Boho Style : where are the unique looks?
Musings from the Editor’s Chair, ElegantPlus.com

It probably doesn’t come as any great shock that I’ve been a fan of Boho fashions long before the latest wave hitting the streets. My tall frame looks great in long sweeping skirts. I can indulge in my love of interesting fabrics and jewelry. Fantastic embroidery embellishes cuffs and hems. Heaven!

Or not……

A recent trip to my local shopping mall left me cold. As I poked about (on a completely unrelated mission of locating a few Pucci-esque accessories), Boho was everywhere. Or was it? Where was the uniqueness of personal expression and one of a kind finds? Where was the joy of finding just the perfect bag at a flea market that no one else has that just says “you”? Where was the heft, quirkiness and individual quality of real ethnic jewelry? Instead I encountered racks of bags beaded and embroidered in exactly the same patterns - only in six different colors - so you and all your friends can have exactly the same one. Joy! I found chintzy, feather light necklaces made to look like turquoise, coral and bone - but clearly nothing more than cheap plastic even to the most untrained eye - stocked in every single trendy shop. Yuck.

Oh, I’ll probably take advantage of the trend to add a skirt or two to my wardrobe - while crinkly gypsy skirts are readily available in my size. Maybe even an embroidered top from a trendier shop. But I can assure you that what will make the outfits special will be items like the pair of Bedouin carnelian and sterling silver earrings that I bargained for in a market in Egypt or the lapis lazuli necklace I found in the shop of an artisan in Taos, New Mexico. Then again maybe it will be the hand embroidered bag I discovered at a crafts show or the less than perfect yellow sapphire cabachon ring I made myself when I was learning to smith. My treasures. My unique discoveries. The things I know no one else will have.

If I’m tempted to add to my collection of Boho treasures - I can assure you I will not be heading to the local mall or trend setting shop! I’ll check out museum stores, stop in at shops specializing in world crafts, take advantage of summer craft shows and maybe even bead something myself. I’ll be looking for pieces that tell stories, have histories and above all speak to me. Afterall, isn’t the essence of Boho style a sense of authentic hand crafted worldly uniqueness?

For current “Editor’s Picks” BoHo fashions in sizes 12 & up see:

• Artsy Fashion Picks
• Beaded and Embroidered Styles

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