Hey y’all,
Finding my own personal style has been a long time coming.
I agree with Iris Apfel, 98-year-old (as of 2020) fashion icon, in that, it takes living a life to understand who you are and how your personality translates to your sense of fashion style.
“Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There’s no how-to road map to style. It’s about self-expression and, above all, attitude.”
Iris Apfel
Fashion Icon
A woman’s style comes from within herself.
Each of us is an individual.
Just as each has her unique fingerprints, I believe each woman has a unique style that says, “This is me!”
Every woman has the choice of acting on that impulse to be her own person, or, of following along with the crowd. It’s easier to flow with others, not to take a stand, and just blend in.
But, it’s more FUN! to act on the inclinations of creating your own look!
Many forces have sway on a woman’s style: the era she grew up in, her family influences, peer pressure, her music choices, the people she admires.
Those outside inducements, along with her personality–her inner self where she finds her identity—all of this is realized in the way she attires herself.
It seems some women purposely wear drab, unattractive clothes, in order to not stand out.
But, to me, this is counter productive, as it draws the wrong kind of attention.
I believe these women have low self esteem.
We don’t have to be rock stars to be individuals!
Being remarkable in your own little world comes from your genuineness—being yourself through your kindness, sense of humor, spirituality—your distinct value that radiates from you.
Personal style is more than a way of dress…it’s personality and character that is yours and yours alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkIo8VfPfWY&ab_channel=CultPopOne
Women beginning to know themselves and tired of looking like others, develop a desire to show themselves to be individuals.
When that happens, you are discovering your own style!
That’s what happened to me in my 30s.
I finally came to the place in my life where I wasn’t going to allow my shyness, and what I thought other people would think, to rule me.
Yet, it was only the beginning. It was the starting point.
My “ribbon skirt” (right) is possibly THE first creative thing I did with clothes to actually alter something. This was about—gosh!, 20 years ago? (or more!)
I consider that my style has blossomed in the last couple of years— just before I started this blog. I’m the happiest with it that I’ve been, so far.
Yet, my style lives and grows—changing along the way.
As I continued to get positive confirmation after positive confirmation, I wanted to encourage other women to search inside themselves for their own original true-to-self style.
“Never allow another to impose his or her will on you.
Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.
Be GENUINE.
People will love you for it.”
Cindy Davis
creator of DIY Bohemian
It was only when I reached the age of about 10 that I began making my own choices.
Other than choosing my toys, music was the first way that I recognized my personal preferences.
My first favorite song that was outside of the realm of my parents’ music tastes was “Ruby Baby” by Dion and the Belmonts.
Soon after, the Beatles came on the American music scene, and I was just crazy about them!!
My parents just knew they wouldn’t last. But, my sister and I knew they would!
And, history bears that out. They started a whole different world!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I91CFOCp04&ab_channel=TheBEATLESMania100n2
The Music Revolution Transformed the Clothing Style
Not long after that, I remember the mod fashion trend came in, when mini skirts and white go-go boots were all the rage.
Some clothes on the runway were plastic—even paper! Disposable clothes didn’t last, thank goodness!
Because of the Beatles’ popularity, and the coming of the “British Invasion” of more British pop-rock bands, it seemed everything centered around the “Swinging London” scene in fashion and music.
Next to the Beatles, these British groups were my Faves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRq4eYfzQ5E&ab_channel=AGENTELUCHOluis
I also loved CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Three Dog Night, Chicago, and more. As a “Johnny come lately,” I’m wild about the Moody Blues and ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)—now, more than at the time, for some reason. (??)
As a 13-year-old, I absolutely adored Twiggy, the “Face of 1966,” a very young, skinny, impish Cockney waif of a fashion model.
I’ve always thought that fashion followed music. The rockers were on the cutting edge of style.
The Women of Rock and Roll
and their styles
The Eyes of the World Turned to America
In the States came the famous “Summer of Love” in 1967, when San Francisco was THE place to be!
With the Rise of the Counter Culture, Drugs and “Free Love” became more Prevalent, bringing a Shift in the Music,
and, ultimately, a Change to the Fashion
Summer of Love 1967
This seemed to be the birthplace and time of the hippie culture and psychedelia.
I really wasn’t that aware of these events at the time they happened. It was just something happening in another part of the world. But, I do remember that I liked the song “San Francisco” by Scott McKenzie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I0vkKy504U&ab_channel=oMyBadHairDay
According to the song, the essential fashion accessory of the time was “flowers in your hair.”
My idea of “flower children” meant childlike innocence, which was really appealing to me, as a very shy, immature, and naive teen. (I loved my flowered jeans.)
In reality, it definitely was not, considering the drug use and “free” sex.
Woodstock 1969
Two years later, on a farm in rural New York, Woodstock followed—the ultimate rock concert gathering, featuring 69 bands, presumably, standing for 1969, many of whom were top billers.
Here, the only “fashion” you needed was long hair and skin! I really don’t see much “hippie style,” just nudity, and “bum-around” clothes.
