“I’m a girl from a good family who was very well brought up. One day I turned my back on it all and became a bohemian,” once said Brigitte Bardot.
Though the flaxen-haired bombshell shunned the middle class conventions of mid-century France, her sentiment stands when it comes to matters of men’s style.
After many seasons devoted to all things preppy, prim and proper, fashion’s pendulum is swinging back towards weathered denim, sandals, cotton tunics, braided leather belts and other ‘hippie’ stalwarts for spring/summer.
It isn’t easy to give in to such free-spirited ways of thinking (and dressing for that matter) when your day job requires a stuffy suit and tie. Nonetheless, there’s ample opportunity – if only during off-duty hours – to trial the more insouciant look that’s trending right now, whether you’re taking inspiration from 1960s beatniks, 1970s-era hippies, 1980s New Romantics or the 1990s grunge scene.
Here are some key ways to add a bohemian touch to your wardrobe that don’t require you committing to wearing flowers in your hair:
Lighten Up On The Denim Front
Harking back to authentic bohemian style means swapping your deep indigo selvedge for something several shades lighter.
This season, try investing in a classic pair of light wash jeans, in shades from mid-blue (as seen at Prada) to faded blue (as shown by Dior Homme). If you aren’t precious about your denim, giving your raw, dark jeans a couple of good 60 degree washes will also do the trick.
In addition, keep your eye out for distressed detailing and rips that epitomize a relaxed, devil-may-care attitude.
Key Styles
- Nudie Jeans Lean Dean Lost Orange
- Lucky Brand 223 Straight Comfort Stretch Jean
- AG Jeans Everett Slim-Straight Cotton Blend Jeans
- Levi’s 512™ Slim Taper Fit Men’s Jeans
- A.P.C. Martin Jeans
- Everlane The Slim 4-Way Stretch Organic Jean
- Dsquared2 Light Everglades Wash Big Brother Jeans
- Emporio Armani Slim Fit Jeans
- Ksubi Chitch Punk Blue Shred
- Zegna Stretch Cotton Roccia Pants
- 7 For All Mankind Airweft Slimmy
- Hudson Jeans Zack Skinny Jean
Work Some Art Into Your Attire
Hand-painted details, inscriptions, messages, and graphics – from the literal to the abstract – all have a place in bohemian style.
If you’re not feeling the graffiti-covered tailoring seen on the SS15 runways at Dior, or Burberry’s fully printed jacket with matching accessories, why not get started with a simple printed scarf?
Key Styles
- Dolce & Gabbana Carretto-Print Silk Bandanna
- Kenzo ‘Kenzo Stamp’ Silk Square
- Burberry Rose Silk Scarf
- Drake’s Paisley Print Wool-Silk Bandana
- Paul Stuart Cotton & Linen Abstract Print Scarf
- Moschino Scarf Print Bull Jacket
- Versace Barocco Stencil Blouson Jacket
- Alexander McQueen Obscured Flower Single-Breasted Jacket
- Etro Floral-Jacquard Bomber Jacket
Swap Your Striped Shirt For Something Floral
Nothing says free-spirited like a floral shirt, while nothing says corporate like a striped shirt, so it makes sense to switch it up.
Instead of that same old striped style you pair with chinos for an off-duty weekend look, why not try a Liberty print version this summer? Or consider paisley, as seen at Saint Laurent. Keep it relaxed and mellow when it comes to styling – that means no cufflinks, collar stiffeners or any other trappings of the bourgeois menswear wardrobe.
Key Styles
- Rag & Bone Avery Printed Viscose Shirt
- Hotel Franks by Camilla Glaze And Graze Shirt
- Orlebar Brown Ridley
- Maison Margiela Floral-Print Shirt
- Ted Baker Bobbio
- Ben Sherman Signature Paisley Print Shirt
- Nanushka Floral-Print Short-Sleeve Shirt
- Isabel Marant Lazlo Shirt
- Balmain Paisley-Print Bowling Shirt
- Tom Ford Floral-Print Lyocell Shirt
- P.A.R.O.S.H. Floral-Print Silk Short-Sleeve Shirt
- Noah x The Cure Printed Poplin Shirt
Suede Is The New Leather
A suede jacket, particularly one in shades from tan to dark brown, is SS15’s coolest cover up option.
Just make sure the design fits with the color choice – opt for cropped blazers or worker silhouettes rather than elasticized bombers or biker styles, which tend to look best in black.
It’s Saint Laurent once again leading the movement for SS15, although Prada’s smooth leather coat in tan leather dips into the trend just as well.
Key Styles
- Officine Générale Suede Overshirt
- Canali Leather-Trimmed Suede Chore Jacket
- The Jacket Maker Stallon Suede Trucker Jacket
- Zadig&Voltaire Button-Fastening Suede Jacket
- Brunello Cucinelli Button-Up Suede Jacket
- Overland Steven Suede Leather Jacket
- Valstar Suede Overshirt
- Polo Ralph Lauren Suede Shirt Jacket
- Stóffa Suede Field Jacket
Swap Trainers For Leather Sandals
They’re not suitable until the weather really warms up, and it takes a good bit of confidence to team them with jeans, but if you manage this one, then you will nail that sense of bohemian nonchalance.
Although Prada and Fendi showed us this season’s best sandals, the high street is filled with more affordable versions – a good call for those who aren’t yet fully committed to the aesthetic.
Key Styles
- Pedro George Caged Sandals
- Steven Madden Maiven
- Scarosso Antonio
- Ancient Greek Sandals Miltos
- Stacy Adams Montego
- Vince Diego Suede Thong Sandal
- Saint Laurent Jean Sandals
- Bottega Veneta Lug Strap Sandal
- Camper Oruga
- Church’s Nevada Leather Sandals
- Jimmy Choo Etta City Leather Sandals
- Prada Monolith Rubber Chunky-Sole Fisherman Sandals
Style Yourself Like You Don’t Care
This is paramount to pulling off bohemian style convincingly, and probably the most difficult aspect to master.
Untucking your shirt, letting a scarf drape loosely around your shoulders, wearing relaxed-cut tailoring, going sockless, or even skipping (certain) steps of your grooming routine (not shaving, for example) will help you develop that artfully dishevelled look.
Also key is ensuring you don’t look too coordinated or put-together, even if some of you might feel a bit of an anarchist by doing so.
Do A 180 With Your Accessories
You want to accessorize this aesthetic with jewelry (leather/beaded bracelets and pendants rather than cufflinks), a slouchy leather/canvas bag instead of a structured briefcase, loafers rather than monk-straps or brogues, a neckerchief instead of your usual tie, a simple gold chain instead of a statement wristwatch, etc.
As a rule of thumb, if it looks straight-laced then it’s best left at home.
Key Styles
- Roxanne Assoulin A Step Up Bracelet Duo
- Fossil Tiger’s Eye and Brown Leather Bracelet
- Hatton Labs x Botter Beaded Pearl Necklace
- Jaxxon Franco Chain
- OAMC Feather-Pendant Leather Necklace
- Gant Slouchy Leather Bag
- Ferragamo Hobo Bag With Cut-Out Detailing
- Lemaire Bandana Leather Shoulder Bag
- Ami Paris Oversize Tote Bag