Chloe fall 2015 Bohemian chic

Although Chloe show was held on International Women's day Chloe main character is not a women anymore. She is an independent, feminine, sexy girl, who knows what she wants and how to get it. She's not showing off her forms, she's confident in her own skin and cares more about spiritual side of herself rather that her looks. She let guys see her shape wearing airy and translucent fabrics, but she's never vulgar.

Chloe Fall 2015

Chloe Fall 2015

Chloe fall 2015

Taking Boho chic to the next level

What we know about boho chic? That it is a fashion trend said to have been started by actress Sienna Miller in 2005 after the movie Alfie, where she wore bohemian-style clothing. That it is partly bohemian (alternative, laid-back and chilled) and partly chic, meaning classy, glamorous, not over the top or flashy. 

Simple white Ferre shirt with Afghan kuchi top, Ibiza bag and Indian anklets

It mixes vintage fashion with modern environment. It combines handmade, organic, colourful, folk items with simple, modern items.

Folk motives, maxi skirts, headpieces bring Boho chic on

The point of Boho style is to look looking authentic and natural, alternative yet not trying too hard. Long skirts, baggy tops and accessorizing. Folk motives, Indian, Moroccan, Gypsy, any of them will work.

But how about making it more fun and chic? Combining boho, hippie and rave styles together. Being edgy and cool? Where Burning Man meets Coachella, where your freedom is just limited by following “formalities” of the dress code?

They say to wear a long skirt, here you are:

Vintage Etro maxi dress dress, turban and Le Specs glasses

They say you must wear a hat, here it is: 

Vintage lame maxi prairie dress with Turkmen coined headpiece
Available www.le-lapin-blanc.com

You formally follow the dress code and comply with all imposed norms, however your outfit screams: “Hello, I’m a rebel!”

Boho beaded silk kimono, Uzbek embroidered bag and a Brazil carnival headpiece
Available www.le-lapin-blanc.com 

Both boho and hippie chic are synonymous to accessories.  Headpieces, bracelets, anklets, necklaces, body harnesses, belts. The list is limited only by your imagination.

Boho accessorises 

Boho headpiece

Favourite designers: Mathew Williamson, Missoni, Isabel Marant, Etro, Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana

Favourite colours and fabrics: tie dye, floral, suzani, ikat, earthly colours, orange, magneta, electric blue

Favourite touch: fringed clothing

Favourite trends: ethnic and folk, African, South American, Asian

Favourite jewellery: beaded, sequinned, tasseled and embroidered

Favourite headpieces: turbans, scarfs, bandanas, hats, flowers

Favourite clothes: Caftans, Maxi dresses, Maxi skirts, Cropped tops, Cropped shorts, Boots

Favourite holiday destinations: Ibiza, Tulum, Trancoso

Trancoso

Eastern treasures. Part 2. Gypsies of Asia

Afghanistan, with its traces of the first human inhabitation found thirty millenniums ago, was the important passage for the human migration in the region on the historic pathway known as “Silk Road”. Throughout centuries the traditional and nomadic life style of the Afghani people has never changed. The main ethnic communities of Afghanistan are Pashtuns , Tajiks,  Hazara and Uzbeks. Kuchi tribes, from the Persian word koch meaning "migration", are Afghan Pashtun nomads. They mostly keep sheep and goats and the produce of the animals (meat, dairy products, hair and wool) is exchanged or sold in order to purchase grain, vegetables, fruit and other products of settled life. In this way an extensive network of exchange has developed along the main routes annually followed by the nomads.

Kuchi nomad tribe

The majority of Afghan clothing found abroad comes from neighbouring Pakistan.  Afghanistan has been at war almost constantly since 1979 and decades of devastation created the need for many to sell their personal jewellery and traditional clothing. UN sanctions in the early 21st century necessitated a lot of cross-border indirect trade. Items are shipped through the bazaars in Pakistan since there was formerly no direct trade with Afghanistan.

Bazaar in Pakistan

 Buying Afghan items may be very tricky. You might be lucky to get some antique silver, but much of the truly older Afghan jewellery is in the hands of private collectors now, although some dealers continue to offer vintage or antique items.

Most tribal clothing and jewellery on the market today is a mix of the old and the new. Displaced Afghanis make belts, for example, by using remnants of vintage embroidered fabric and lining them with new cotton and attaching reproduction pendants and old coins. Some belts are made entirely of reproduction pendants now, newly made copies of traditional nomad designs.

The traditional dress of Afghanistan was very tremendous and elegant; especially the traditional women attire is so unique for its beautiful embroidery, which is mostly handmade. Having a complex and ancient historical background the traditional dress of Afghanistan has also gone through many variations and fashions.

Traditional Afghan dress

The women usually wear a long dress, which is made with cotton fabric with a combination of various colours, however, for preparing the expensive dresses, rugs and carpets, silk was also an important raw material.

The long lasting cultural exchange between Greece, Persia and Turkey resulted in the introduction of Persian, Greek and Islamic symbolism to the designs in weaving, embroidery and woodcarvings. There was also a cultural exchange happening with India. Afghan traders, mercenaries and soldiers traveled there on a regular basis. With close attention, the influence of all these people can be seen in the artistic works created by Afghans today. The carpets woven by the Turkmen, the woodcarvings of the Nuristanis, and the embroidery of the Pushtun and Hazaara women are some examples.

The Scythians men were warriors and craftsmen. The women were weavers and embroider of extreme talent and artistry. They have created magnificent robes and dresses that were embellished with gold studs and silk embroidery. Quite often, these regal dresses were worn for their everyday use. Although, they changed when doing household chores such as building fire to bake breads and cook and wash clothes.

When we speak of traditional Afghan women’s dresses, most often the dress of the Pashtunes comes to mind. But the dresses created by Hazaara, Baluchi, Nuristani and Turkmen women are also of immense beauty and adorned with exquisite embroidery.

Traditional afghan dress
available www.le-lapin-blanc.com

The art of embroidery is almost exclusive domain of the women throughout Afghanistan. Most girls begin learning it at an early age, usually at age five or six. Once they master the basic steps, typically when they are in their teens, the girls spend all their free time embroidering clothes and other textiles in preparation for their dowries.

Embroidery techniques are passed down from mother to daughter. Each dress created by the women can be viewed as a distinctive work of art in which their life stories are told by incorporating personal symbols and elements to the more traditional designs. With the exception of the Nuristani clothes, most women in Afghanistan choose colourful fabrics to make their clothes.

Heavily embroidered afghan kuchi top
Available on www.le-lapin-blanc.com

Clothes are usually stitched by hand. Much care and attention will be give to the men outfit for a neat finish. Women’s dresses are always long and loose with room to grow up, gain weight or get pregnant. Sometime a pleat around skirts and sleeves are sewed for a better fit and opened later needed for the fabric shrinkage or growing taller. Although Afghan women are skilful in embroidery and color coordination, they don’t use matching threads, or even one colour to finish a garment. With limited access in the villages, they have one or two colour threats at home for all their daily use. At times, they tear a piece of the same fabric to pull the threats, twine and sew with it.