Where boho fashions are imported from

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Add flair to your wardrobe with beautiful imported boho fashions

Want to add some excitement to your wardrobe? Boho fashions are just the thing!

History

Boho is a contraction for “Bohemian homeless.” This comfortable free-spirited clothing style originated in Bohemia, the eastern European area known today as the Czech Republic. Its homeless population were wandering bands of people also called gypsies.

In the U.S. the style evolved into the hippie fashions of the late 1960s, followed by the London-based Boho-chic of the early 2000s and the American bobo (bourgeois bohemian) look so popular in the late 2000s in Greenwich Village, New York. Today?s boho fashions, while still comfortable and free-flowing, are far more elegant and usually come from Asian countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, particularly Bali.

Characteristics

Boho fashions are ultra feminine and flattering for all figure types. Never form-fitting, they softly drape the body with pliable fabrics such as cotton, chiffon, silk, jersey, and rayon. Gone are the neon in-your-face tie dyed patterns of the hippie era. Today?s preferred decorative method is batik, a wax and dye method that lends itself to much more subtle colorations and designs.

Dresses, both short and long, generally feature scoop necklines, empire waists, an A-line form for swing, and shark bite, handkerchief, ruffled, or slightly ballooning hemlines. Skirts range in length from mini to maxi and often have smocked, elastic, or drawstring waists. Their hemlines are the same as for dresses.

Summer jackets can be anything from boleros to maxi length and are made with lightweight fabrics. Some are kimono style with no closures; others are more like dusters, tunics, or true jackets fastened with ties or buttons. Most feature convenient pockets, and some even have hoods!

Pants come in a variety of styles including harem, bell bottom, gaucho, palazzo, boot leg, ruffled leg, and split skirts. Comfortable waists are usually elasticized or draw string, often smocked so they can be worn at the waist or the hips.

Tops range from spaghetti straps to long sleeves and generally feature a scoop or V neck. Styles are usually in chemise or shirt cuts and are often smocked or crocheted. Lengths can go to the waist, hip, or ankles and hemlines can be straight, handkerchief, shark bite, or waist-length in the front and hip-length or longer in the back.

Winter styles

Not surprisingly, winter boho fashions are all about layers. Footless leggings, skinny jeans, or velour pants are added underneath the dresses and skirts. Slouchy knitted sweaters, tunics, jean jackets, cropped jackets (often embroidered), and trench coats go on top. A favorite is the gilet, a sleeveless padded vest or body warmer, often lined in fleece.

Footwear

If boho fashions are comfortable as well as stylish, boho footwear is where comfort reigns supreme. No more ?agony of de feet? while tottering around on impossible six-inch platform heels. Low or flat heels prevail. For summer it?s strippy leather sandals or ballet slippers. For winter it?s cowboy boots or soft fleece-lined sheepskin ugg boots that originated in Australia.

Lingerie and sleepwear

Boho lingerie is soft, ultra feminine, and downright sexy! Bras, bralets, bustiers, camisoles, and teddies are lacy or embroidered or fringed ? sometimes all three. Panties, bloomers, and thongs likewise tend to be very lacy. Slips, half slips, and split-leg slips are soft and shimmery nylon, rayon, or satin. The full slips usually have empire waists and the others have comfortable elastic waists.

Sleepwear ranges from colorful snuggly flannel pajamas to elegant filmy nightgowns and peignoir sets. And don?t forget the silk robes and dressing gowns!

Accessories

Accessories are where the individualist shines. They can be as lavish, bold, and daring as any woman wishes. Large sunglasses and hobo bags (large unstructured shoulder bags) are practically a must, but the rest is entirely up to you.

Hats are leather, suede, or straw and most have floppy brims, such as billabongs, ranchers, and fedoras. But knit or crocheted slouches and beanies are also popular, as are hair bands.

Jewelry runs the gamut from bold African necklaces to large pendants to silver Mexican bracelets to Arabic finger rings.

With so many garments, shoes, and accessories from which to choose, boho fashions are almost whatever you wish them to be and however you wish them to go together. The possibilities are endless!