The most recent fashion season feels like a runway fashioned by life itself—the effortless mixing of the laid-back, artsy charm of boho chic and the upward world of high fashion. At Coachella 2023, I could feel the energy at every corner of the festival, a live canvas of eclectic prints, denim reimagined to fit just about any body type, and vintage finds that really had a look. Unlike a lot of other festival fashion, this felt somehow real.
The carefree folks flaunting their boho style really could be living with that Look. And I thought, Why not? This is the Coachella Way.
For me, the magic of bohemian chic has always been the way it combines nostalgia with a sense of freedom and the craftsmanship that is so much part of the past and our present. This season, though, seems a little different. What awaits on the other side of this fashion moment really is more a commitment to lasting looks made with artisanal touches and untold stories of authenticity.
And if that means returning to the oft-said mantra of “buy less, choose well” to live life in the daring and fabulous way so many influencers do, I’d venture to say that commitment might just be the fresh face of authenticity we see in street style today. Los Angeles and New York are the unlikely epicenters of a street-style transformation happening in plain sight. Unexpectedly, the laid-back, star-studded streets of these two cities have become runways for boho chic.
A week ago, at a stylish brunch in the heart of downtown Manhattan, I could hardly believe my eyes when I spotted a well-known singing sensation reworking the whole 70s-fringe-vest thing by pairing it with sharp, modern tailored trousers. My immediate thought was that she was doing the 70s just right—tasteful, era-blending, non-fringe-vest-hooded-poncho-sporting style—all of which might tempt us to make the next unshackled leap across the decade-walled garden of Bohemian chic. What makes boho chic so alluring is its intrinsic flexibility.
I was recently present at a private New York Fashion Week after-party, where the atmosphere was electric and style was celebrated as a most organic form. One of the most memorable moments of the evening was when a famous fashion editor was spotted discussing her outfit with an emerging designer. Both were admiring a carefully selected mélange of vintage silk scarves, distressed denim, and contemporary accessories—a look that, to many, would epitomize boho chic.
Their conversation was punctuated with laughter and real passion, and it is this pair of qualities that really captures the bohemian essence. There is a special thrill in uncovering that one lone, perfect item at a flea market or thrift shop that feels as if it were just waiting to be found by you. I remember very clearly the buzz of discovering a gorgeously aged leather jacket during an impromptu visit to a famed vintage market in Brooklyn.
The piece had stories to tell, and as I wore it with a flowing dress and ankle boots, I had an immediate ancestral connection to the kind of style that knows no bounds. What I feel when I wear it serves as a potent reminder of the next-to-nothing kind of weekend vibe I love so much about fashion. The red carpet is patently not insulated from the increasing prominence of boho chic.
My most recent Oscar viewing yielded a look that on one very deserving leading lady—an actress I well admire—nearly embraced the unfettered frontier of the bohemian ethos: a gown teeming with embroidery floral, lovely and nearly to the point of excessive (but not in my view), and that somehow made sense as a pairing with the look of sophisticated earthiness exuded by a mélange of what I imagine were both rugged and refined accessories. (They were not your average red carpet accoutrements, for sure.) If Hollywood had a sand dune out back, these looks would be perfect for walking along it at sunset. In my wardrobe, I make it a point to include garments that have a story to tell.
A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to attend a private preview at a very shoppable boutique in the Hamptons known for its ethically sourced collections. The designer, a much-followed face on Instagram and a frequent partner with sustainable brands, was there to talk not just about the silhouettes they were presenting but to give some context to us as to why the next few pieces were the sort of thing that, when we bought them, would keep a good portion of our dollars in the sort of places that both do and should exist. At times, the world of shifting fashions can seem like a secret language.
Yet, what I find most interesting about boho chic is its ability to send a clear, wordless message of inclusivity and individualism. There’s something inherently rebellious about it—an unspoken insistence that beauty derives not from mainstream mandates but from the unique personal narratives we each compose. Whether I’m crafting a look for a chill day in the city or readying myself for some kind of “elegant evening affair,” boho elements are a constant reminder that every detail—every stitch, every layering piece—counts in my larger narrative.
Talking with friends who share my passion for fashion, I enjoy these debates over the finer points of various trends. Yet, when it comes to the truly stylish, there’s an unspoken agreement that boho chic has a hold on us that is, well, downright seductive. It invites us to play with layers; it begs us to mix patterns; and oh, the contrasts we’ve all been enjoying with this look!
I was having a latte with a close friend the other day at a super-chic café in Soho when we found ourselves dissecting the latest runway trends and comparing notes on vintage finds. She mentioned how she had been loving the look of a vintage band tee paired with a pretty, flowing skirt. And I thought, “Okay, this is it.
This is the essence of the allure of boho chic.”
This season, as I blend my most beloved vintage items with finds of recent years, I can’t help but feel excited. And not just in a personal way; it’s about the future of fashion. It’s a real excitement, an energy that’s been building for some time now.
And for good reason. There’s this buzz around sustainable fashion—that’s a big part of it. And not climate action alone, but the kind of sustainable fashion that encompasses everything from revived crafting techniques and celebrating the aesthetics of clothes that express who we are to ensuring the whole fashion system respects and uplifts the rights of all involved in making it happen (whatever “it” is, because we do seem to have a healthy variety of “its” happening these days).
My journey with boho chic over the past few months has been one of both discovery and rediscovery. It has been an opportunity to explore and break free from the constraints of traditional fashion and embrace a style that is truly my own. Boho chic is a mixture of art, history, and modernity—dare I say—it’s a playground for those of us who like to mix and match and be a little different.
And while each season brings its own set of trendies and must-haves, the essence of boho chic remains the same. It’s the authenticity that vibes from its very core; it’s not just a style; it’s an art form that’s as unique as a fingerprint. In a world where we often see the latest designer release or the most vein-popping moment from a fashion show in the media, I find peace in boho chic.
It’s a presentation style that doesn’t demand perfection. Instead, it encourages the embracing of one’s own quirks and absurdities as part of the “narrative thread” of “one’s life story.” Every single piece, every bit of accessory, every detail chosen with care and precision tells a story. And those stories, when taken (fashion)literally, are as beautiful an any (fashion)trend that can be filtered to fit a perfectly lit Instagram moment.
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