6 Must-Have Items for a Bohemian Chic Plus-Size Wardrobe

There seems to be a misconception that if you are more on the plus-size side, you cannot dress cute. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are plenty of shops - and their number is growing - that offer gorgeous clothing for plus-size women, showing that size doesn’t need to be an obstacle to style.

Changing your style is always a great way of going out of your comfort zone and just challenging yourself a bit. However, we do understand that changing the whole wardrobe for a few weeks might be a bit too costly. That's exactly why we decided to create a list of items you need to have in your wardrobe to try out a particular style. In this article, we will focus on bohemian chic. Of course, if you end up loving the new style, you can always expand your wardrobe - any excuse is a good excuse to go shopping.

Boho-Chic - What Is It

Bohemian chic, or boho-chic if you prefer, is a more elegant take on a classic bohemian style. Contrary to what some people might think, it isn't anything new. It began rising to fame in the 1990s. But it wasn't until the 2000s that it became mainstream, thanks to icons such as Mary-Kate Olsen, Sienna Miller, and Kate Moss.

Now, bohemian chic clothing is almost as accessible as hairdressing scissors - even for plus-sized women. However, because of how easy it is to find this kind of clothing, making a decision regarding what clothes you actually need and don't need can be pretty tough.

So, to spare you (and your wallet) the misery, here are the top 10 items that you need to have to try boho-chic style on yourself and make your wardrobe more versatile.

A Simple Maxi Skirt

Maxi skirts are great because, depending on the occasion you are going to wear one, they can be either dress-up or dress-down. The best choices are the simple ones, preferably with minimal patterns, and not too puffy - they are the easiest to build an outfit with.

Here are some ideas for an outfit with a maxi skirt: 

• maxi skirt + solid coloured crop top + floppy sun hat
• maxi skirt + graphic t-shirt or a tank top + vest + sandals
• maxi skirt + button-down flannel or chambray top + canvas sneakers

Neutral-Coloured Ankle Boots

Ankle boots are a fashion staple of boho-chic girls - and thankfully, they come in thousands, if not millions, of different styles. Heel or no heel? With a zipper or without a zipper? The choice is completely up to you.

Just make sure that the pair you buy has a heel that is not too high nor too skinny, so that you can be comfortable no matter what you are doing - be it going to class or dancing your heart out at a concert by your favourite artist.

There are plenty of ways in which you can style ankle boots, but here are some of our favourites: 

• ankle boots + flare leg jeans + loose-knit sweater + hippie headpiece
• ankle boots + skirt/dress - the longer your skirt or dress is, the chunkier boots you can pair it with
• ankle boots (fringed) + maxi skirt + off the shoulder top

Source: Unsplash

A Printed Maxi Dress

It can be argued that maxi dresses are the best thing that has happened in the women's fashion industry. They are comfortable, they are feminine, and, most importantly for many plus-sized women, they can help you hide some of the imperfections you don't want others to see.

If you don't know how you can style a maxi dress, don't worry. Maxi dresses are usually good on their own. But if you want to add something to make it more casual, you can pair it with a denim vest or a distressed sweater. Now, for the accessories, you can opt for ankle boots, which will make it more of an everyday outfit, or you can choose chunky jewellery and sandals for a perfect date-night look.

Source: Pinterest

A Versatile Vest

Vests can transform even the most boring, ordinary look into something fun - especially since they look great with almost anything. Minidress, maxi dress, or a plain t-shirt with cutoffs - a vest will add a bit of pizzazz to all of those outfits. 

Here are some look inspirations with three different types of vests. (Best not to limit yourself to just one):

• denim vest + plain v-neck t-shirt + maxi skirt + sandals + hippie headwrap
• crocheted vest + floral dress (either mini or maxi)
• fringe vest + little black dress
• fringe vest + skinny jeans + plain tank top or t-shirt

Source: Pinterest

Leather Sandals

Boho leather sandals are a perfect choice for any warm day - they're not only summery and light, but also fashionable and polished. When looking for a pair, make sure to choose one that easily slips on and off - after all, you probably don't want to spend five minutes every morning trying to figure out the easiest way to put your shoes on. 

Now, when it comes to styles, there are too many for us to tell you to choose only one - even we are not able to do that. However, what we can tell you is that the strappy lace-up ones are a great statement piece, while Birkenstocks are a classic when it comes to the boho style - not only are they comfortable, but they also last forever.

Since sandals go with basically everything, we're not going to give you any outfit ideas - you can figure out a look yourself.

A Wide Brim Hat

Of course, when talking about boho style, we couldn't forget about wide brim hats. Here's a little tip from us - since expensive hats usually don't last that long (they don't hold shape better than inexpensive ones), there's no need for you to spend hundreds or thousands on one. Instead, find some cheaper options. (For instance, they are almost always included in the summer collection at H&M). That way, you can buy a new one with each season. 

There are plenty of outfits you can enrich with a wide brim hat. Here are some of our favourites:

• simple straw hat + sundress + sunglasses + sandals
• floppy brimmed felt hat + ripped black skinny jeans + slouchy sweater + pointed-toe mules
• any wide brim hat + pair of mum jeans + white tee + long cardigan + Birkenstocks

A Hippie-Chic Purse

No matter what your preferences are in terms of looks, you need at least one reliable bohemian purse - it's the key to tying the whole outfit together. And since there are plenty of options available on the market, you are bound to find one that suits your wardrobe and your personality just fine.

Here are some of our propositions:

• You can never go wrong with a cross-body bag - especially since it keeps your hands free, which is extremely useful, for example, during a concert or a festival. A cute, small- or medium-sized fringed bag is our choice.
• Rattan circle-shaped bags are a huge trend within the boho crowd. They are easily accessible, and they are a great way of incorporating some earthiness into any outfit.
• A canvas sling bag is a boho classic. They are an easy way of incorporating bright and bold print into an otherwise plain look.

The Bottom Line 

Don't be fooled - being plus-size doesn't mean that you cannot dress cute and in the way you want to, although some people might think so. It's your body, your choice. If you want to wear a crop top, do it. If you want to wear super short shorts, go for it. Of course, as long as you are comfortable with it.

Thankfully, more and more clothing brands are starting to realize the same thing. Also, by not offering plus-size clothing, they are losing a lot of potential customers. Today, most established shops have a separate plus-size collection, or they offer clothing in a wide range of sizes.

And since plus-size clothing is becoming more available, you can go ahead and experiment with different styles until you find your own. You know what you need for bohemian chic, but don't be afraid to try others as well. And if you can't find anything up to your taste, make it yourself. Size shouldn't be a barrier to your self-expression.