How to Look Boho Chic
Choose clothing in natural tones and fabrics., Say yes to lace, crochet and other embellishments., Experiment with fun patterns., Think comfort., Combine fitted and flowy clothes., Wear shoes in natural shades and fabrics., Avoid neon., Don’t go...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose clothing in natural tones and fabrics.
When building your Boho Chic wardrobe, choose items made from natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, velvet, chiffon, silk, leather, suede, and fur.You’ll also want to choose items in natural tones and colors — for example, white, beige, brown, earthy reds and oranges, and dark greens.
Note that wearing fur is considered by many to be cruel and unethical.
If you like the look but don’t want to wear real fur, there are many good faux fur clothing items available. -
Step 2: Say yes to lace
Crocheted and lace dresses, tops, hats, and bags are staples of Boho Chic.
Beads, fringe, and embroidery are also hugely popular, and can appear in your clothing and your accessories. , Boho Chic clothing comes in many patterns: floral and avant-garde-style accents are popular, as are checks and ethnic-inspired prints.If you do experiment with fun patterns, be sure to pair them with relatively neutral items for a balanced outfit. , A key ingredient in Boho Chic style is comfort — you’ll see a lot of soft, loose-fitting, flowy clothes, often worn in layers.
Maxi dresses (full-length, usually loose-fitting dresses) are a great example of the flowy comfort common to Boho Chic.
Cut-offs and a flowy white lace top paired with a long, beige knitted sweater is another example of a comfortable Boho Chic outfit. , Not everything you wear has to be flowy — you can combine flowy shirts with fitted pants or skirts, or vice versa.
Here’s an example of an outfit you could wear in colder months, when the rain and snow make flowy dresses and skirts impractical:
Pair some faded, fitted light-blue jeans with a white chambray top and a big, knitted, neutral-toned sweater.
Add interest to the outfit with a long silver-chain necklace punctuated by a pretty stone pendant — turquoise would work well.
You could also combine this outfit with a colorful, jewel-toned scarf.
For shoes, go with brown, tan, or beige ankle boots with a relatively low, chunky heel. (Think cowboy boot heels.) , Ballet flats and ethnic-inspired sandals (i.e.
Greek, Roman, or African) are the generally accepted staples of Boho Chic.
For cooler weather, you can wear cowboy boots, ankle boots with thick heels, or high ‘70s-inspired boots.Leather and suede are the preferred fabrics for shoes; natural shades such as beige, tan, and brown are recommended.
If you’re vegan, it’s possible to buy convincing vegan “leather” versions of natural leather shoes. , Bright colors are great for adding heat to your Boho Chic outfit; just make sure they’re colors you would find in nature — for example, jewel tones like ruby red or sapphire blue, or the bright green-blue of a clear mountain lake. , With all the patterns and layers available, building a Boho Chic outfit can be daunting.
Avoid the temptation to wear all of your favourite things at once.
You’ll also want to avoid being too colourful: aim for mostly neutral tones plus one or two accent colors.It’s also important to consider textures.
Wearing patterned pants with a lace top and a crocheted fringe vest would definitely be going overboard.
Similarly If you’re wearing a beaded top, it may be overkill to wear a bunch of beaded necklaces with it.
If you're unsure of what sort of color combinations to use, an online search for “Boho Chic color combinations” will return a lot of creative suggestions. , If you’re curvier, look for items with more structure, as flowy items and layers can make you look bigger than you are.If you’re thin and short, you may get lost in long, flowy layers; aim for shorter tops and/or skirts, slimmer fits, and shoes with heels., Boho Chic is all about layers, and accessories are an important part of this. , Bracelets are a must-have for the Boho Chic style.
Thin silver bangles and colorful, woven Mexican bracelets are amongst the most popular types.
For a creative twist, you could also wear wooden bangles.
You can wear bracelets on your ankles (i.e. anklets) too! Thin, dangly silver ones are nice.
You can also wear bracelets (also known as armbands) on your upper arms: braided and metal armbands are popular. , Boho Chic earrings are dangly and often combine metal and natural stones.
They can also include feathers and leather.
As with everything that is Boho Chic, seek out natural shades and materials. , Boho Chic necklaces range in lengths, but what they’re composed of is generally the same: natural materials and colors.
