Boho Clothing and The Hippie Movement
Ranked #18,740 in Fashion & Beauty, #351,198 overall
Hippies Spiked Boho
Before there was a hippie counterculture, there was the idea of "bohemian." Bohemians were more likely to be free spirited writers and artists than the gypsies they owed the title too. You can follow the history in an article I published recently, but although Bohemians, like Winston Churchill(!), dressed more casually than most, the adoption of colorful gypsy apparel by hippies transformed "boho."
Changes had to be made, many to do with going from handmade to manufactured, before the best hippie stuff could become boho clothing, then jump to boho chic. Almost half a century later, the fashion trend has matured into beautiful, designer outfits. Boho clothing can be seen everywhere, from UGG boots to brilliantly colored skirts. Following are some beautiful examples.
Contents at a Glance
Poncho Sweaters
It only seemed like it was always summer.
Lucky Brand Women's Boho Poncho Sweater
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price: $149.00
Hippies in the 1960s spent a lot of time outdoors, mingling in the streets or hanging out in the parks. Poncho sweaters brought prettiness into cool weather apparel.
In the summer of 1968, I remember meeting a girl at an outdoor arts festival in the fall. She wore a brightly colored poncho sweater, her long blond hair flowing down over it. The look was so striking, a photographer stopped us and asked us to pose in the bright sun. I'm pretty sure my blue jeans and t-shirt had nothing to do with it.
Since then, poncho sweaters have changed little in basic design. Soft and gentle, with designs from subtle to vibrant, they come off, like all good boho clothing, as a little bit off.
Tie Dye's Hippie Influence
Once A Handmade Indulgence
Rainbow Tie Dye Unisex 100% Cotton Tee shirt, straight cut,
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price:
The first time I saw tie-dye, it was eye-poppingly different, especially compared to the straight apparel of the 1960s.
I don't know how it as invented, but by the time it became popular in our little town, the possibilities were endless. You saw tie-dye everywhere, on everything, from headbands to t-shirts.
Friends would make tie-dye on request, one at a time, dipping knotted fabric into tubs of dye to get the singular swirling effects. Most of it's more formal now, and probably not much gets made at home anymore. The designs tend to be mass produced and have less eccentric flair. They aren't freak flags anymore.
I picked this one for my example because it was close to what I first saw, splashing and unpredictable. Sure, they learned to manufacture that too. It still looks great.
Boho Boots
Boho But Not Hippie
Hunter Unisex-Adult Original Adjustable Aubergine Wellington Boot W23706 3
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price:
The boots, so much like what we used to call fishing boots or wadders, that suddenly became so prevalent on the streets of New York, where I live, were a shock. Women wore them in all seasons, rain or shine. Whether it was UGG Australia or Wellingtons, it was fashion trend that must have been hard to predict, even harder to sell.
Boots popular now weren't much of a hippie thing, and their boho tag comes mainly from being really Bohemian, different and more than slightly off.
But popular. For this, I picked a basic black boot, but many colors are available. Some are bright enough to catch attention in a crowd. It's still hard to imagine what outfit goes with them, except a plastic raincoat.
Please Share Boho Clothing With Your Friends On Facebook,
Twitter, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, etc.
Boho Can Be Beautiful
Without the boots
Blue Lavender Boho Multicolor Paisley Summer Dress
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
Hippie fashion from the 1960s has often been portrayed as plain and not especially attractive, but that's misleading. Just because women turned on, tuned in or dropped out didn't been they lost interest in being attractive.
As with the poncho sweater above, these paisley summer dresses were popular and women used them as a way of maintaining feminine tastes in time of intimidating change.
Like all gypsy-inspired clothing, these dresses value freedom of movement. A woman's figure isn't held hostage to a fashion statement. This was liberating apparel for women breaking the blue jean pattern.
Boho Goes Chic
Invading a remote class.
Boho Chic 3/4 Raglan Sleeves, V-Neck Mock Collar, Banded Waist Fashion Top - Floral Striped
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
List Price:
The climax of the matching of hippie apparel with boho bloomed in the 1990s when Kate Moss emerged with it as high fashion in the heroin chic era.
The supermodel was a trendsetter for fashion and young women flocked to boho chick. With slower periods matched by rallies, the style has lasted into the second decade of the new century.
In the 1960s, this high style fit in with the many wealthy, often celebrity backers of the radical movements that sprang out of the hippie counterculture. One day, you were writing a check for the Black Panther Party. The next it was for Bergdorf and Goodman.
All this really shows is that boho clothing as appeal across all classes, from the teenager in tie-dye shirts to young career women in boho shoes to wealthy women who study and appreciate fashion. Don't expect it to go away soon.
Boho Clothing And You
Does it fit your lifestyle?
Other reads about boho
- Boho Clothing
- The evolution of boho clothing to boho-chic, popularized by Sienna Miller and Kate Moss, happened when women who wanted to look pretty took what they liked from hippie fashions in the 1960s and use...
About The Author
by DaveStone13
I'm a full time writer these days, living in New York City.
Most of my earnings are from hard copy material, my books and articles for our local newspaper....
more »
- 164 featured lenses
- Winner of 33 trophies!
- Top lens » Esther Hicks Scam's Mean Streak
Explore related pages
- Hippie Symbols and Peace Signs Hippie Symbols and Peace Signs
- Hippies In The 1960s: An American Invention Hippies In The 1960s: An American Invention
- Look at This: Hippie Posters, Prints and Stories Look at This: Hippie Posters, Prints and Stories
- Hippie Movement And The Real Greatest Generation Hippie Movement And The Real Greatest Generation
- 1960s Hippies Still Proud To Be Hippie Bums 1960s Hippies Still Proud To Be Hippie Bums
- Clothes For Hippies Clothes For Hippies
A Hippie Example
Where Boho caught on.
Patchwork Wrap Skirt Adult Halloween (Standard (One-Size))
Amazon Price: $23.05 (as of 05/30/2012)
Boho Rises
Bright Blue Crinkle Maxi Skirt Spring Summer Bohemian Fashion 35" L
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
