How to get Hippie Chic

Hippie styles are constantly in and out of fashion, but if your a real hippie, your probably not all that interested in trends. In my opinion, hippie isn't a fashion, it's a life-style.
Therefore, hippie TRENDS aren't for hippies, their for wannabes and fashion victims. IE: The braided headband, gladiator sandals.

See Mary-Kate over-there, displaying the RISK of hippie clothing. Obviously, the risk involved is ending up looking like a frumpy mad woman! Continue reading to be sure not to make the same mistakes that poor Mary-Kate does. Sometimes Mary-Kate gets it right, but more often than not, she gets it sooo wrong...Two people that get hippie style spot on most of the time are Nicole Richie, and Sienna Miller.

Basic hippie clothing essentials include, cotton dresses and tops, denim, brown leather, tie dye, crochet, knitts,lace, sandals, boot's, and a bag. You should have a good selection of neutral colours, and a few brights and pastels. Also gold and bronze coloured jewelery, particularly beaded jewelery also, but jewelery should usually be minimal.

Starting with the bag, because it's one of my favourite items, and hand-bags are essential for every woman. There's plenty of options out there when it comes to the hippie bag! The first choice being brown leather, particularly studded or fringed. Brown leather bags because they will effortlessly compliment hippie clothing, and look more natural than other colours. It doesn't matter what size your bag is, as long as it can fit all of your stuff in it! Avoid bright coloured handbags because they are more than likely to clash with hippie styles. Another good option is a crochet bag, denim bag, or a cotton bag with light colours.

Sometimes detail on bags is good, sometimes it's not. For hippie styles, don't go for any detail that involves sequins or diamantes. Do go for beads, embossing, fringing and studs, (not pointy ones though). Also go for a bag with a long strap, like a side-satchel, so you don't have to hold it over your arm..Because hippie style is all about a relaxed, easy, and natural look.

Like bags, there are endless options of hippie style shoes and boots. Whatever you do, don't go for those sandals that have a fringed strap around the ankle, these look totally over the top! The only place that trend belongs is at a dress up party. I advice against the gladiator sandal also, which i predict will be a fairly short-lived trend. Opt for a thong/jandal style sandal, or a strappy one. Shoe straps that wrap around the legs look good on skinny-average size legs, women with larger legs should avoid them, opting for a slide on sandal, sandal with a single strap across top the foot, or a flat, covered toe shoe instead.

Of all the different styles of hippie boots out there, it's best to stick to a semi-original go-go-boot design. But this excludes the vinyl!, Also the original white and bright colours should usually be excluded when it comes to these boots. Go for under the knee height, and shades of black,brown or grey, and choose a heel-height that your comfortable with. Don't ever wear boots with a mini, this combination has a tendency to look skanky. You can wear your boot's with above the knee skirts or dresses, but avoid anything quite short. Also skinny jeans should be the only jeans worn with knee high boots, don't wear jeans that cover your boots! Ankle boot's are good too for thin-average legs. For high-heels, go for platform pumps, worn with a mini dress, or jeans.

When it comes to jeans, either, dark-wash, light-wash, or black is fine for hippies. Although there's really only two styles women should stick to, skinny-leg, and flare. Men should go for a straight cut always, not too baggy, but not tight either. Avoid actual torn/ripped denim, this is a bad and arguably brainless trend. Minimal-medium worn-look denim is fine.

Another bad hippie trend is ponchos. Usually they resemble a woolen blanket, and they don't do you any justice covering the shape of your body. Although when it comes to warm comfy hippie-style clothing, kitted cardigans are your best option. Keep your knits a bit loose fitting though, with a plunging neck-line, tight ones that button right up to your shoulders, might make you look grannyish! Try to stick to neutral and light tones for knits.

Cotton dresses knee-mini length go well with almost any type of hippie style shoe. Maxi dresses should really only be worn with sandals. Slouchy, and t-shirt style are the most versatile, especially the less colour the better, then that leaves more room for accessories. Go for lace, frills ribbons and spaghetti straps, avoid sequins, diamantes, and bright coloured prints. Same with applies for skirts. Chiffon is good for dresses too, preferably them the hem in an uneven, or frilled cut, rather than just straight, unless it's short.

Not everyone will like crochet, but it can be very beautiful and decorative. Crochet looks good added to tops, or complete crochet over-singlets or dresses. Crochet bikinis look pretty hot, but they are a bit heavy when wet, which can cause them to slide out of place! Crochet goes really nicely with chiffon if it's a one piece, like a dress with the top crochet, and a flowing chiffon skirt. Another great thing about crochet is you can easily enough learn to do it yourself!

Like crochet, not everyone will be tie-dye fans either. Of course your going to stay well away from traditional psychedelic tie-dye, opting for mild tie-dye, but still bright colours. Select tie-dye clothing that is either one colour, or the other other colour is white. Multi-colour tie-dye is BAD! If your too much into tie-dye, you could try something really mild, like a tie-dye fabric headband or scarf.

Avoid tops with printed appliques, and high-neck lines. Go for tops that are either cotton, chiffon or crochet material. Silky fabric will rarely work with a hippie look, unless it's minimal ribbons. Kaftan, peasant and singlet styles are best for your look.

Accessories to add to your look include scarves, thick fabric headbands, detailed earings, simple necklaces, and bangles! Go for bronze and gold tones rather than silver, and don't mix gold with silver.