Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa was the celebrity I idolised through my teens and someone whose style I continued to look up to into my 20s. I love her ability to effortlessly switch it up between elegant, flowy bohemian pieces and edgier ensembles such as working a simple tee with a pair of statement denim jeans and Gucci loafers. A veteran Coachella-goer, Vanessa is guaranteed to command attention, rocking her latest tribal princess look and mermaid locks whilst decked out in eye-catching jewels and trend-setting boho-chic outfits.
Sienna Miller
Sienna was instrumental in the early-noughties rise of boho- pairing boots with floral peasant gowns and the newsboy cap. She also played into the Olsen twins-age of LA boho, donning draped layers with slouchy shredded outfits, scruffy yet somehow still chic hair styles, and oversized coats. Many critics said she carried the film Alfie (2004), playing wild-child party girl Nikki who looked all 'Brigitte Bardot' and 70s with smokey eyeliner and bold bangs (one of my favourite film characters of all time). Currently performing in the West End production Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has meant an increase in more recent snaps of her off-duty style- she was spotted exiting the stage door last week wearing a Gucci Mens vinyl jacket in vibrant red, green and navy patchwork. However, Miller hasn’t become a complete stranger to her bohemian days as she was seen throwing it back at this year's Glastonbury in an embroidered suede shearling jacket and Sorel boots.
Phoebe Thompson-Lettice
Phoebe is the queen of sass who I discovered when she appeared on Made In Chelsea. The quirky blonde
who sported a back-combed quiff and nose ring was the source of many fiery
comments which often had her butting heads with the likes of Lucy Watson. Inevitably,
she became one of the show’s leading villains- but I 100% girl-crushed on her
anyway. Departing after two series, she pursued a Creative Director role with
East London streetwear brand Illustrated People. Her first collaboration with
the brand, PhoebeXIP, was Kawaii inspired and a nod to her passion for Tokyo
style. Each of her looks are innovative, bright and retro, often bringing back noughties disco trends such as octopus trousers. Earlier this year she was
featured in the Evening Standard’s ‘18 young London female entrepreneurs
that will inspire you to be your own boss’, and they accurately state “When she’s not busy
launching seasonal collections, she’s probably Instagramming all of the things
you regretted wearing in 2003, while somehow making them look great again.”
Valentina Muntoni
Valentina is the co-founder of bohemian empire Rat & Boa. This unusual brand name drew inspiration from Stevie Nicks’ discussing her romance with Lindsey Buckingham ‘he and I were about as compatible as a boa constrictor and a rat’. Valentina teamed up with her best pal Stephanie Cara Bennett to create an eclectic clothing brand that represented this bold and daring love affair that 'broke the rules'. Valentina is known as The Rat who brought the grungey elements and Stephanie The Boa who weaved the bohemian through this- and the result is a dreamy aesthetic. They are well-known for their iridescent velvet and silk fabrics crafted into skimpy but tasteful pieces that command attention. A sell-out dress from their recent collection was the Zinnia, designed with lilac, sheeny yarn in a floor sweeping length.
Two of my favourite Rat & Boa quotes:
“Rat & Boa is for the lovers, daredevils, women of the night, believers and free spirits.”
“Rat & Boa was born out of a desire to create pieces that are missing from your wardrobe; attire that is wearable, eclectic, sexy and fun.”
Jess Woodley
Jess' style is everything scruffy-chic and skater-girl. She is big on the laid-back, cute, undone look with a hint of 90s Baby Spice vibes- space buns and buffalo platforms are in the mix. Jess was a popular addition for MIC viewers and rapidly built a fan base and hefty Instagram following throughout her time on the show. Although the tom-boy 22-year-old only made her exit early this year, she has managed to model for Reebok, collaborate on a range with Rimmel London and is now in the process of releasing her own clothing-line Rose Collective. In a recent feature for Wonderland she talks about drawing inspiration from the LA skate scene and using dungarees as a staple piece across the brand. Her aim is to promote gender fluidity, encouraging girls to wear whatever they want and opting for comfort.
Emily Oberg
Emily Oberg’s Instagram is a mixture of vintage Chanel, trainers and sportswear ensembles. A lot of her style draws inspiration from 90s NYC and east coast hip-hop culture. The Canadian native created a series of slogan hoodies and tees as part of her merch and mag brand 'Sporty & Rich'- born out of a phrase she had used to describe her aesthetic. Her success in fashion began as she tapped into a market that bridged the gap between streetwear and athletic wear. In February this year, she was appointed Creative Lead of Kith Women, overseeing all direction and style for the 'Kith Girl' concept. The S/S 2018 show at Fashion Week debuted an assortment of 90s-inspired streetwear meets sportswear including shearling coats, varsity jackets and stain millennial pink bombers.
Cydney Morris
I first discovered Cydney through her Tumblr page ViciouslyCyd. The moodboard was one of my favourites- an assortment of Spanish embroidery, Japanese artwork and 60s fashion and film stars like Jane Birken. Cydney is the co-founder of Stone Cold Fox, a bohemian-meets-classic vintage Californian label that she started up with her best friend Dallas. Speaking to Hanger Shortage, Cydney and Dallas discussed the inspiration they gain from travelling. Cydney has sourced fabrics from Bali before having the dresses tailor-made and the SCF logo itself was inspired by a bullhead skull they purchased on a roadtrip, passing a street lined with bone carvers who were crafting the pieces. After being approached by the likes of Planet Blue and Free People, their growing clientele's success enabled them to branch into SCF homeware and SCF bride with the vision of becoming an all-round lifestyle brand. In an interview with Peppacraft, Cydney talks about what inspires her as a designer “I’m pretty old school. I hand sketch everything. I get real inspired by fabrics, women’s bodies, vintage lingerie and things I want to wear myself.”
