Gypsy Chic

Bohemian beauty Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac was a gypsy princess who brought the ethereal dream world of fairies to her fans. Her eclectic style of romantic vintage clothes and elaborate ethnic shawls epitomised the gypsy chic look of the era that she helped define.

Stevie floated around in chiffon angel sleeves and romantic handkerchief hems, her petite frame rising to majestic heights in her trademark knee-high platform boots. Her golden tresses were like a halo in the moonlight, and her arms dripped with silver and turquoise – a fantasy style very different from the hard-edged, leather-clad rockers who dominated the rock scene. She was a fresh voice, and her vintage style was a breath of fresh air to her fans.

Stevie’s own style was awakened when she spotted a young girl in the audience of her concert wearing a chiffon skirt and knee-high beige suede boots. She knew that’s what she wanted to look like, and the gypsy girl danced.

Stevie’s debut with Fleetwood Mac featured her song Rhiannon, an ode to a Welsh goddess who gave up her mystical powers to live with the human man she loved.

The haunting story of the mythic tale was played out in Stevie’s style, modelled after the romantic wardrobe of travelling gypsies. Fans went wild and emulated her look, covering themselves in her veil of romantic delight.

Girls draped themselves in crocheted shawls, soft handkerchief hem chiffon gowns with angel wings. They too zipped up into knee-high suede platform boots, even tall ladies looking like Amazon angels.

Stevie’s layered, flyaway hair exuded fairy chic instead of Farrah‘s perfectly shaped wings, and girls gave up their curling irons and hairspray.

The style became popular again in the new millennium, renamed “Boho-chic” (‘Boho’ being short for ‘bohemian’).