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| VOGUE Spain |
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| Bling and embroidery |
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| Jimi Hendrix, the Bohemian star exploring both Urban and Blues |
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| Lisa Bonet, la femme Boheme |
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| Bohemian Brooklyn |
It is ironic and at the same time unknown how different these two worlds really are:
Urban and
Gypsy. Yet, it works harmoniously when it comes to fashion. Want to see the link that is much evident in fashion world over last few years and in 2013 Summer/Fall New York Fashion Week collections?
Urban fashion hit the mainstream from the
Hammer-style pants in the 80's and
Neon Graffiti colored leggins and has continued to crossover with
Chola style
bandannas to the catwalks of today.
Gypsy style '
boho' looks have been adopted by the 60's 'free love' movement from
Flamenco ruffled Spanish gypsy skirts to busy
Paisley printed scarves we see through some of the top
Italian designers of the century.
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| VOGUE Spain portrayal of 80's Urban and Russian Gypsy fur and prints |
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| Graffiti backdropped Gypsy |
What in fact these styles have in common is both are from
humble backgrounds of non-stability housings or lack of employment, hence the lack of funds to wear anything but a 'rag or a scarf on your head.' Bold prints and colors were essential to be noticed as gypsy performers on stage or to sport the best panache when breakdancing on the streets of New York's projects.
High fashion has never been a stranger to adopting ideas from '
word of mouth' as well as by taking a glance at what is really going on in the
Bohemian circles and across the
Brooklyn bridge.
The appeal of these worlds to
High Fashion and, consequently, the
High Street designers is the
mystery.
Both are styles of the circles
Urban or
Boho. Urban scene could be criticized for being too borrowed from sport attire and loud colors of Caribbean carnivals just as Bohemian for not really being Boho but rather Gypsy which culturally is clothing of Romanies dating even further back to India.
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Max Azria for NYC Fashion Week Fall 2013
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Whether positive or negative, the Bohemian Brooklyn effect is definitely present and extremely celebrated in fashion today. And why not? Urban Gypsy? Utterly Great.
Our Gypsy Souls Blog salute you, stylists.
How do you feel about Urban world taking elements of Gypsy into their fashion? Isn't it stealing ones' culture? Interesting read but missing a vital point.
ReplyDeleteHi there. Some people would call it "stealing" but I see it more as Gypsy "influencing" other styles and that's something to be proud of. After all, gypsy has been influenced upon, and on the other hand, urban has crossed over to the runways.
DeleteSee, the lovely thing about fashion is being able to take a little bit of this, a little bit of that and making it your own style no matter who are you. If you see something beautiful or something that resonates with you from another culture, I say rock it! I personally see it as a compliment.
Thanks for your comment, keep it coming!
OGS