Sandhya Garg — Bohemian Edit
The Bohemian Lifestyle:
How to Live (and Dress) Like a Free Spirit in 2026
By Sandhya Garg · Project Runway Designer · XS–3XL Collections · Updated October 2026
Bohemian living starts with a feeling: unhurried, curious and entirely your own.
Quick Answer
A bohemian lifestyle is a way of living that puts creativity, freedom, travel, nature and self-expression ahead of convention and status. It grew out of the artists and writers of 19th-century Paris, was reborn in the 1960s and '70s, and today shows up as handmade, collected homes, slow and conscious choices, and expressive clothing — flowing silhouettes, global prints, embroidery and texture.
Bohemian is often treated as a look — fringe, florals, a floppy hat. But long before it was a style, it was a way of living: choosing art over ambition, experience over possessions, and your own rules over everyone else's.
As a Project Runway designer whose prints are inspired by my travels — from Moroccan riads to Mughal palaces — I've always felt more bohemian at heart than in wardrobe. This guide follows the four chapters of the bohemian life: the thought process, the history, the myths and facts, and the decor — then shows how to dress it, with twelve pieces from our boho collection in sizes XS through 3XL.
Looking for boho fashion specifically? Read our companion guides: what is bohemian style? and how to dress boho without looking too hippie.
In This Guide
The Bohemian Thought Process: 6 Values
01
Creativity first
Making something — art, music, food, a garden, an outfit — matters more than owning something.
02
Freedom over convention
Bohemians question the 'shoulds': the job, the timeline, the matching furniture set.
03
Curiosity about the world
Travel, other cultures and other people's stories are the richest kind of education.
04
Experiences over status
A memorable dinner with friends beats a status symbol every time.
05
Close to nature
Plants, natural materials, sunlight, the outdoors — bohemian life is grounded in the natural world.
06
Handmade and meaningful
Objects with a maker and a story — not mass-produced sameness — fill a bohemian life.
Travel-inspired prints, worn with ease: the bohemian thought process, made visible.
Bohemian History: From Paris Garrets to 2026
The word comes from the French bohémien, a term once used for the Romani people, who were wrongly believed to have come from Bohemia (today part of the Czech Republic). In 19th-century Paris it was borrowed to describe a new kind of person: the struggling artist living outside respectable society. For more on the fashion side of this story, see what is bohemian style.
1840s
Paris's 'Bohème'
Henri Murger's stories of young artists in the Latin Quarter, Scènes de la vie de bohème, made the bohemian life famous.
1896
La Bohème
Puccini's opera, based on Murger's stories, carried the romance of poor-but-free artists around the world.
1960s–70s
Counterculture
Hippies, travellers and musicians revived bohemian values: freedom, nature, global influences and flowing clothes.
2000s
Boho-chic
Festival style, fringe and peasant blouses turned bohemian into a mainstream fashion look.
2026
Refined boho
Artisan-made, collected and considered: bohemian living has grown up — and gone back to its craft roots.
Bohemian Myths and Facts
Myth: Bohemian means messy
Fact: The best bohemian homes and outfits are carefully edited. Layering only works when someone has chosen every piece.
Myth: You have to be young
Fact: Bohemian is a mindset, not an age. See style after 35.
Myth: It's just festival fashion
Fact: Boho works at weddings, the office and dinner. See bohemian dresses for wedding guests.
Myth: Boho means cheap
Fact: True bohemian living values handmade, lasting pieces — the opposite of disposable. Read what it costs to make clothes.
Myth: Boho and hippie are the same
Fact: They overlap, but boho is broader and more eclectic. See boho vs hippie.
Myth: You must quit your job
Fact: Most bohemians today bring creativity, travel and freedom into an ordinary life — not away from it.
Bohemian Decor: How to Create a Boho Home
01
Start with natural materials
Rattan, jute, wood, linen, clay and brass give a boho room its warmth.
02
Layer textiles
Rugs on rugs, throws, embroidered cushions and a printed tablecloth — mix scales and textures.
03
Bring in plants
Living greenery is non-negotiable. Group pots of different heights and materials.
04
Collect, don't match
Choose pieces from travels, markets and makers over coordinated sets.
05
Choose warm, earthy colour
Terracotta, saffron, olive, indigo and rust — with one jewel tone to make it sing.
06
Edit for 2026
Keep fewer, better handmade pieces. One beautiful textile beats five mass-produced ones.
Colour from travel, craft in the details. More travel inspiration in cities by colour.
How to Dress the Bohemian Lifestyle
🌿 Boho Is Back
Reported by Vogue
Vogue credits Chloé's Chemena Kamali with bringing boho chic back in full force.
🧥 The Boho Bomber
Reported by Marie Claire
Marie Claire spotted the boho leather bomber styled with lace and crochet at labels like Zimmermann and Chloé.
🧵 Tapestry & Fringe
Reported by The Everygirl
The Everygirl names tapestry pattern and fringe among the key fall 2026 trends — pure bohemian craft.
✨ Embroidery as Heirloom
Reported by Who What Wear
Fall 2026 runways embraced embroidery, brocade and tapestry, pieces Who What Wear describes as modern heirlooms.
The bohemian formula: one flowing silhouette, one global print, one handmade detail. Think a maxi in an artisanal print, embroidery or tassels, and simple sandals or boots. For tops and layers, see 5 pretty bohemian tops and how to wear a bohemian jacket.
Boho Collection · Limited Edition · XS to 3XL
Twelve Dresses for a Bohemian Life
From our boho collection: prints inspired by Moroccan riads and Mughal palaces, designed in Los Angeles, printed and made in India.
Moroccan-Inspired: Riads & Tilework
Mughal & Indian Palace-Inspired
Embroidery, Florals & Everyday Boho
Sizes XS · S · M · L · XL · XXL · XXXL (availability varies by style) · Size chart
Grown-up boho: global prints, worn with gold and ease.
Bohemian Style at Every Size
Flowing maxis, wraps and kaftans are the heart of bohemian dressing — and among the most comfortable, flattering shapes at every size. Shop plus-size dresses or read our guide to chic plus-size style.
Shop Bohemian Collections
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bohemian lifestyle?
A bohemian lifestyle puts creativity, freedom, travel, nature and self-expression ahead of convention and status. It values experiences, handmade and meaningful objects, and living by your own rules.
Where does the word bohemian come from?
It comes from the French 'bohémien', once used for the Romani people, who were wrongly believed to have come from Bohemia. In 19th-century Paris it came to describe artists and writers living unconventional lives.
Is boho the same as hippie?
They overlap but aren't the same. Hippie style is rooted in 1960s–70s counterculture, while boho is broader and more eclectic, drawing on art, travel and global craft from the 19th century to today.
What is bohemian decor?
Bohemian decor is an eclectic, layered style built on natural materials, plants, warm earthy colours, global textiles and handmade objects collected over time rather than bought as a matching set.
What do bohemians wear?
Flowing silhouettes like maxis, kaftans and wrap dresses, global and artisanal prints, embroidery, tassels and fringe, natural fabrics, layered jewellery and easy sandals or boots.
Can you live a bohemian lifestyle with a regular job?
Yes. Most bohemians today bring creativity, travel, nature and conscious choices into ordinary life — in how they dress, decorate, spend and spend their time.
Sources & Further Reading
- Vogue: Free Reign — boho chic is back
- Marie Claire: The boho leather bomber
- The Everygirl: The trends dominating fall 2026
- Who What Wear: The opulent trend of fall 2026
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