For many, the continuous arrival of new aesthetics or “cores” can feel overwhelming, but I think there’s real beauty in it. Back in the day, fashion played with the idea of styles being “in” or “out”, forgetting that individuality sits at the heart of all personal style.
Now though, there’s real diversity in fashion because every style has a place, even if some trend harder than others. Looking around team Who What Wear UK, many of us have classic minimalism and quiet luxury tastes, but at the same time, we each play with these concepts differently, and we also explore fresh looks and aesthetics without regard.
When we cover the rise of a new trend, I like to think it gives everyone the opportunity to explore it in the context of their own personal aesthetic, being excited to celebrate fashion, rather than exhausted by it. So today I present you with something new—an aesthetic I’m a particular fan of right now: “boho romantic”.
It’s the combination of two styles, blending the intricacy of romance with the fluidity and delicate nature of bohemia. It’s a little coquette, a little renaissance, but all in all, it’s soft and sweet. The prominent identifiers are ruffles, lace, ties with sheer fabrics and a mix of fitted corsetry and fluid shapes. What’s more, there are various ways to embrace the trend, from jumping in fully with a top-to-toe dainty look, or experimenting with elements of soft and hard.
For 2023, we’re seeing a real exploration of contrast within fashion (see: the wrong-shoe theory), where opposing styles are combined to create something new. We’ve taken tailored waistcoats and paired them with pyjama shorts and thrown sharp blazers over floaty dresses without a second thought. And right now, we’re seeing fashion people take their boho romantic tops and combining them with “harder” contrasting bottoms, from simple jeans to cargo trousers.
When it comes to dresses, the shoes are where to add that point of difference. But as you’ll see below, embodying the trend in your whole outfit is also a strong option. So, let’s jump into how fashion people are playing with the boho-romantic trend, and take a look at the best pieces to get the look.