These people came to also be known as Gypsies.
The Bohemian subculture evolved to mean living an unorthodox, counterculture lifestyle. Often, Bohemian people live and dress simply, and may express themselves heavily through music, art, and fashion.
Modern Boho Wear is a specific style that is instantly recognizable. Not only is it influenced by traditional Bohemian Clothes such as long flowy skirts, but it also includes the cutoff clothing from the Hippie movement. You’ll also find tie-dye, crochet, and peasant blouses in Boho Women’s Clothing Stores like ours.
How To Wear Boho Women’s Clothing
Boho Clothes are designed to be minimalistic and practical, yet they are also beautiful and stylish. They evoke a carefree aesthetic and indicate a liberated mind and body. The woman who wears Boho Clothes is comfortable in her own skin as well as her soul.
It’s not hard to dress in Boho Wear. In fact, that’s the point. You should be able to go into your closet and pick out something you love without even thinking about it. Normal, mainstream styles of clothing are often confining. Boho Wear is anything but.
To start your Bohemian Fashion, journey, stock your closet with these 5 Boho Women’s Clothing staples.
- Jumper Louna
The Jumper Louna is one of our favorite new designs in our shop this season. It’s a pair of pants and a sleeveless shirt all in one, with flowing legs and straps that tie in a bow at each shoulder.
We think the Jumper Louna is a must-have for every Bohemian’s closet, especially during the spring and summer months. It’s cool, it’s unrestrictive, and it’s tasteful in its simplicity. It’s also completely effortless! Just slip it on with a pair of casual sandals or sneakers, and you’re ready to run errands, pick up the kids from school, or hang out with your friends and family. With a pair of beaded sandals and a fancy necklace, you can even wear the Jumper Louna out on a date night.
- Long Dress Rose
The Long Dress Rose a gorgeous piece of clothing that will have you looking pretty and chic all spring and summer long. It comes in six different tie dye color combinations so you can choose which one matches your personal style best. (Or you can buy all six and let your mood dictate the color choice!)
A Long Dress is the ultimate Boho Women’s Clothing choice. It’s breezy, provides lots of coverage without completely covering you up, and allows you plenty of freedom of movement. Our Long Dress Rose also features that classic tie-dye design that is so evocative of Hippie culture.
The best part about the Long Dress Rose is its wearability. You can wear it anywhere: the mall, the beach, a family reunion, a romantic evening out, or even while you’re having a lazy day around the house. It’s that comfortable, yet that stylish that it looks and feels chic and fashionable no matter where take it.
- Pant Samba
Every Boho Wear closet needs a pair of airy, comfy pants. That’s why we suggest adding the Pant Samba to yours. Its black and white tie-dye design, with wide pant legs and a stretchy, low-rise waist, screams Bohemian. They are the ultimate comfort pant. Who wants to wear jeans or tight leggings when you can feel relaxed and free in these?
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Pant Samba is just for lounging around the house. You can wear these anywhere and feel in style. After all, Bohemian and Hippie culture never really went out of fashion.
- Top Melody
Not everyone wants to wear dresses all the time, which is why we created the Top Melody. This basic Boho Wear Shirt is made of soft, breezy material that will keep you feeling cool in the warm months ahead. The tiered design is classic Boho Chic, and the three available colors – black, khaki, and white – will go with any pant or skirt you choose to pair with it.
The Top Melody is appropriate for any time of day and any situation. It’s a subtle Boho Design, but sometimes subtle is best. You can always bring in the tie-dye and billowy fabric of the Hippie era with the Pant Samba or another pant or skirt from our online store.
- Long Dress Oceane
Ah, the Long Dress Oceane. This dress is strapless with a smocked top and a stunning tie-dye design on the fabric. It reminds us of a sunset on the beach, which is where you may want to wear this beautiful piece of clothing.
But really, the Long Dress Oceane fits in anywhere, especially at special events or nights out with your friends or loved ones. It’s slightly more revealing than the Long Dress Rose, more freeing and open, and it may make you feel freer and more open, too. Wear this dress when going on adventure, meditating, or whenever you feel the need to let go and broaden your mind.
Conclusion
Understanding Bohemian Style’s past gives context to its present and direction to our future. It pushes us to express ourselves in creative ways like fashion and promote a sustainable, nature-conscious lifestyle.
As a Boho Women’s Clothing Boutique, we value our Hippie roots and use every opportunity we can to pay homage to them. We always go back to the California Hippie Styles of the 1960s and 1970s to influence the design of our jumpers, long dresses, pants, tops, and the other items in our extensive online store.
But we honor the Hippie movement in more ways than just stylistic choices. Our products are handmade locally in Bali, Indonesia. They’re also made with natural fibers to the highest quality standards.
These facts, even more than the Boho Women’s Clothes themselves, captures the essence of what Hippie and Bohemian are about. They set us apart as a unique Bohemian Clothing Boutique.
Discover your inner Bohemian and shop now!