Old World Charm: 5 Ways to Wear a Bohemian Chic White Dress

Think of your little white dress as LBD’s free-spirited little sister: less formal, casually easy like Sunday morning, hopelessly romantic like a hippie wild child yet equally classic at the same time.

With the change in season and warmer weather creeping in, the little white dress is the perfect wardrobe essential for a lovely spring and summer affair. Oh, did we mention it’s also versatile to wear? There are a million ways to style your little white dress, but this mommy-and-daughter duo’s favorite is wearing it with a touch of vintage bohemian.

To channel our inner boho spirit, we stepped into Ybor City, Tampa’s historic district, which once thrived as a cigar industry town prior to the Great Depression. The place was named after Vicente Martinez Ybor, a prominent Spanish cigar entrepreneur who relocated his cigar-making business from Cuba and Key West to Tampa in the late 1880s.

Today, Ybor City is named National Historical Landmark District and recognized as one of the “10 Great Streets in America.” It continues to have a diverse blend of cultures, thanks to its first immigrant settlers primarily of Cuban, Spanish and Italian descents who brought with them their own unique food and traditions.

Ybor City has since been transformed as a favorite local spot among foodies, party night owls and art lovers, as evident by its unique fusion of international-themed restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters and street art.

That being said, it served as the perfect backdrop for a vintage-bohemian fashion shoot. It’s easy to be adventurous when wearing a little white dress, so let your inner child run wild and play with a few fun details. Here are five ways to rock the bohemian rhapsody style:

1. When it comes to frills, poufs and laces, go big or go home.  

2. Wear white with gold.

Add an interesting element to take away the “blah” in basic white. For instance, gold adds a touch of elegance to white. A word of caution: Keep the gold element subtle, you don’t want to look like you’ve just been cursed by Midas’ touch. A gold belt or hair accessory should do the trick.

3. Pair it with a romantic head dress.

4. Have fun with a pair of gladiator sandals.

As far as vintage style goes, wearing the right pair of footwear matters. It’s really amazing how shoes can single-handedly take an overall look from day to night. For instance, a gold pair of stilettos could make this white dress by Forever 21 “happy hour ready,” while a classic pair of nude pumps could make it work-appropriate. For this style shoot, I slipped on a pair of gladiator sandals to complete the boho chic look. Hello, is that you, ancient Rome, calling?

5. Keep the look organic by sticking to neutral colors.

Think of woodsy colors like forest green or caramel brown. These colors go well with a simple white dress in creating a very “chill” and Woodstock-inspired style. Let your individuality shine with your style choices, whether that means adding a mocha fringe messenger bag, a pair of feather earrings or some oversized bows. Ultimately, it’s about embracing your free-spirited inner child!