I recently walked to my neighbor’s home loaded with armfuls of aged designer threads for my first closet swap certain all would covet and claim my unworn treasures. Didn’t happen. In fact, one neighbor asked why I didn’t sell my goods at the annual neighborhood garage sale. OUCH! Okay, that stung until another neighbor, the one I share a martini with at the swing set on most hot summer days, threw the zinger: “Carrie try this on. It was a fashion blunder for neighbor #3, but you could pull it off.” As I stared at the brown plaid floral blazer my only response was: “Why me?” Her reply, “Because your style is Bohemian.” I wanted to cry while thoughts of hippies and poorly-put-together souls on Glamour’s fashion Dos & Don’ts page danced through my head. I walked home wondering if the comment was an insult or nod to my superior ability to pull together the most unexpected things (Sienna Miller comes to mind.)
I design and develop software for a living. This is true. And, I accept that some refer to groups in my profession as ‘geek squads.’ But I swear I can pull together a reasonably chic outfit (honest, I really can!) So my neighbor’s words haunted me – until this past Tuesday. That is when I chose to embrace my boho self. Why? Well, dwelling on the comment was less than productive but more importantly it’s who I am. My style isn’t a superbly pressed picture from the latest fashion magazine. It’s a mixture of things I love and feel good wearing.
My ah-hah moment came from unexpected places: The festivities surrounding The Melbourne Cup, meeting an artist and designer for the shop MelbourneStyle, and the countless custom couture shops I covet in my new Australian home. Whether it’s crowning a dress with the perfect hat for the races, adorning a silk scarf with city-themed images, or fashioning the perfect bespoke dress for a special event – all are expressions of individuality and are uniquely independent of anything else.
So call it what you will: bohemian, boho or street-style, embracing it has made me more motivated to lead Noblivity’s efforts to make the process of finding independent brands easier than before. I consider it our little contribution to the fashion world – joining boutiques and designers together in a way that encourages individuality and contributes to a modern and perhaps unexpected merchandise mix. Groovy – isn’t it?
