Boho clothing or gipsy dresses were a nomadic style of clothing that was made popular by the hippie culture. The subculture of fashion grew from the early 1700s when people opted for more simple clothing to alleviate their poverty. Now, the loosely fitted clothes are part of Australia’s fashion with iconic dresses like the boho maxi dress and long sleeve loose frocks a remnant of the cultural echoes that persist.
However, it’s not the fashion itself that is a remnant from the past as Australia has a lot of gipsy towns riddled across the country. Although one can identify a large number of differences between hippies and gipsies, the fashion pretty much remains similar. Hence, when it comes to dresses and clothing, hippie style and gipsy styles are used interchangeably.
There are several different styles that gipsy fashion encompasses and most of them include:
- Waist dresses with drawstrings.
- T-shirt dresses that are loose and dangling down.
- Sheer shirts were inspired by the Victorian era of fashion.
- Lace dresses with engorged features such as cuffs or buttons.
However, no culture can be reduced down to the type of clothing they wear and gipsy culture is much more than fancy dresses and shiny ornaments. With that being said, the number one reason why gipsy dresses are popular in Australia is that they are highly versatile and convenient.
The Boho Style
The bohemian style dresses like the boho maxi dress are the popular style of the hippies that constitute headbands and unstructured silhouette type dresses. There are certain elements to the boho style which are listed down below:
- Since most boho dresses were made to alleviate the weight of luggage and add functionality, the main aim of the style is to create a relaxed look for the wearer. It’s all about adorning the dresses in the best way possible without caring too much about fashion or matching a theme.
- Maxi dresses are the most popular picks when it comes to boho-style dresses. Anything oversized and unstructured can be classified as hippie style.
- Although bohemian-style brands aren’t uncommon in the country, customers can look for the best picks in flea markets. The reason was that bohemian culture was high in sustainability and reusability. Reusing and recycling fashion and reducing the negative impact of synthetic fibres on the environment are the heart of bohemian culture.
- Speaking of sustainability, the bohemian style is all about being natural, where the wearers are conscious of their dress choices and their impact on the environment. This means buyers should only opt for natural fibres that are made ethically and cruelty-free.
- And finally, no bohemian style of fashion would be complete without the quirky embellishments and dazzling ornaments to adorn them. The idea of junk jewellery is propagated to support the local craftsman and artisans and make bohemian-style buyers choose from local products. As for the accessories like the headbands and belts, buyers can choose as they wish and create an individual style of their own. Accessories also add to the elegant look of bohemian-style dresses and their unstructured fabrics. Don’t be afraid to throw in a bag and a hat too and for those who still want additional embellishments, try looking for lucky charms and other quirky products to highlight the dress features. The handmade embellishments will bring out the best in bohemian-style dresses through the use of fringes, tassels, shawls and embroidery.
For those looking to dabble in boho dresses, look for lightweight dresses with drawstrings and decorative backs. These are good options to start with and people can move from there.
