Khaki shorts have long been a wardrobe staple, your go-to clothing item when you have no time to plan an outfit, need to look preppy, and yet still be casual. This weekend, I thought I’d style a pair using bohemian elegance as my inspiration. You’re probably wondering, what the heck is “bohemian elegance”? Bohemian elegance is created by first starting with staple wardrobe pieces consisting of neutral tones and then mixing in bohemian accessories like bracelets, necklaces, hats and hints of color where possible. Using black and khaki to achieve understated elegance, I have gone ahead and infused some bohemian flare through the use of my accessories in hopes of achieving a look that is elegant, fun, and not too serious!
COLORS: Black + Khaki
First, I’m looking for sophistication through my neutral color palette: black and khaki. When black is paired with khaki, the color combination just screams elegance, but without looking like you tried (this is always the way to go, by the way).
STYLE: Bohemian Elegance
The outfit I have put together will take you from late afternoon cocktails to dinner and dancing…and you’ll look like you never even tried to look so cool, it just sort of happened. (Lose the hat and pair with a black blazer, you’ve got a business casual outfit – but that’s another story…check out nubry editor, Britt Hackmann’s style post for business casual hints)
Once I’ve put my outfit together, I move on to accessories. The fedora hat oozes cool, so this is very necessary to add to my elegant outfit in order to achieve the bohemian style that I am also striving towards (read more about which fedora to wear from nubry blogger, Sarah Adams). You should definitely keep the black and khaki palette clean, but I thought it’d be fun to further enhance my bohemian flare by throwing in a hint of color with the long shell necklace I have shown here. This necklace works well with a simple outfit and is best tied together by matching the lips, nails and blush. In my case: hints of pink! It would have been really fun and bohemian had I added more bracelets. You can’t go wrong with an arm party!
Lastly, black heels. If you want to keep things casual for day, by all means, slip into a black sandal, but prepare for evening by concealing your black heels in your black handbag. Please, don’t destroy your elegant black and khaki outfit by slipping into a colored or printed heel. Just because I added hints of pink does not mean that you can add pink shoes (or pink bag). You will lose your elegant appeal! Keep your palette neutral across the board by slipping into a pair of understated black heels.
What do you think of my “bohemian elegant” outfit? Are you going to dress up your khaki shorts through bohemian infusion this fall? I want to know about it! Tweet me: @GretchHackmann
Jennifer
there is a boho style, there is not a boho chic and even less of a bohemian elegance…type elegance in google and go to images…I challenge you to find even one picture of boho style…Boho might have its qualities in terms of originality which is fine but elegance is not a trait of boho ..chic or not
Jennifer
seriously? you want to call it elegance? a Bohemian style can claim wanting to create your own style regardless of fashion principles and therefore stronger individualistic tone but not elegance…at all…this outfit is not elegant…the hat alone says ‘ I am trying so hard’, the shorts then voice ‘ I did not go know where to go after the hat’…the problem with that style is that everyone thinks that improvisation and originality lead to something cool, interesting or that is working…
Livinggoldie
Absolutely love this how to! It’s perfect for ones who want to look Boho chic in a more dressy setting! Great job xx
Gretchen Hackmann
Thxx! Bohemian Elegance is a versatile style that takes you day to night…always need those types of outfits 🙂