What Are the Differences Between Boho and Hippie Styles?

All over the world, boho and hippie styles have been popular for a long period. While both these styles may have originated during the same era and give a similar vibe, it must be pointed out that there is certainly a distinct difference between boho and hippie fashion sense, which makes them stand out from each other.

In this article, we will take an in-depth look at what constitutes the hippy look and what is considered bohemian fashion. We will also try to understand what makes them so similar and yet so different from each other. 

While the boho look is free-spirited, all the hippie aesthetics are distinct and very different from bohemian style admirers and authentic lovers of this kind of fashion. Whether you dress in a hippie get-up or can pull off the bohemian look like vintage and flowy clothing, this ancient type of fashion will always be around for people to touch all the heights of fashion with their boho and hippie aesthetics.  

What is Hippie Clothing Style?

Followers of the hippy style were very famous for their unique dressing style, which was categorized by long hair, very casual, and distinctive outfits, mostly in bright colors. Hippy men were famous for their long hair and beards, while both sexes wore colorful sandals and bandanas. The hippie movement’s influence on those times and people cannot be denied. 

People who believed in a boho hippie look were always attracted to everything that is connected to the Earth and has an organic feel to it. A stand-out feature of their clothing was the fact that all of these had some or the other connection with nature. Followers of the chic hippie style mostly purchased retro clothing that had its origins in recycled materials.

Hippies, as the followers of hippie fashion, are popularly known to be at the forefront of supporting organic causes. They also lead from the front in promoting lifestyles, which are in sync with nature. 

Understanding Bohemian and Boho-Chic Fashion

The world over, bohemian fashion is a fast-growing trend and is a hot favorite among youngsters who want to create an identity of their own. The definition of a bohemian is someone whose social status has a big impact on their style. The main reason why people are so attracted to boho fashion is that it combines style and comfort very easily. This type of fashion is best suited for people who not only prefer a unique dressing style but also something that can be casually worn regularly. Be it boho chic, boho style, or simple bohemian fashion, this was fast becoming a trend and more and more youngsters would step out to flaunt their bohemian styles.

The Boho hippie look is easily identified by a style, an amalgamation of different cultures and influences from all over the world. The boho-style checklist must include metals, woods, materials, animal hides, and other trinkets so that it can easily stand out in the crowd.  

How are Boho and Hippie Fashion Similar?

If we are to take a closer look, many similarities can be seen between the hippy and bohemian styles. Both the boho and hippie styles give the feel of a long-gone era, where everything was casual and carefree. All bohemian-style admirers and authentic hippie followers will agree with that fact. 

The styles were distinct representatives of that era, the issues of those times, and all that people went through. A lot of history is attached to both the boho and hippie styles of dressing and a lot about that era can be understood from these two looks. 

 Another distinct area, where bohemian and hippy fashion drew similarity is that they both were against the conventional trends of fashion. What was considered normal among the general public was always rejected by the followers of bohemian and hippie styles. The clothes and accessories like headbands adorned by the boho and hippie fashionistas were loud and gave out a strong message about their thought process and mindset.

Differences Between Bohemian Chic and Hippie Fashion

Boho-chic fashion and hippy fashion have some similarities but are different in many ways. The difference between boho and hippie aesthetics can be categorized as follows: 

♦ Different Origins

Both the bohemian and hippie styles evolved for different reasons. While the hippy style was the result of political concerns, the bohemian movement came into existence due to cultural influences. 

The hippie culture of the 70-80s period was distinctively known for their unisexual dressing sense, their loud colors, long hair, flared pants, and more. All these style statements were not just for fashion, but part of a movement of people rebelling against certain thought processes and the system, as a whole. 

The hippie look was not just something the youth of those times wore, it was more of a statement about who they were, what was their thought process and so on. 

If we are to take a look at the origins of bohemian fashion, we understand it was the result of a cultural revolution. Even though hippie fashion had its roots in the political movements of that time, fashion like bohemian was always culturally inclined. Both boho and hippie fashion may have started at the same time, but the boho style started representing a lifestyle and way to live, mainly for women.  

♦ Different Styles

While the bohemian and hippie styles are known to have different starting points, another contrast is also seen in the distinct style statements of boho chic and hippy fashion. The hippy fashion style in the 1960s was a counterculture movement, which rejected traditional values and embraced freedom and peace.

People influenced by the hippie style are dressed in an earthy and relaxed style, with many layers, loose clothing, and natural fabrics. The difference between boho and hippie styles cannot be any more obvious. 

Bohemian style, also known as boho, is inspired by the artistic and unconventional lifestyle of 19th-century bohemians, who were free-spirited and nonconformist. Boho chic fashion is a more modern take on bohemian fashion, blending it with contemporary trends.

Boho chic fashion is characterized by flowy fabrics, lace, prints, and layering, but it also includes elements of glamor and sophistication. In general, hippy fashion is more natural and unstructured, while true bohemian style admirers will agree that boho chic has a more polished and stylized look.  

Summing Up!

The bohemian style and hippy movement influenced the fashion world years ago and will continue to do so. Today’s fashion industry is full of hippie or bohemian influences. For as long as there is fashion, the debate about the differences between boho and hippie styles will be around. To know more about different boho styles and include them in your wardrobe, do visit Truly Boho.