I was fascinated with the hippie culture—but, always from afar.
I remember I had crushes on three guys in high school who thought they were hippies, with long hair and attitudes. One actually wore a wig to conceal his long hair and still conform to school regulations! Lol. …But, he was good looking—and he knew it!
God was gracious to make me shy: It kept me out of trouble! —not that they would’ve taken notice of me—and they didn’t. Lol.
Although my curiosity never took me to exploring drugs or “free love” (My timidity was my protector.), all of this touched my life in the musical, and, eventually, the style sense.
It seems to me, that, what most people think of as “hippie style” came in the early 70s. As I look at these photos from Haight-Ashbury and Woodstock in the late ’60s, the clothes are mainly plain and simple, not at all compared to what we now call bohemian.
When I look back to my high-school years, the catalogs of the early ’70s, display very conservative looks to my eye now.
During my jr.-high-school years (‘67–’69), Mama had the say in what I would wear. I didn’t like my roll-up-sleeved blouses with Peter Pan collars, and pleated skirts. Lol. But, she was willing to raise my hemlines.
In high school, she allowed me to choose new dresses for myself—with her supervision. But, many of the colors I was wearing weren’t at all suitable for my coloring, as I would learn decades later.
But, even when I got a job, and had some money to spend on what I wanted, I got into a thing of wearing jeans and knit tops all of the time.
During the ’70s, that’s what everybody was wearing! Dress got very casual, abbreviated—and grungy, as far as jeans, anyway.
Mine and everybody’s hip-hugger bell-bottomed jeans were floor length, dragging the ground, and getting ragged and dirty. Lol.
It was also a time of bare-midriff tops, T-shirts, peasant blouses—and sandals all summer.
Leather was big: tooled-leather saddlebag purses and sandals, fringed suede-leather vests, and suede-leather shoes—platforms and fringed ankle boots.
I had one pair of suede platform sandals for “dress up,” but, preferred flat sandals or boots…Still do!!
My dress-up clothes in the ’70s and ’80s were feminine and sweet in what, I guess, was princess-type style—in pastels—tiny floral prints, puffed sleeves, and short and long gathered skirts and short fitted skirts, and some Victorian-influenced high collars.
However, pastels, I realized later, were not what I should’ve been wearing. Richly dark gem stone colors are what look best on me.
I had some polyester during the ’80s’ “Polyester Decade,” I’m ashamed to say, but I didn’t get into disco that much—the music or the glittery style, except I continued to like the Bee Gees when they changed their music style to disco.
In my defense, polyester was new, then. I didn’t realize how hot and uncomfortable it was till I wore it.
As a result of working at Disney (Walt Disney World, Orlando) in my 20s, I became aware of thrift stores: In an effort to save money on my work shoes, I found suitable shoes in thrift stores—and, was amazed at how low the prices were!
I discovered that the thrift stores of the ‘70s were a far cry from what I remembered of Salvation Army when I was little: Used to be, people discarded clothing when it was all spent. I found in the ‘70s and onward, thrift stores were no longer places of rejects, but became treasure troves!
In my 30s, as I scoured the thrifts, I was finding really unique pieces! I was no longer following the trends, but, was beginning to wear “different” …and the pantyhose I used to wear went out the window!!
Along with this new-found freedom, I began to get creative in the way I would wear these different pieces. I started discovering and making my own style. This was fun!
I started getting comments like, “I love the way you dress!” Lol, years later, as my style evolved, that’s still what women tell me!
Things of youth mold people more than any other time of their lives.
So, yes, the ‘60s and ‘70s had an impact on my appearance later in life, but,
“What I consider ‘my style’ is whatever I can imagine.”
Cindy Davis
creator of DIY Bohemian
It is not limited to hippie, or what became “bohemian” or “boho chic.”
My style may encompass and embrace current trends, but it’s only because what I like came into vogue!
Btw,
Those who are not accustomed to seeing unconventional wear on regular people, often tell me:
- You remind me of the ’70s!
- Lol! You just can’t get away from the ’60s, can you!! —spoken somewhat derogatorily
- I haven’t seen that since the ’70s!—also said in a slighting manner.
However, if you recollect, or, if you’ve looked at authentic, vintage photos of the late ’60s and early ’70s, you’ll see that the manner of dress in those decades is diluted, in most cases, compared to today’s exaggerated version of what is commonly referred to as “the hippie style.”
The “bohemian” or “boho chic” style is much more creative, stylish, chic, and attractive than its sister styles of the past.
My style is different from all,
because it’s my style!
And, your style should be different from all,
because it’s your style!
I call my blog DIY Bohemian because, well, “diy” is obviously “do it yourself” —I encourage refashioning garments to suit your style or using the fabric of a thrifted item to make unique pieces; and,”bohemian” simply means unconventional: different, offbeat, original, unique—even eccentric and bizarre! Lol.
Read FUN FACTS about me here.
