Bohemian Androgyny
FASHION
HOW A POPULAR AND TIMELESS FASHION AESTHETIC IS PUSHING GENDER NORMS Written by Manon Bushong, Fashion Editor Photographed by Bela Orzechowski, Staff Photographer Makeup by Riley August, Makeup Director Modeled by Margo Wyatt
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hen I consider the term bohemian, my mind travels to my carefully curated 2015 Pinterest board, titled “boho fashion.” My 14-yearold self’s infatuation with long floral skirts and suede floppy hats certainly stemmed from my time observing what different A-list celebrities had donned at Coachella, a music festival I seemed to think was more oriented around outfits than performances (I could describe in detail exactly what both Hadid sisters wore but please do not ask who headlined). If you had asked me six years ago what bohemian means, I would have probably given you a jumbled response alluding to desert festival fashion—a response that barely scratches the surface of this expressive and rule-challenging style. By definition, bohemian means “a person, such as a writer or an artist, living an unconventional life.”1 The bohemian aesthetic signifies a sense of individuality and a lifestyle that strays from the beaten path. In a more fashion-oriented sense, it connotes a freeing look that draws inspiration from western, prairie and vintage ‘60s and ‘70s fits. It is also an extremely malleable and inclusive genre of dress. The fashion industry has been making exponential strides in terms of minimizing gender expectations and how we perceive what was traditionally such a significant classification. The boho trend stems from people who do ¹ Merriam Webster. Bohemian definition.
OCTOBER 2021