BOHO VS. PIRATE VS. GIPSY & HIPPIE STYLE?

Is this Bohemian or Hippie? Or a little more Gipsy? If someone had asked us until recently, we probably would have been at a loss for words. What are the real differences or similarities? These are terms that somehow seem to be on everyone's lips today and are used almost inflationarily to describe a certain type of style or clothing style. Hippie style or Bohemian style. Is it all the same?! Or not. Definitely not!

First things first: Basically, these terms all describe unconventional people. But they all differ from each other. One of the most important distinguishing criteria is probably the division into the following two categories: those with an ethnic background and those with a social background. The "Gypsies" belong to the first category, whereas the Bohemians and Hippies are based on the latter.

But now in more detail:

THE BOHEMIANS AND THE BOHEMIAN STYLE

Terms like "Boho Style Interior", "Boho Jewelry" or "Boho Festival Look" are not only a huge hit on Pinterest and Instagram, but seem to take over our entire online and offline world. Everything is "bohemianized". Even at Ikea, during our last visit, we found a cozy room in... guess what... of course: Boho style. We are waiting for the first dog costumes in... well, you know.

But back to the topic, because behind the beautiful optics that appear when you google this term, there is a very interesting origin:

Bohémien (Bohemian) comes from French and was in the 15th century the designation for Romanian French who came to France via Bohemia (the present western part of the modern Czech Republic). For a long time, the term then lost its meaning and use. In the 1930s, it flared up again from a cultural movement that originated in Paris.

It referred to a group of unconventional artists, predominantly with literary, visual art, or musical activities. They wanted to clearly differentiate themselves from the French middle class, as they did not support its values. For them, work was an expression of the self and for the passionate dedication to a cause, not for the sake of money. The expression of their creative freedom and self-realization was above the social norms and rules to which they did not want to submit. Another definition would be: "One who lives a vagabond, unregulated life without assured resources and does not worry about tomorrow." (Mtholyoke)

The term "Bohemian" therefore had a negative connotation for a long time. It was associated by the French with disorderly, wild customs and statelessness - i.e., not belonging anywhere. Karl Marx even went so far as to call this group the "lumpenproletariat." Quite cheeky, this Marx.

Conversely, the Bohemians also created their own image of the Bourgeois (the upper class of French society). They described them as narrow-minded, ignorant, and commercial, with a strong disinterest in art. If one were equally mean, one could say: Capitalist philistines, that's all! Only without such fancy rags ;-).

So now we know: For a long time, Boho was much more than a fashion movement; it was an attitude. In the 60s and 70s, the Bohemian lifestyle flared up again as a kind of fashion trend. Hippie-esque outfits now appeared paired with a good shot of decadence. Designer clothes from Chanel were often combined with inexpensive costume jewelry and dramatic make-up. Boho no longer stood just for a lifestyle, but also for the way people dressed. The "Boho-Chic" or "Bohemian-Style" was born – a style that could be described as an elegant rebel style.

And how can this style be described with clothing? Light, pastel colors and earthy tones. Long, flowing blouses and dresses. Girlish, dreamy, romantic. Fur jackets. Denim fabrics. Leather boots. Hair usually playful with natural curls and waves or tied in loosely braided pigtails. Never too strict. And matching: lots of jewelry, bracelets and armbands in Bohemian style and matching long necklaces.

THE HIPPIES AND THE HIPPIE STYLE

The subculture, originating from a youth movement, found its beginnings in the United States, spreading worldwide in the mid-1960s. What many (including us) probably didn't know is that the word "Hippies" derives from "hip" and is based on the "Hipsters" of the 50s. So they already existed back then! They just looked a little different.

Early members of this movement adopted countercultural values; later, other members created their own communities. The use of drugs such as cannabis and magic mushrooms is also associated with this culture. In this movement too, the ideals of middle-class wealth were questioned, and a perspective on life free from restrictions and civil taboos was propagated. As rebellious as this may sound, the central value was the pursuit of peace and harmony. Love, peace and happiness and all that. The hippies wanted to promote the idea of self-realization, escape societal pressure, and find new ways of living. So being a hippie was somehow also a "vocation."

And how can this style be described with clothing? Bright, gaudy colors and lots of them, please. Colorful, tie-dye, bell-bottoms, crop tops, round sunglasses, floral prints! Long live flower power!

THE GYPSIES AND THE GYPSY STYLE

"Zigeuner" is often used as the German equivalent of "Gypsy." On the one hand, this is a colloquial term for people who lead a restless life. One knows the saying: "To live like a gypsy." Furthermore, it is considered a designation for members of the Sinti and Roma people. However, the latter should rather be abandoned quickly, because it has a negative connotation due to historical reasons and is perceived as discriminatory by those affected. If one reads in history books, one can very well understand why. Unfortunately, the Sinti and Roma people were subjected to oppression and persecution for a long time, and this reached a sad climax during the time of National Socialism.

An earlier designation was Giptoi, with the 'o' not pronounced. Near the city of Methoni (on the coast of the Peloponnese) there was a suburb called Gyppe. The name meant something like Little Egypt. In this suburb, the Sinti and Roma were given the name Giptoi or Jifti, which translates to "Egyptians". These terms, like the commonly used and widespread term "Gypsy" today, are far less burdened than "Zigeuner" and should therefore be used exclusively. Nevertheless, it seemed important to us not to forget the origin and historical background amidst all the fashion trends. Even if in most cases today it is certainly not meant to be derogatory, but rather refers to individuals and free spirits who voluntarily lead a nomadic lifestyle. Or simply to describe a style of clothing. And this style has been no less defining and inspiring for the entire fashion industry than the "Bohemian Style" already described.

And how can this style be described with clothing? Darker colors than the Bohemian style, ruffles, embroidery, colorful scarves on the head and around the waist. Headscarves, long skirts. Coarse, striking metal jewelry, often adorned with medallions.

PIRATES AND THE PIRATE STYLE

And what about pirates? Okay, they don't really fit in here, but we somehow feel obliged to dedicate at least a small paragraph to them. AHOY! Our current idea of pirates is largely based on descriptions of 17th-century Caribbean privateers. Entire Hollywood movies give us an almost romanticized image of what was actually a rather crude form of robbery. Perhaps Johnny Depp has a tiny influence on why we find the pirate style so cool. Oh Johnny! By the way, Black Jack is not just an exciting card game, but also another name for "Jolly Roger" - the pirate flag. The characteristic symbol to this day is the skull and crossbones.

Interestingly, in our culture, it is often perceived as wild, even as deterrent. Not everyone could imagine wearing a bracelet, a necklace, or a T-shirt with a skull motif. However, if one looks beyond the horizon into other cultures, a completely different picture emerges. The Mexican skull, for example, embodies the spirit of revelers, the cheerful, alive as death. It is not only meant to commemorate the dead, but to spur us on to overcome the fear of death and to celebrate life.

And how can this style be described with clothing? Jewelry, lots of gold and silver. Of course, with a skull. Skull rings, skull pendants. Pirate headscarves, often in reddish or dark colors. Lots of black and dark colors. Leather jackets, adorned with eye-catching buttons.