Leather, metals, stones, shells, fringe, cottons and wools are common materials. (These are also common materials for earrings and bracelets.) Ethnic-inspired pieces are particularly popular. , Fedoras and floppy, wide-brimmed hats are popular in Boho Chic, as are crocheted caps.
Floppy, wide-brimmed hats in neutral tones are often paired with long dresses, or with flowy tops and short shorts. , Floral headbands were hugely popular in summer
2015.
Other types of head pieces that are popular include braided headbands and chain tiaras.
Tying scarves or bandanas around your hair or wearing them as headbands is also popular. , Colorfully patterned handbags as well as handbags with fringe and tassels are popular Boho Chic choices.
As with everything Boho Chic, aim for natural fabrics and shades. , Big sunglasses in varying shapes are key elements of Boho Chic.
Round glasses and aviators are quite popular, but anything big and vintage-looking will do — choose what looks best on your face! , Select your accessories carefully, taking your entire outfit into consideration.
You want to make sure that a) your accessories match the tone of your outfit, and b) they aren’t competing with each other.
You don’t need to wear five necklaces with big stone pendants on them: just choose the one that looks best with your outfit.
You probably don’t want to wear a chain tiara with jeans and a simple white top.
It would be more appropriate with a summery maxi dress. , The idea is to look natural without appearing washed out.
To figure out what shades of makeup to buy, look at your face when you’re flushed:
After working out or doing something that gets your heart rate up, have a look at your face.
What color are your cheeks and lips? These are the colors you want to aim for in doing your Boho Chic makeup. , If you have perfect skin, lucky you! If you’re like the rest of us, you’ll want to put some concealer on any breakouts, and perhaps even put a foundation on your whole face.
If your skin is pretty smooth, with only some light redness, try a tinted moisturizer, BB cream or CC cream instead of a full foundation.
This will help even out your skin without being too thick or cakey.
If your face is shiny, apply a light powder foundation.
Do it with a brush instead of the applicator to help it spread more evenly. , Highlighting balms and powders are wonderful for adding a bit of extra glow to your face.
Apply it to the inner corners of your eyes (the skin beside your tear ducts), your upper cheekbones, and in that little V-shaped dip where your philtrum meets your lips.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also apply a highlighter to other parts of your face, such as your chin and forehead., Once your face looks clear, add some light blush to your cheeks.
Smile and apply a light dusting of blush from the apples of your cheeks outwards, following the natural curve of your cheek.
When applying blush, think youthful radiance, not post-intense workout.
A little bit of blush along the bridge of your nose will help give you a sun-kissed look — just don’t go overboard lest you wind up looking sick, with a red nose.
If you're tanned or have darker skin, you can use a bronzer instead of blush. , Boho Chic makeup ranges from neutral to smokey eyes.
For a more traditional Boho Chic, look, wear shades that play up your eyes without making it obvious that you’re wearing makeup.
Earthy browns, reds, and golds are popular paired with a non-clumping black mascara on curled lashes.
If you do go for a more dramatic look on your eyes, stick with a neutral lip, otherwise you’ll risk looking overly made up. , If you wear nothing else on your lips, wear lip balm to keep your lips looking soft and juicy.
If you want to wear lipstick, choose something that looks natural on you.
Glosses, stains, and moisturizing lipsticks in pink, peach, and wine and berry shades are popular.
Avoid vibrant matte lipsticks and sparkly glosses — these will look unnatural on your lips. , Boho Chic hair is most popularly shown as being long and wavy, and in natural browns, reds, and blondes.
If you don’t have long hair, don’t worry, just aim for a hairstyle that looks classic — ideally not spikey, razored, or shaved.
Loose braids and loose waves are amongst the most popular styles worn.
If you insist upon flat ironing your hair, give it a bit of curve at the bottom so that it doesn’t look unnaturally straight. -
Step 3: crochet and other embellishments.
-
Step 4: Experiment with fun patterns.
-
Step 5: Think comfort.
-
Step 6: Combine fitted and flowy clothes.
-
Step 7: Wear shoes in natural shades and fabrics.
-
Step 8: Avoid neon.
-
Step 9: Don’t go overboard.
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Step 10: Dress for your body type.
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Step 11: Know that accessorizing is a must.
