Gypsies Never Die.
We all have heard the phrase, "History repeats itself"...well, it is most definitely true in the world of fashion. More specifically, the Bohemian (Boho) Chic or Hippie Chic style, which has found its way back on to the scene year after year.
If you are familiar with the hit Netflix comedic series, Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, then you will recognize the style I'm referring to. ( ...and if you haven't watched it; I suggest you get on it. lol It's fantastic.) Tomlin, one of my acting heroes, plays Frankie; a free spirited artist with a love for the earth and all types of people. Not only do I want to be like Frankie when I'm 70, but I want to dress like her too. However.....
The Boho Chic fashion style didn't just begin... it started back in the early 1800s after the French Revolution ended in 1799. For years after, the Bohemian way of wardrobe became a major cultural identifier. The Bohemians, aka Gypsies, who dressed this way were viewed as artistic and creative visionaries. Makes me feel better about myself knowing that. Hah!
Fast forward to the 1960s, celebrities like actresses Ali McGraw (Love Story) and
Jane Birkin (Wonderwall) and the iconic singers, Janis Joplin and Cher were Boho Chic staples.
If we continue in to the next decade-the era I so badly wish I could have lived through- the 1970s, legendary singers Stevie Nicks, Chaka Khan and Donna Summer were musical divas who made a mark on fashion with their Hippie Chic flare.
The 1980s were full of shoulder pads, bold colors, big hair, big jewelry and big personalities. The eighties didn't lack in the Boho style even though thinking back on this era, Boho is not what my mind goes to first. Actress Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show), one of my favorite Bohemian fashionistas, always stepped out making a statement with her put together pieces. The ever-gorgeous Brooke Shields (The Blue Lagoon) was just as cute and Hippie Chic as she could be.
The 1990s was a decade of alternative music (that I can't stop listening to), acid-wash jeans, overalls and floral patterns. The floral pattern, as well as the open shoulder style shirt, was popular then and has made a comeback in the 2017 Hippie Chic fashion. Actresses Christina Applegate (Married With Children), Jennie Garth (90210), Jennifer Anniston (Friends) and Drew Barrymore (Scream) all wore floral patterns and the famous 90s overalls.
The 2000s.... The first decade of the 2000s, to me, was just an extension of the 90s. I still wore my overalls...until a boy in school picked me up by the back straps- to give me the most massive wedgie of all time- and they ripped...as did my heart. HAH! But truthfully, you know what? When I stop and think about it, the 2000s are simply a hodgepodge of styles; a combination of decades of fashion just repeating itself over and over. Fashion trends flow in and out like the tide, but eventually, things will come back to trend...even when we don't like them. Example: Shoulder pads.
History does repeat itself, in more ways than one. I just so happen to really love the fact that the Bohemian (Boho) / Hippie Chic- whatever you want to call it- style, has never left us, and somehow, I believe it never will.
