Step Into Your Inner Muse: Why Bohemian Style Is The Look Of 2025

After a few very prescriptive summers in fashion (Barbiecore takeover in 2023, coastal cowgirl’s ownership of 2024) there’s a new sheriff in town, and she says you can do it your way. Boho is so back.

Gypsy girl summer, anyone? That’s right gang. Come June 1, to find a Gen Z or Millennial woman, all one need do is visit the local wildflowered field and look for the silk head scarf. It will likely be accompanied by an off-shoulder maxi dress and crochet tote bag, barefooted child in tow. Why? Because bohemian fashion isn’t just trending—it’s reigning. And has us wondering why it ever left.

After a rapid succession of fashion comebacks over the last several years (90’s minimalism and Y2K revival throughout the early 2020’s), one of our favorite ghosts of fashion past has returned in full force. Seen all over runways at labels like Isabel Marant, Zimmermann and even Saint Laurent, boho is once again taking the fashion world by storm. Speaking of this resurgence, Vogue proclaimed the “boho-chic It-girl aesthetic” officially “resurrected.” But you really need look no further than cult-favorite fashion house, Chloé, for proof. Ushered in by the new creative director, Chemena Kamali, bohemia has taken over the brand in breathtaking fashion lately, and we are hook, line and sinker.

What exactly is boho-chic fashion? For the uninitiated, think ethereal maxi dresses and tube tops with silky, drapey pants. Billowing skirts and ruffled, lightweight tops. Jumpers. Rompers. Pretty patterns. Crochet sets. The lace and chiffon dreams of girly girlies everywhere. Essentially, muse energy. 

Boho style is a repudiation of restrictive silhouettes of the past, and a celebration of uninhibited femininity. It represents the earthy, mystical femininity articulated by icons like Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Women Who Run with the Wolves). The kind of feminine power that has no limits, and also nothing to prove. It simply is. Boho-chic is fashion created for women, by women. 

But why now? Why has boho chosen this moment to return to the throne? Femininity has been establishing a stronghold for a while, and after the usual cultural tug-of-war when a new leader emerges, women are settling into a place of true liberation. After rejecting the faux empowerment of the girl boss era (which took up most of the 2010’s), women began to argue that female empowerment wasn’t synonymous only with professional success or hustle. We decided that female empowerment is actually about embracing our innate softness and femininity, and that only we get to decide how it is best cultivated, even if that looks different for different women. So if for one that means facing outward and chasing professional prowess, great. If for another it means slowing down and looking inward, all the better. 

As far as the aesthetic expression of this newfound empowerment, boho style is the embodiment of female liberation. Vogue recently described boho’s flowy dresses, frilly blouses and soft textures as “a balancing act between the romantic, the practical, and the playful.” (Which is all we’ve ever wanted.) Kamali herself described Chloé’s embrace of boho as symbolizing “freedom for women,” and went so far as to call her Fall 2024 collection: Intuition. (Couldn’t have named it better ourselves.) Women are self-actualizing in every way, not the least of which is sartorially.

So, fellow moonlit mystics, are we feeling the siren call to step into our inner muse this summer? Ready to become the bohemian goddess you were always meant to be? Here are some guiding principles: 

Rhythm & Flow

Bohemian style is all about movement. Being able to flit about in any way you please, whether it be to dash off to a meeting, or to dance airily in your living room. Boho pieces naturally transition from occasion to occasion, and day to night. Often this looks like loose, flowy dresses, billowy, ruffled tops or silky, drapey bottoms. Anything that encourages motion, rather than restricting it. But that doesn’t mean that boho is all shapeless excess with no form. Flattering silhouettes are created by soft, comfortable gathers, or pretty belts that naturally highlight the female contours. 

Vintage Romance

Boho is dripping with romance, especially the kind that references times long past. Think intricate patterns, and volume that exudes nostalgia. Drawing inspiration from the ornate Victorian era to the psychedelic 70’s, boho style is full of drama and emotion. Wide lace collars and gathered, ruffled cuffs. Flared bottoms and empire waist dresses. The kind of whimsical pieces that make you want to take a spontaneous trip somewhere exotic. Whether you’re in Morocco or Minneapolis, the boho aesthetic is pure enchantment.

Expressive Layers

Layers are key for nailing boho style. A cute leather vest over a lace peasant top gives wayfarer-chic. A sweeping lace duster over a fitted romper gives small town girl making it in the big city (in the best way). Boho style is full of looks fit for weekend trips to the indie farmer’s market. Even a tiered gown that layers itself applies. There’s no shortage of possibility when it comes to adding on. 

Feminine Flourishes

Regarding the feminine touches abundant in boho fashion, you can never have too many. The more ruffles and lace trims the better. Dainty, feminine embellishment is what boho is all about. Don’t be afraid to go overboard with the frill. And florals aren’t just for spring where boho is concerned. Throw a cropped jacket over a pretty floral print and it’ll carry you through several seasons. If it looks like it came out of a LoveShackFancy popup, you’ve done it right. 

Artisanal Details

Boho loves natural fabrics and artisanal elements. Think cotton, linen and silk. Crocheted sets and embroidered jackets. Intricate beading on jewelry and accessories. Macrame bags. And boho never met an eyelet it didn’t like. Boho is full of one-of-a-kind pieces that look like they were made by true craftsmen. It’s all in the details.

Statement Pieces

Making a statement is mandatory for boho queens. Anything drenched in magic and possibility. Some options: a silk bandeau head scarf. A drapey harem pant. Floor-length fringe with bangled jewelry. Genuine leather. A matching paisley set. Unique and outside the box is the vibe, with extra points for whimsy. Understatements need not apply. 

Free at Last

In 2025, the girls are more liberated and confident than ever. Because boho is less about a prescriptive, tailored approach and more about overall attitude. It represents an easy-breezy way of being that prioritizes individual expression and encourages all to “don’t worry, be happy.” This year, feminine girlies are freeing themselves in every way: body, mind and spirit. There’s less proving, more allowing. Less dictating, more expressing. Less rushing, more being. The boho-chic aesthetic is a deeper embrace of the global return to femininity, and regardless of vibe shifts in the future, it’s where we just might stay.