How to Create a Boho Look
The bohemian girl is casual, confident, relaxed and earthy. She's comfortable in her own skin, and her look radiates ease and eclecticism. Based on the hippie style of the 1960s and '70s, the modern boho look draws from the flower children's attraction to ethnic patterns, natural materials and flowing silhouettes. To create your own boho style, find flowing, vintage-inspired items and coordinate them into balanced outfits. Every element of your styling, from your hair and makeup to your shoes, contributes to the overall look. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Explore thrift stores and vintage boutiques to find authentic pieces. Look for earthy colors, ethnic prints and natural fabrics. Seek out embroidered peasant tops, wrap-around linen pants, paisley maxi dresses and hemp tunics.
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Layer items to create outfits. Pair a peasant top with skinny jeans, a tie-dyed tank with gaucho pants or a maxi dress with a fitted shrug. Combine fitted and flowing items to keep your look balanced and show off your shape.
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Add accessories in moderation. Beaded headbands, fringed scarves, macrame necklaces, leather belts, thin bangles, bone earrings and tasseled handbags are iconic of the boho look--but if you use too many of them at once, you'll overwhelm your outfit. The busier your patterns or the more layers you're wearing, the more sparing you should be with your accessories.
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Wear strappy sandals, suede boots or moccasins. Brown, tan, beige and black are typical boho color choices for shoes, but you can wear intricately beaded or mirrored shoes with a relatively simple outfit.
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Style your hair to look effortless. Wear it loose, braid it or twist it into a messy bun and hold it up with chopsticks or bone hairpins.
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Keep your makeup simple and neutral. Avoid anything glamorous or sophisticated, and opt for natural, fresh and basic.
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Check your completed outfit in the mirror before you leave home. Evaluate it with a critical eye, and remove items if it looks overworked, busy or shapeless. Despite the wealth of options for boho layers and accessories, less is still more.
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Tips & Warnings
Short women should avoid layering much and opt for knee-length skirts over full-length skirts. Long skirts and pants flatter taller women.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
