BoBo Chic

[MJCouture]

Quite frankly, I find this approach and the general attitude behind it offensive. It pisses me right off when multimillionaires like Ashley Olson dress like bag ladies. It's almost like they're making a mockery of poor people. Very like Marie Antoinette pretending to be a milkmaid. Not cute if you've never had to decide between your electric bill or getting some groceries.

I have to say I disagree with you on this. The BoBo movement (at least the real BoBo movement, from BoBos in Paradise) is all about a frustration with the class system. It is about people on the upper-end of the socio-economic relm being disgusted by vulgar displays of wealth. It is not supposed to be a movement towards "looking poor" it is just supposed to be a more organic, authentic way to living and dressing with a social concious. For people like the Olsens, who at the age of 18 could go their entire lives without working one more single day and still live overwhelmingly-lavish lifestyles, mixing highs and lows gives them more credibility as dressers and as people. Any fool with an American Express can wear a matching Chanel suit, but the BoBo movement is about making everything you do not about money, and forcing you to rely on other things in whatever you do. The truth it though, is that Mary Kate and Ashley are only BoBo half the time, and just sloppy college students the other times, so really I do not know how much of a statement they are trying to make at all.

 

[Kimkhuu]

Woops, edit sorry, nevermind.

 

[Kimkhuu]

I agree with MJCouture, it's very true.

 

[Spike413]

I could never dress like that if I had their means. I'd enjoy people knowing that I care about looking good and that I care about fashion. I can see mixing in a cheap everyday item like an undie tank or hanes t-shirt with a thousand dollar suit jacket to make it a little more interesting....but spending the thousands to look like you basically rolled out of bed, no no no. That's what's so wrong with so many of today's celebrities, they spend tons of dough on clothes that look like nothing special at all. It makes no sense to me. Celebrities need to dress the part as far as I'm concerned. I mean you don't have to be dressed to the nines everyday, everyone is allowed to have their comfortable days, but please look like you give a crap when you know the whole world is looking.

 

[Foxie-Pooh]

haha...bo bo...I thought it meant something else...

 

[TheSoCalledPrep]

MjC brings up a very interesting point... but so does Spike. Like I said though, if I was a celeb... this would just be one of my many looks

 

[Foxie-Pooh]

Marc Jacobs F/W 05

ew...who would want to wear these things...if they add 30+ lbs on these stick thin models and make them look like some blown up soccer mom, then what would they do to average sized women...?

 

[As You Like It]

Well, I've read Bobos In Paradise and it irritated me, too. I have no patience with "affluenza." If you're weary with the rigours and responsibilities of being freakin' banked then go do something real. Go build some houses with Habitat for Humanity or endow a soup kitchen or go overseas with the Peace Corps. There are a hundred more positive, effective, and realistic ways to shake off the culture of ostentation and materialism and "get in touch with the other half," than going around in a $300 sweater that looks like feral cats have been shacking up on it for the past three winters.

Moreover, I was in a ritzy department store a couple of weekends ago, and discovered that a lot of middle-high-end stuff is still Made In China or Made in the Philippines, or in other places where the actual workers are paid a very low wage, yet the finished garment is sold for an exorbitant cost. If these girls are so into being socially conscious, they should buy from Fair Trade merchants or support local industry and commission work from small-time, high quality dressmakers.

And if you actually really do just want to go around looking like a bum, fine, cool, whatever, but I think it is ridiculous to spend thousands on Marc Jacobs, et. al. when you can look just as lousy in an old tarp and some sweats from Goodwill.

 

[pointup]

BoBo? That's what I used to call elbows when I was little

 

[meowmix]

hmm all very interesting points.... but i really don't think that this new wave of "bobo chic" led by the olsen twins has any connection to social consciousness... most of the people who have caught on merely want to imitate a celeb

 

[Foxie-Pooh]

Wearing $5 tank tops or $15 jeans kmart is one thing but spending thousands on something that's 3 sizes too big and ill-fitting is pretencious. I understand if they want to be trendy but saying that it's their natural "style" is forced. I don't think people buy XXL shirts when they are really XS petite just because they find it comfortable. This whole expensive homeless chic look is just not natural...

 

[urd]

I love this trend and it has influenced my personal style alot! MK Olsen is definetely the leader of derelicte

 

[Kimkhuu]

a $300 sweater that looks like feral cats have been shacking up on it for the past three winters.

That just made me laugh like nuts!!!!!!! WOW, what a description!!!!!

 

[Kimkhuu]

Erin Wasson, Daria Werbowy, Kirsty Hume, and Amber Valletta

 

[esiders]

ugh...I don't like this dirty look. But then again I'm 34 years old and too old to wear a "$300 sweater some feral cats have been shacking on for the past 3 years"! LOL!!!

 

[impossibleprincess]

I know this sounds very strange but obviously everyone knows the Olsens are wealthy but sometimes you really don't want people to know you have money, so you'd rather dress against it, because you're pretty disgusted with the hierarchical egos in your social groups yourself. You can be born into something but ou dress to reflect yourself and what you believe. I agree with MJCouture-this is simply an extension of the whole boho thing before it became overpopularized - look all around notting hill and you see people dressing in a certain way that covers up their wealth. They live in £1 million and upward pretty white houses but frequent oxfam and pay £300 and upwards for a worn out vintage dress. You're going to see it in certain neighbourhoods in every country.

 

[Kimkhuu]

I think the Olsens dress the way they do because they want to look unique, I am pretty sure they're not "against the system", and if they really do.... Then,,, ouff, I am all mixed up here!

 

[niki03]

I absolutely love this style and I think that it's a very interesting concept..

MK

Both twins

The Casiraghis

Kate Bosworth

Vanessa Paradis, johnny Depp and their kids

 

[Fashion Puss]

I don't think that this is rich girls playing dressing up as a poor person, I think its more "I just threw this whole thing together. I look as if it took 5mins and I still know I look good"
I love the style of it, its so easy and so adaptable. Its this kind of reason why "boho chic" took off so much - any one could do it. Its not dictated that you must be thin to pull it off and can be flattering to any figuire.

 

[Kimkhuu]

Kate Bosworth bobo chic? She's more boho glam than anything!