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Step 12: Wear bracelets.
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Step 13: Wear dangly earrings.
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Step 14: Wear a necklace.
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Step 15: Get at least one hat.
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Step 16: Buy a headband.
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Step 17: Get a colorful handbag.
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Step 18: Wear vintage-style sunglasses.
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Step 19: Don’t overdo it.
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Step 20: Buy makeup in neutral shades.
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Step 21: Ensure that your skin looks even and unblemished.
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Step 22: Apply a highlighter.
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Step 23: Apply blush to your cheeks.
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Step 24: Play up your eyes.
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Step 25: Have healthy-looking lips.
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Step 26: Go for a natural look with your hair.
Detailed Guide
When building your Boho Chic wardrobe, choose items made from natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, velvet, chiffon, silk, leather, suede, and fur.You’ll also want to choose items in natural tones and colors — for example, white, beige, brown, earthy reds and oranges, and dark greens.
Note that wearing fur is considered by many to be cruel and unethical.
If you like the look but don’t want to wear real fur, there are many good faux fur clothing items available.
Crocheted and lace dresses, tops, hats, and bags are staples of Boho Chic.
Beads, fringe, and embroidery are also hugely popular, and can appear in your clothing and your accessories. , Boho Chic clothing comes in many patterns: floral and avant-garde-style accents are popular, as are checks and ethnic-inspired prints.If you do experiment with fun patterns, be sure to pair them with relatively neutral items for a balanced outfit. , A key ingredient in Boho Chic style is comfort — you’ll see a lot of soft, loose-fitting, flowy clothes, often worn in layers.
Maxi dresses (full-length, usually loose-fitting dresses) are a great example of the flowy comfort common to Boho Chic.
Cut-offs and a flowy white lace top paired with a long, beige knitted sweater is another example of a comfortable Boho Chic outfit. , Not everything you wear has to be flowy — you can combine flowy shirts with fitted pants or skirts, or vice versa.
Here’s an example of an outfit you could wear in colder months, when the rain and snow make flowy dresses and skirts impractical:
Pair some faded, fitted light-blue jeans with a white chambray top and a big, knitted, neutral-toned sweater.
Add interest to the outfit with a long silver-chain necklace punctuated by a pretty stone pendant — turquoise would work well.
You could also combine this outfit with a colorful, jewel-toned scarf.
For shoes, go with brown, tan, or beige ankle boots with a relatively low, chunky heel. (Think cowboy boot heels.) , Ballet flats and ethnic-inspired sandals (i.e.
Greek, Roman, or African) are the generally accepted staples of Boho Chic.
For cooler weather, you can wear cowboy boots, ankle boots with thick heels, or high ‘70s-inspired boots.Leather and suede are the preferred fabrics for shoes; natural shades such as beige, tan, and brown are recommended.
If you’re vegan, it’s possible to buy convincing vegan “leather” versions of natural leather shoes. , Bright colors are great for adding heat to your Boho Chic outfit; just make sure they’re colors you would find in nature — for example, jewel tones like ruby red or sapphire blue, or the bright green-blue of a clear mountain lake. , With all the patterns and layers available, building a Boho Chic outfit can be daunting.
Avoid the temptation to wear all of your favourite things at once.
You’ll also want to avoid being too colourful: aim for mostly neutral tones plus one or two accent colors.It’s also important to consider textures.
Wearing patterned pants with a lace top and a crocheted fringe vest would definitely be going overboard.
Similarly If you’re wearing a beaded top, it may be overkill to wear a bunch of beaded necklaces with it.
If you're unsure of what sort of color combinations to use, an online search for “Boho Chic color combinations” will return a lot of creative suggestions. , If you’re curvier, look for items with more structure, as flowy items and layers can make you look bigger than you are.If you’re thin and short, you may get lost in long, flowy layers; aim for shorter tops and/or skirts, slimmer fits, and shoes with heels., Boho Chic is all about layers, and accessories are an important part of this. , Bracelets are a must-have for the Boho Chic style.
Thin silver bangles and colorful, woven Mexican bracelets are amongst the most popular types.
For a creative twist, you could also wear wooden bangles.
You can wear bracelets on your ankles (i.e. anklets) too! Thin, dangly silver ones are nice.
