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wiw: more tough boho?

Brooklyn

Veteran

Hi all

Like LisaP, I was very taken with the expression "tough boho", which I first saw on a post by UmmLila the other day. (Apologies if another member actually coined the term!) I don't have any style descriptors, but I always think of my style as running a bit boho. But I am also drawn to the tougher, more edgy looks that are sported so well by a lot of forum members.

So, onto the outfit, which I wore to dinner on the weekend.

Pic 1 shows what I actually wore. Marcs vest, Metalicus asymmetrical top, Veronika Maine coated skinny jeans, Eos ankle boots. Long skinny scarf from who knows where. Mink Pink fringey bag.

Pic 2 shows what I started out wearing. I was happy with the outfit but when I took the photo I decided it was just too black and minimalist for my style. It is useful taking pics!

So I added the bag (pic 3). I liked the way the white broke up the black, but I still wasn't happy. (I have overexposed the pic to make the layers more visible.)

So then I added the scarf. Because the scarf has a lot of silver in it, I switched the gold cuff for a silver cuff (back to pic 1).

Then I was happy. To me the changes made the outfit a bit softer, and a bit more 70s boho, and more my style.

So, do you think this qualifies as tough boho? If so, I may have found a style descriptor!

As always, feedback, comments etc are appreciated.

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28 replies

Latest reply was from

Cococat

Veteran

Yes! Wow! I love your tough boho look in pic 1. The scarf has softened the look nicely.

I love black minimalist style, but whenever I try it myself, it looks wrong. I tend to want to add something to soften it too. FWIW, look 3 without the scarf looks amazing on you.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Coco. That is exactly what I find. I recently bought a faux leather vest (inspired by Shedev ) and I love it but I need to work on ways to soften it up, just a little, for my style.

Anonymous

What was the question? This is pretty sophisticated boho I actually like each version here - you have a great wardrobe and collection of pieces .

Brooklyn

Veteran

Ha ha! Thanks Lisa!

rachylou

Veteran

You look great. Quite a change from mod (!)

Jane

Veteran

A great look. Your arms look amazing!

I like the addition of the scarf

catgirl

Veteran

Is this boho? I love it but I wouldn't have called it that!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Rachy. Yes, I like to dabble! That's one of the reasons why I have trouble with style descriptors.
Thanks Jane.
Thanks Una. That is the question! I would have said the bag is kinda boho. Plus the scarf, and the way I am wearing it. You can't see the pattern, but it's chevron. See pic. And the silver cuff says boho to me. The vest is a bit 70s, or maybe 90s, but not boho. It's all a mish mash really

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Ledonna N.

Veteran

Yes I would this is great love the proportions.

Sal

Veteran

Yes I think you made this your look. 2 is fine, but 1 is you.

I can see Tough Boho being a good descriptor for you - you do have some unique arty pieces, but you tend to add only one or two at a time. Your clothes have a slight ease to them - they look comfortable and "worn", not too crisp or preppy or classic. That is a compliment, I hope it comes across that way:)

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Sally. It does! I do tend to think of my style in terms of what I am not drawn to (I am not crisp or preppy, although I can enjoy this on others). But I have a harder time describing what I like. And I do think I waver between minimalism and maximalism when adding on. You are very observant!
And thanks Ledonna. You are always so positive! And what time is it where you are? Your upbeat attitude is especially impressive in the middle of the night!

Anonymous

I can really see that the outfit you ended up with in #1 is totally you. Your unique, touches that seem authentic. Love it!

Helen11

Veteran

No help with style descriptors here. Though I am pretty sure mish-mash is not one of them!
Those small changes do make such a difference to the whole look - very clever. I do like silver and black.

Anonymous

I love hearing your thought process, Brooklyn, and agree that the scarf ups the BQ (boho quotient) beautifully. Boho tough, as exhibited by you, LisaP and UmmLila is awesome. I'm so enjoying your renditions.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I love everything you wear, Brooklyn, whatever you want to call it

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't know what to call it, but I love your outfit and really enjoyed your description (and visuals) of the process of getting to an outfit that felt "you" to you. I can see it -- it all makes perfect sense.

Colette

Veteran

I think the cross body bag and scarf are a nod to boho but the rest is pretty sophisticated. And gorgeous as always! It's amazing how accessories can change the vibe of an outfit.

RobinF

Veteran

These all look nice to me but especially #1. I like how the scarf softens it a little. The bag in #3 is great too. Perfect look!

catseye

Veteran

Lovely!

I guess the bags and booties are a bit boho?

Sara L.

Veteran

If the descriptor works for you, that's all that matters. We all have slightly different reactions to different words, so the descriptor needs to resonate with you. As long as you see the boho connection, it doesn't really matter if the rest of us do or not. In this case, I do see it, in the scarf and accessories. I love the layered look with the vest (so glad you overexposed that last picture because I couldn't see the layers in the first two).

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks great, esp. in #1 but I loved seeing the other two steps in the outfit "process" as well, that is so helpful. It has a bit of boho, maybe more mod-boho?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Wow, this is an awesome example of what a difference styling turns an ensemble into an outfit. Thanks for sharing your steps. I feel like I learned something!

catgirl

Veteran

Yes, you're right. It's funny, I never consider what a bag adds to my outfit, so somehow I managed to overlook that factor in yours, even though it's such an eye-catching bag!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Una, that is surprising coming from someone who has an R2D2 bag.
Thanks everyone for the feedback and the boost!
Suz, Aliona, Texstyle and Jenn, I am really chuffed that you enjoyed seeing the step by step process. As I said, I don't think there was anything wrong with 2, just that it did not feel quite me.
Sara, you are right. Generally I try not to get too worried about descriptors.
Catseye, I think so. There is some fringe on the boots which skews them a little boho.
Aquamarine, ha ha! And thank you!
Helen, Diane, Colette and RobinF, accessories make a big difference, don't they? Not only to the look of an outfit but to how you feel about it.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Your thought process and the evolution in pictures is really helpful. You look fab and I think the finished version is the perfect expression of your style in a picture. In words - tough boho? I need to think about this.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

This outfit is fantastic, and I like seeing its evolution. The bag and scarf really do take the outfit into a different realm from where it started out. The first outfit was gorgeous, in its minimal chic way. The final version has more of your imprint on it--though I do think the first outfit is also quite you, in a more minimalist mood that I have seen you show at times. I think your minimalist style is usually more colorful--a column of wine red or forest green, for example, rather than black.

Tough boho seems to work, and I would say it's more about how the words speak to you, how they capture what you are aspiring to or what you are feeling when you dress than what others might call your style. With that in mind, I would say you are generally an elegant eclectic, a term Angie has applied to forum members whose styles seem quite different from one another: shevia, Diana, Joy, and I have all been dubbed "elegant eclectic" dressers. Your brand of boho seems very elegant to me. Maybe you are tough elegant boho? I, too, have a hard time with descriptors for myself, so I can relate to your difficulty with finding the right words.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Shevia.
And thanks for your detailed response FC. You are spot on, if the outfit were a column of colour as opposed to black (dark green or wine red being my faves), I probably would have happily gone minimalist and not added on anything. And while I am very attracted to the tough boho descriptor, I don't think everything I wear would fall into that category. Like you said, my style is eclectic. I guess this could be one of several style descriptors for me. And thanks for saying my style is "elegant" and for putting me in such great company.

Anonymous

Ok. I can really see the Three Stages of Outfit Development in this post!
I love your outfit. The bag and side-slit top are great and accessorizing with a cuff always makes things a little tougher, I find.
Yes, definitely "tough boho".