Boho's Back, Baby
And this time, it's easier and breezier than ever
If you are of a certain age (ahem, an elder Millennial) you lived and breathed the boho era of the early aughts. I’m talking Sienna Miller-at-Glastonbury, Mary-Kate-Olsen-with-a-stack-of-bangles boho. The kind of boho that made you invest in low-slung, hammered nail belts (to wear over your shift dress, which you wore over your jeans). The kind that convinced you that a beat-up Balenciaga City bag belonged not just in the Barneys handbag department but on your shoulder (preferably beat to hell, and worn to Coachella).
And in case you missed it: Coachella is… kind of cool again? And so are Balenciaga City bags. Which means boho, my babies, is back.
The comeback of boho is either a recession indicator or maybe just a nostalgic yearning for the past. Either way, this boho is more sophisticated than its previous iterations. It’s sexier. You’re trading your scarf-draped lamp for one made of chainmail and jewels and designed by Wretched Flowers.
You’re wearing your cowboy boots (à la 2004 Sienna) but this time, with sophisticated separates, instead of a cut-off denim mini.
Oh — and we’re bringing boho into the home, too. Fringe, tassels, natural stones, gleamy glints of metal…. all the luxe boho touches of way back, which were deeply locked in the recesses of your mind, are ready to be put back on display.
Modern-day boho is about just that — a bohemian lifestyle. You’re conveying a sense of joie de vivre, of traveling and collecting and living. Nothing is perfectly styled because who has the time for that? Instead, travel and art books are casually left open on the coffee table. That strand of beads you got on your last trip to Morocco (or at your local thrift store, but who needs to know that?) is artfully draped on the marble dish you keep on your coffee table. Everything feels imperfect but considered.
from top left: 1960s table lamp, abstract painting by Jill Johnson, fringed ottoman (under $300)
Getting dressed? You can still do a gladiator sandal — but maybe this time, you’re opting out of the to-the-knee version and instead reaching for a snake-printed sandal that laces seductively around the ankle.
Obviously you can go the vintage route. The patina and lived-in nature of old things definitely lends itself to the vibe. But there are new options, too — the Pierce & Ward x West Elm collection veers boho. As does this wonderful collection of vibrant pendant lights.
from top left: pendant light, 1971 Alexander Calder poster, onyx dish, Pierce & Ward x West Elm vanity stool
The high-fashion reinvention of boho is a look of ease. As Harper’s Bazaar so astutely described it, the look is “less of a festival-ready uniform and more of an intuitive approach to dressing that feels personal and unfussy.”
from top left: denim wide leg jeans, satin camisole top, Vyrao Witchy-Woo perfume
It’s lighter than its elder cousin. More effortless. It’s air-dried hair rather than a full blowout. Tinted moisturizer rather than a full face.
from top right: lace button-up top, Glow Getter body oil, silver spiral necklace
It is, like all of us, not just back — it’s evolving.
Odds & Ends
Big discount: PMD Beauty is hosting a huge Mother’s Day sale and they graciously gave me an early-access discount code (use code VIRGINIA35 for 35% off anything on the site). I have this spatula-like contraption, which unclogs your pores and is so satisfying to use.
A favorite new candle: Hotel Lobby Candle sent me one of their new scents and it is so perfect for the season. The Poolside candle smells like exactly that — of pool water and wet skin. It’s excellent and just what I’ve been craving.
Bottoms Up: I love a non-alcoholic cocktail that still gives you a little buzz and Wims! is a fun concept. They make little sachets of flavored powder that you can mix with sparkling water or juice. Each contains some THC and CBD so it will make you feel a little bit relaxed and de-stressed, without the hangover the next morning.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Stuff That Made My Life Easier in 2024
This is not a year-end favorites list. I actually sat down to write one, and I was horrified by how much the “television” category outnumbered the “books” category. I think I read three books in 2024…