The Boho Wardrobe Staples Every Free Spirit Needs After 60
You don’t need a brand-new closet. You need a few pieces that make what you already own feel more like you.
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I have a theory about getting dressed after 60.
By now, we should be done buying clothes for the woman we think we’re supposed to be.
I don’t want a closet full of things that technically fit but don’t feel anything like me.
I don’t want to save my favorite clothes for some imaginary special occasion.
And I definitely don’t want somebody deciding that because I’m 68, my wardrobe should suddenly become quiet.
I’m a boho girl.
I like color.
I like turquoise.
I like denim.
I like flowy tops and dramatic layers.
I like jewelry with stories attached to it.
And I like clothes that give me enough room to actually live my life.
But here’s something I’ve learned:
You don’t need a closet stuffed with clothes to have great personal style.
You need the right foundation.
So if you’re a free spirit after 60—or you’re just starting to let that side of yourself come out—these are the pieces I’d build around.
Start With What You Already Own
Before we go shopping, we’re going into the closet.
I know.
Not nearly as exciting.
But stay with me.
Pull out the basics you actually wear.
Maybe you already have:
- A favorite pair of jeans
- Black pants
- A white blouse
- A couple of solid tanks
- A denim jacket
- A simple dress
- Comfortable sandals
- Boots you love
Those aren’t necessarily “boho clothes.”
They don’t need to be.
They’re the canvas.
The boho part comes from what we add to them.
That’s how you create a wardrobe instead of accumulating a collection of random outfits.
Staple #1: A Flowy Top With Personality
This is probably the easiest place to start.
A great boho top can take the same jeans you’ve owned for three years and make them feel completely different.
I’m drawn to tops with something interesting happening.
Maybe it’s:
- Embroidery
- Bell sleeves
- A bold print
- Paisley
- Texture
- Tassels
- An interesting neckline
- Earthy colors
- Turquoise
- Rust
- Florals
But here’s my rule:
Flowy doesn’t mean enormous.
Especially as a plus-size woman, I’ve seen plenty of advice suggesting we should basically cover ourselves in fabric.
No, thank you.
I want movement.
I want comfort.
But I also want to see the woman wearing the clothes.
Look for a top that skims your body instead of swallowing it.
SHOP FLOWY BOHO TOPS
Staple #2: Denim You Actually Want to Wear
There is no age limit on jeans.
Can we finally put that one to bed?
The important thing isn’t whether women over 60 are “allowed” to wear denim.
It’s finding denim that works for the body you have today.
Maybe you love straight-leg jeans.
Maybe you’re happiest in bootcut.
Maybe you’ve rediscovered flares.
Maybe wide-leg denim makes you feel fabulous.
Wear those.
I especially love denim in a boho wardrobe because it’s the perfect neutral.
Take jeans and a simple tank.
Now add a printed kimono, turquoise necklace and boots.
That’s a completely different outfit.
Same jeans.
That’s what I mean by building a wardrobe instead of constantly buying outfits.
Staple #3: The Kimono
You knew this was coming.
I love a kimono because it’s basically instant personality.
You can put one over the simplest outfit imaginable and suddenly you’ve got something going on.
Jeans + tank + kimono.
Black pants + tee + kimono.
Maxi dress + kimono.
Shorts + tank + kimono.
It’s also a wonderful option when you want a little coverage without putting on a heavy jacket or cardigan.
And please don’t think your kimono has to be neutral.
This is your chance to bring in:
Color.
Print.
Flowers.
Paisley.
Embroidery.
Drama.
If you’re going to wear the kimono, wear the damn kimono.
SHOP KIMONOS & BOHO LAYERS
👉🏼ZEAGOO KIMONOS & BOHO LAYERS
Look for pieces that can work over several things already hanging in your closet.
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Staple #4: A Maxi Dress That Does the Work for You
There are days when I don’t want to build an outfit.
I want to put on one thing and be dressed.
Enter the maxi dress.
A great boho maxi already has the movement and personality built in.
Look for:
- Soft fabrics
- Tiered skirts
- Interesting prints
- Embroidery
- Comfortable waistlines
- Flowy sleeves
- Rich colors
- Details that make it feel special
Then change the personality with your accessories.
Sandals and simple jewelry make it casual.
Boots and a denim jacket take it toward fall.
A statement necklace gives it more personality.
A cardigan makes it cozy.
One dress. Several lives.
That’s a wardrobe workhorse.
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Staple #5: A Long Cardigan or Duster
This is another piece that earns its closet space.
A long cardigan gives you the same third-piece magic as a kimono but can feel a little more casual.
I especially love textured knits and earthy colors.
Rust.
Olive.
Camel.
Cream.
Mustard.
Deep brown.
You can also go completely in the opposite direction and choose a dramatic print.
There’s no rule saying boho has to mean earth tones.
Trust me.
I’ve never met a color I couldn’t at least have a conversation with.
SHOP BOHO CARDIGANS & DUSTERS
👉🏼SHOP MY FAVORITE BOHO CARDIGANS
Staple #6: Comfortable Boots
At 25, I might have tolerated uncomfortable shoes because they looked good.
