Oh, mama mia, mama mia! Fall retro is back just in time for a season filled with cozy knits. Bohemian style is reminiscent of hippie fashion in the 70s. Obviously, the bohemian trend isn’t new, but its resurgence caters to a new demographic. Through earthy tones, free-spirited patterns, and organic fabrics, boho fashion is bringing a natural flair back into the 21st century.

From crochet to florals to fringe, patchwork, and tie-dye, bohemian style embraces the easy come, easy go way of life. “I'm a huge fan of flare pants. I love a good form fitting [piece] that has a little flowy moment either at the sleeves or at the bottom and I love all the prints that come with it,” says Ellie Carlin, an employee at the bohemian clothing store, Free People. Carlin believes “bohemian fashion is for anyone. It's very form fitting where it needs to be fitting but it's also flowy and then it also has very earthy undertones. And in some situations you see a kind of more colorful version of that.” According to her, this fashion taste also tends to compliment every silhouette and skin tone.

Despite its ties to hippie culture decades ago, the boho-chic style is popular in mainstream culture today. The modern bohemian trend carries on as if nothing really matters by embracing the creative freedom in its designs and the intricacy of the craft of the clothes. Liza Slovie, a designer for the feminine spirit brand The Pyramid Collection, shares that the neo-bohemian scene still has “more of a flowy and comfortable look yet a sort of grace and elegance to it.” Slovie expresses how “people want style and they want comfort. If bohemian is done properly, you get both.” Her brand designs for a more eclectic and crafty customer base by utilizing a combination of different floral patterns and warmer and cooler tones. Those involved in the boho-chic trend gravitate towards clothing pairings that include various styles and time periods to create a perfect eclectic fit.

Mark Engebretson has been involved in the fashion industry for over forty years with brands like Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret, Armani, and now Faherty Brand on the company’s product development production team. Engebreston has worked for so long in the industry that he has witnessed the emergence of many different trends, garments, and styles. One of Engebretson’s current challenges is how “you create the disciplines in the organization to meet that growth and help the scale while still keeping this culture front, out front, and forward. You have to be able to manage and keep a culture still relevant while still driving a business.”

The Faherty Brand’s main focus is mountain, beach, and camping clothing. Faherty has that free-spirited attitude and sustainability that the new bohemian trend follows. Engebretson defines boho as urban and reveals how it actually “came about relatively easily in the beginning because of necessity.” With an abundance of patchworks and hand me downs, these communities were extremely creative.

This creativity could be seen during the runway this fall. Everything showcased at the Vogue World Runway in New York promoted sustainable design practices. Several brands, such as Chloé, Etro, Ulla Johnson, and Zimmermann, revamped the boho trend by increasing the sophistication of their hippie-esque fashion lines. They all paired crafty elements with glamorous, high-fashion twists on classics like cowboy boots, basic denim, printed maxi dresses, or simple suede shoes.

Even though Jennie Greco ‘25 does not always incorporate boho-chic items into her wardrobe, she still loves to experiment with some of its eclecticness. She defines bohemian style in her personal experience as something that “has always been flowy, neutral colors, beads, and patterns. Bohemian fashion is comfortable and spiritual for a lot of people. Like all fashion, it's a way of self expression and beauty.” Embracing bohemian style is ultimately about being unique, different, out of the box, and allowing your personal style to flow any way the wind blows.

A Rhapsody for Bohemian Fashion