You can also wear bracelets (also known as armbands) on your upper arms: braided and metal armbands are popular. , Boho Chic earrings are dangly and often combine metal and natural stones.
They can also include feathers and leather.
As with everything that is Boho Chic, seek out natural shades and materials. , Boho Chic necklaces range in lengths, but what they’re composed of is generally the same: natural materials and colors.
Leather, metals, stones, shells, fringe, cottons and wools are common materials. (These are also common materials for earrings and bracelets.) Ethnic-inspired pieces are particularly popular. , Fedoras and floppy, wide-brimmed hats are popular in Boho Chic, as are crocheted caps.
Floppy, wide-brimmed hats in neutral tones are often paired with long dresses, or with flowy tops and short shorts. , Floral headbands were hugely popular in summer
2015.
Other types of head pieces that are popular include braided headbands and chain tiaras.
Tying scarves or bandanas around your hair or wearing them as headbands is also popular. , Colorfully patterned handbags as well as handbags with fringe and tassels are popular Boho Chic choices.
As with everything Boho Chic, aim for natural fabrics and shades. , Big sunglasses in varying shapes are key elements of Boho Chic.
Round glasses and aviators are quite popular, but anything big and vintage-looking will do — choose what looks best on your face! , Select your accessories carefully, taking your entire outfit into consideration.
You want to make sure that a) your accessories match the tone of your outfit, and b) they aren’t competing with each other.
You don’t need to wear five necklaces with big stone pendants on them: just choose the one that looks best with your outfit.
You probably don’t want to wear a chain tiara with jeans and a simple white top.
It would be more appropriate with a summery maxi dress. , The idea is to look natural without appearing washed out.
To figure out what shades of makeup to buy, look at your face when you’re flushed:
After working out or doing something that gets your heart rate up, have a look at your face.
What color are your cheeks and lips? These are the colors you want to aim for in doing your Boho Chic makeup. , If you have perfect skin, lucky you! If you’re like the rest of us, you’ll want to put some concealer on any breakouts, and perhaps even put a foundation on your whole face.
If your skin is pretty smooth, with only some light redness, try a tinted moisturizer, BB cream or CC cream instead of a full foundation.
This will help even out your skin without being too thick or cakey.
If your face is shiny, apply a light powder foundation.
Do it with a brush instead of the applicator to help it spread more evenly. , Highlighting balms and powders are wonderful for adding a bit of extra glow to your face.
Apply it to the inner corners of your eyes (the skin beside your tear ducts), your upper cheekbones, and in that little V-shaped dip where your philtrum meets your lips.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also apply a highlighter to other parts of your face, such as your chin and forehead., Once your face looks clear, add some light blush to your cheeks.
Smile and apply a light dusting of blush from the apples of your cheeks outwards, following the natural curve of your cheek.
When applying blush, think youthful radiance, not post-intense workout.
A little bit of blush along the bridge of your nose will help give you a sun-kissed look — just don’t go overboard lest you wind up looking sick, with a red nose.
If you're tanned or have darker skin, you can use a bronzer instead of blush. , Boho Chic makeup ranges from neutral to smokey eyes.
For a more traditional Boho Chic, look, wear shades that play up your eyes without making it obvious that you’re wearing makeup.
Earthy browns, reds, and golds are popular paired with a non-clumping black mascara on curled lashes.
If you do go for a more dramatic look on your eyes, stick with a neutral lip, otherwise you’ll risk looking overly made up. , If you wear nothing else on your lips, wear lip balm to keep your lips looking soft and juicy.
If you want to wear lipstick, choose something that looks natural on you.
Glosses, stains, and moisturizing lipsticks in pink, peach, and wine and berry shades are popular.
Avoid vibrant matte lipsticks and sparkly glosses — these will look unnatural on your lips. , Boho Chic hair is most popularly shown as being long and wavy, and in natural browns, reds, and blondes.
If you don’t have long hair, don’t worry, just aim for a hairstyle that looks classic — ideally not spikey, razored, or shaved.
Loose braids and loose waves are amongst the most popular styles worn.
If you insist upon flat ironing your hair, give it a bit of curve at the bottom so that it doesn’t look unnaturally straight.
About the Author
Carolyn Wood
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in home improvement and beyond.
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