At 68?
Absolutely not.
My shoes have two jobs now.
Look good and allow me to walk.
Ankle boots work beautifully with boho style because they go with almost everything.
Jeans.
Maxi dresses.
Long skirts.
Wide-leg pants.
Look for details that give them personality:
- Western influence
- Distressed finishes
- Interesting stitching
- Buckles
- Suede-look textures
- Warm brown tones
But comfort comes first.
We are not hobbling around for fashion anymore.
Staple #7: Turquoise — Or Whatever Your Signature Jewelry Is
Mine is turquoise.
You probably already knew that.
But yours doesn’t have to be.
Maybe you love silver.
Maybe it’s chunky rings.
Maybe you stack bracelets.
Maybe you’re an earrings woman.
Maybe you love long necklaces.
The important thing is having jewelry that makes a basic outfit feel like your outfit.
I especially love pieces that have stories.
Jewelry can remind us of people we love, places we’ve been and different versions of ourselves we’ve been along the way.
Those are the pieces no trend can replace.
SHOP BOHO JEWELRY
Look for turquoise-inspired pieces, stacked bracelets, layered necklaces, statement earrings and rings.
SHOP MY FAVORITE BOHO JEWELRY →
Staple #8: The Textured Piece
Boho style isn’t only about color.
Texture matters.
A lot.
Think about adding one piece with:
- Crochet
- Fringe
- Embroidery
- Woven fabric
- Suede-look texture
- Patchwork
- Lace
- Interesting knit
It could be as small as a fringe bag.
Or as noticeable as an embroidered jacket.
Texture makes an outfit feel collected instead of manufactured.
And that’s really what I love about boho style.
Nothing has to match perfectly.
Staple #9: A Bag With Some Personality
Yes, you could carry a plain black bag with everything.
But where’s the fun in that?
A bag is an easy place to experiment because you don’t have to worry about fit.
Try:
- Fringe
- Embroidery
- Woven textures
- Southwestern-inspired prints
- Tooled-look leather
- Interesting straps
- Crossbody styles
I’m especially fond of crossbody bags these days.
Hands free.
Coffee in one hand.
Whatever life throws at me in the other.
Perfect.
SHOP BOHO BAGS & ACCESSORIES
A great place to link to your curated Amazon accessories and everyday boho finds.
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Staple #10: One Completely Unnecessary Fabulous Thing
Now we get to the important stuff.
Every wardrobe needs one thing that makes absolutely no practical sense.
A dramatic kimono.
An enormous necklace.
A wild printed dress.
A fringe jacket.
A funky pair of boots.
Something that makes you look at it and think:
Where exactly am I going to wear that?
My answer?
Wherever you want.
We spend enough of our lives being practical.
Your closet is allowed to contain joy.
My 5-Piece Boho Starter Wardrobe
If you’re starting from scratch, don’t buy everything on this list.
Start with five pieces.
1. One great flowy top
2. One pair of comfortable jeans
3. One kimono or cardigan
4. One piece of statement jewelry
5. One pair of boots or sandals you love
Now mix those with the basics you already own.
That’s enough to start.
Then pay attention.
Which pieces do you keep reaching for?
What colors make you feel good?
What gets compliments?
More importantly, what makes you smile when you see yourself in the mirror?
Build from there.
Don’t Buy the Boho Uniform
This might be the most important thing I can tell you.
You don’t have to buy every boho trend.
You don’t need fringe AND crochet AND tie-dye AND flare jeans AND turquoise AND a floppy hat all in the same outfit.
Unless that makes you happy.
Then go for it.
Boho isn’t supposed to be a uniform.
It’s supposed to feel personal.
Maybe your version is colorful.
Maybe it’s mostly earth tones.
Maybe it’s Western.
Maybe it’s California hippie.
Maybe it’s artistic and eclectic.
Maybe it’s jeans, a fabulous blouse and enough bracelets to announce your arrival before you enter the room.
That’s the fun.
You get to decide.
🛍️ SHOP GIGI’S BOHO WARDROBE
I’ve gathered some of my favorite boho-inspired clothing, jewelry and accessories to make finding those special pieces a little easier.
These are affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Gigi Unfiltered.
After 60, Your Closet Should Look More Like You — Not Less
I don’t think getting older means we should slowly remove the interesting parts of ourselves.
Less color.
Less jewelry.
Less personality.
Less everything.
I think it should be the opposite.
We’ve lived long enough to know what we like.
We’ve worn the uncomfortable shoes.
We’ve bought clothes because somebody told us they were flattering.
We’ve stood in dressing rooms wondering whether something was “age appropriate.”
At some point, you get to stop asking permission.
Wear the color.
Stack the bracelets.
Pull on the jeans.
Throw on the fabulous kimono.
And build a wardrobe that looks like the woman you’ve become.
Because being a free spirit never had an age limit.
Don’t let your age determine the size of your dreams—or the size of your personality.
