Haute Hippie

Any music festival goers out there? Coachella (huge annual music festival that takes place in Indio, CA) concluded a few weeks back, and I just read that Bonnaroo is coming up in two weeks (June 10-13 in Tennessee).  Both had/have killer line ups.  Jay-Z?  Yes please.

(Read more about Bonnaroo at their official site.)  And while Bonnaroo is no Lilith Fair (earthy-crunchy and lots of embittered women on stage — no offense), there’s a certain “free spirit” that defines the music festival experience and encourages even the preppiest amongst us (myself included) to test drive something a bit more unbuttoned.  I’ll admit that my interest in the haute hippie look is newfound.  Something about the entire aesthetic began to appeal to me in the last year or so, after dutifully observing the meteoric ascension of Nicole Richie (and her I-can’t-stop-watching transformation over the past few years), Kate Hudson, and Kate Bosworth into fashionista-ville.  So we’ll look to them for guidance.   Let’s begin with Bosworth because — as you likely know from the photos of her canoodling with Alex Sarsgaard — she attended Coachella this past April.

Um, hello.  When did Kate Bosworth begin inching towards icon status?  These looks are timeless boho chic, and I’m kind of bananas over them.  Nothing too kitschy or rehearsed — she even pulls off the headpiece without looking silly.  Of course, we can’t all be so lucky.  I’d tone it down in a couple of ways.  First, I’d feminize the aesthetic with a ditsy floral dress.  Thanks to Rebecca Taylor (see first image below), they “ditsy” print has been all over the place this season — check out this affordable BCBGeneration frock ($108, Zappos):

Pair with some worn-in brown leather boots.  Below, you’ll find my favorites — Loeffler Randall’s modified cowboy (on sale for a a still pricey $507 at Shopbop) — but for those of you looking for something a bit edgier, the Fryes have a lived-in, motorcycle-cool vibe ($278, Zappos):

Throw on a pair of aviators (Ray Bans or these Marc by Marc Jacobs — $110, Nordstrom — should do the trick) and plait a mini-braid to the side, a la Rachel Bilson.

Other “ditsy floral” options to check out: Mine’s version ($78, Otte NYC) or the queen of calico florals herself, Rebecca Taylor ($325, Pink Mascara):

If you’re lukewarm on the micro-floral print (it took me awhile to come around myself — I spotted a Theory dress bearing the print last summer that was on sale for about 70% off at Neiman’s and I just couldn’t make up my mind), I’d pair the above boots with a sweet little boho denim dress (the first below is by Trina Turk — shockingly, given her Palm Beach chic aesthetic — $268, Revolve Clothing; the second is by Lover — $405, Net-A-Porter):

I’d pair either with the brown leather boots above or — if you dare — these fringed, slouchy suedes ($268, Free People):

Now, don’t turn up your nose too quickly: celebs from Nicole Richie and Rachel Bilson to Lauren Conrad and Kate Moss have been seen in fringed boots, possibly explaining the curious ubiquity of the Minnetonka line.

The Minnetonka brand has been around for over 60 years, and has remained a mainstay in summer-camp-gear and boho-chic closets for the duration.  Snap up your own pair for $106 at Zappos.

(Richie was so enamored of the look, she incorporated several moccasin styles in this season’s House of Harlow collection.  You can buy your own at Shopbop.)  If the boots are a bit much for you, stick with a standard leather version and toughen your look with a fringed, slouchy bag (Madewell, $198, Shopbop):

It’d also look killer cool with a short white tee dress like this LNA number (on sale for $49, Shopbop)

Because the dress is so..brief and airy, I think I might opt for a strappy sandal over the boot.  This Loeffler Randall has been on my “item to watch” list the entire season (meaning that I might contemplate purchase if it drops in price).  If you gotta have it, you can get it now for $395 at the Loeffler Randall eBoutique:

I dream about pairing them with my “It” bag, the Chloe Marcie bag ($1,465, Neiman Marcus):

For something a bit more “dressed up,” consider this gauzy white cotton number by Free People (that’s as close as I’ll get to the crochet knit — sorry, Bosworth — $128, Free People):

You might consider tying a broken-in brown leather belt around your waist.  I love the label “Linea Pelle” for this sort of thing — the “criss cross” style from their vintage collection is uber-cool and lived-in looking ($163 in either “vintage whisky” or “vintage cognac,” Linea Pelle):

Top it all off with this hippie-chic Vita Fede leather wrap bracelet ($65, Max and Chloe) and a pair of festival-cool shades (Carrera, $120, Nordstrom):

If you’re looking for something with a bit more structure, how chic would you look beating the heat in this little Loeffler Randall romper ($325, Loeffler Randall)?

(Linea Pelle also has some awesome skinny belts — check them out here.)  The hipster, music-fest-goer thing to do?  Top it all off with a panama hat.  I’m a little intimidated by these, but Anne Hathaway wore panama hats both days of the Coachella festival and still looked ladylike:

And two of my Magpie Mavens have been seen sporting the look as well (R-Bils and R-Withs):

See?  Not so scary.  Reese proves anything can look polished with the right accoutrements.  Test it out with this J. Crew version ($58, J. Crew):

You might pair the hat and romper with these eye-catching Kelsi Daggers, which are apparently selling out or extremely popular at a number of online purveyors ($93, Zappos):

Layer with a utility-style anorak for bonus points — the one below is by Current/Elliott and available for $253 at Shopbop:

However, as mentioned multiple times in previous posts (sorry if I’m beating this into the ground, but when I’m bananas about a style, I can’t help but think of the millions of ways to use it!), J. Crew’s “Caprice” is right on the money (on sale for $89, J. Crew):

I bought mine awhile back and have gotten a ton of use out of it — it’s super lightweight and perfect over just about anything, from gym-wear to cute little dresses.  It’d look Bonnaroo-ready when paired with a denim utility shirt ($78, J. Crew), some white skinnies (below by JBrand), and the Rebecca Minkoff “Mac Clutch” ($330, Rebecca Minkoff — I. want. it.):

Round the look out with a pair of chic t-straps (Cocobelle, $99, Skimp Couture):

Or maybe you’re ready to give some mocs a try?  These Minnetonkas are classic ($45, Zappos), although the snakeskin texture of the House of Harlows add interest ($178, Bloomie’s):

And, for those prepsters out there that are interested in the look but can’t bear to muss up the pristine and put-together aesthetic, these J. Crew mocs should do the trick ($110, J. Crew):

With that same demographic in mind, I’ll conclude with a music-festival-appropriate-outfit for the opposite-of-hippie magpie.  Simply pair a bracelet-sleeved Tucker blouse (which looks insta-femme when tucked into a high-waisted white skirt with some pumps — $280, Net-A-Porter) with some slightly frayed straight-leg jeans (Blank Denim, on sale for $58, Piper Lime), and some twisted-leather t-straps ($88, J. Crew):

I’d keep it feminine with another Rebecca Minkoff treasure — “The Morning After” tote ($550, Muse Ten):

Bottom line: there are ways of taking the look and making it your own so it’s not quite so…textbook.  You don’t need to reincarnate Woodstock to make an (on-point and enviable) fashion statement.  Rock on!

Don’t forget to vote on what you want to see in future Magpie posts — see yesterday’s posting to voice your opinion!