If you want to look professionally appropriate and still be comfortable, by all means wear flowy garb. Just don’t wear head-to-toe flowy garb, which we here at BTFM refer to as “The Full Endora,” and which simply makes you look like you’re auditioning for a revival of “Hair,” and three seconds from busting into the opening phrases of “Age of Aquarius.”
Boho can be a very fashionable look, but you have to make it a look and not a mistake. Like this groovy chick. She’s wearing a caftan, yes, but she’s got a whole Manic Pixie Dreamgirl thing going on with her bangs and long hair, necklace and heels. She is STYLED. Her look is intentional:
Or here’s fashion critic Fern Mallis, who favors tunics. Notice that she’s not drowning in hers, that she’s topped a very light Earth Mother top with a cropped cardigan and paired it with regular pants. She’s not the Full Endora:
This works less well — it’s verging on frumpy and you can tell she’s not feeling confident in it:
Too big and floppy, doesn’t say anything, and it looks like something she’s wearing so she can be covered in fabric and safely leave the house. That’s no way to dress!
Here’s a simple, classic ensemble by J. Jill, reminding us all that comfortable, unstructured garments should still fit well. If I make can several pairs of toddler pants with the flowing fabric wafting around your body, you’re not so much dressed as swathed.
To stay cool, crisp and simply dressed for hot summer days, stick to neutrals, wear comfortable, non-structured clothing, remember to accessorize and keep your hair, make-up and skin simple, clean and impeccably groomed.
Oh please, that first Fern Mallis photo is AWFUL! She looks like she’s wearing her mother’s nightgown and her baby daughter’s sweater over it. Usually you’re right on, PB, but I really think you missed the boat here. Or maybe it’s just that MMMV… I guess we’re allowed to disagree as long as we do it politely! [I don’t think she looks great and I SAID SO, MISSY! But the point here is that she’s in style with her muu-muu. She doesn’t look like a Woodstock refugee. She has a hard time dressing herself — and wouldn’t any of us when surrounded by the fashion elite every day? — but read again. She looks current. And although she doesn’t look great, she at least belongs to 2012, not 1972. – PB]
Cardigan over much longer, flowing piece = fugly. I know I am going up against several million Indian women in saris, but I HATE this look. Malis makes it slightly more bearable than usual by matching the colors, but still, ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. Plus the tunic itself doesn’t flow so much as droop, though that might just be this particular photo.