Oldies but goodies
Bohemia has made a not-so-subtle return, stealthily making its way past trained eyes through the frothy dresses of the Mulleavy sister-helmed Rodarte, the multiethnic/nomadic mix of Balenciaga (the fall ’07 collection), and the floaty, ruffled, python-trimmed confections of Christopher Kane’s spring ’08 set. Even Dolce & Gabbana’s recently-debuted spring collection, a departure from their S&M, wide-belted, cinched looks from last fall, was a vision in sweetness and light with hippie trapeze frocks, floral patchwork maxi dresses and arts-and-crafts embellishments like appliqués and tiered lace hems.
If that’s not enough, perhaps Teen Vogue’s October cover, featuring the less-than-sterling actress Mischa Barton, dressed in vintage print tops and shorts, a band resting atop her loose blond tresses, in a nod to ‘70s bohemia, should do the trick.
Arbiters of the trend, like Sienna Miller and model Behati Prinsloo, whose off-runway ensembles are always artlessly put-together, have a habit of combining amorphous pieces haphazardly — and this lack of rhyme or reason imbues their ensembles with a freshness that’s a contrast to the hyper-styled, over-thought, rather hackneyed outfits often seen on Rachel Zoe-bots. It’s a look that’s resonating with a lot of labels that don’t feel the need to set out planned looks. The mentality — take it apart, wear it with older things, and put it back together — speaks, in particular, to young 20- and 30-something women who don’t want to look like cutout magazine editorials.
So it makes sense that when See by Chloe, the diffusion line of Chloe, becomes available here in a few weeks at DotDotDot in
The store will be retailing See by Chloe’s fall 2007 collection, which are steeped in vintage bohemia, like peasant blouses, African print pieces, wallpaper patterns, organza dresses and wide-leg pants among others. Pumpkin, gray, brown and cream are popular hues in the collection.
The label also steps into distinctly ‘70s territory with a slim tank dress covered in pailettes and vintage-style logo tees.
Once again, old is new. All we can add is: welcome back, boho. We’ve missed you.
* * *
Aside from See by Chloe, DotDotDot, brought to you by the same people behind Paul Smith, will be launching other international labels when they open their doors in mid-October at
* * *
Send us your feedback at oohbea@gmail.com!
