Hip, Hippie, Hooray!

Story and photos by Sara Norris

It’s time to celebrate a real bohemian rhapsody - getting that I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-but-I-somehow-still-look-fabulous look just got easier for San Diego girls. Now open at Fashion Valley, boho-chic women’s boutique Free People is bringing a spirited boho vibe to the mall’s second floor, right next door to Neiman Marcus.

With locations already killing it in Carlsbad and UTC, Free People was the Philadelphia-born precursor to Urban Outfitters, and was once run as a wholesale supplier to Urban and other retailers including Anthropologie.

To demonstrate how to transition a wardrobe from summer to fall with a Free People twist, the Fashion Valley store’s visual manager, Molly Hughes Kanutson, styled the lovely Karol.

“We like the juxtaposition of the masculine and feminine,” says Kanutson, adding that one of the brand’s staple looks involved pairing light feminine whites with a slouchy, destroyed-denim boyfriend jean.

Traces of the classic beach look will be available through September in a Free People collection Kanutson says “feels fresh and clean to finish out the summer.”

Fall’s arrival will bring an assortment of new jackets, with styles ranging from shaggy, fringed or embellished, to a more tailored, menswear look. Kanutson dressed Karol in their buttery-soft true leather classic biker jacket, pointing out that she could also see it paired with something a little more girly, like a maxi dress, adding a bit of edge and transitioning a look into nighttime.

Even though San Diego’s fall is a lot like summer elsewhere, Kanutson says Free

People’s cowl neck sweater is made-to-wear now and pairs well with denim shorts. The sweaters will also carry into the colder months, when they can be worn with a boyfriend or skinny jean and a great ankle boot.

Whether it’s high socks, tall boots or both, Kanutson says it’s all about the high-leg going into autumn. To create a boho look for Karol, she paired tall boots and socks with a flowy dress, topping off the look with a hat.

“We love this look paired with dresses, mini skirts, tunics, shorts; and we love that it’s a trend that any girl can adopt and work into her personal wardrobe,” she says.

Free People hats are constructed from suede, felt, straw and leather, and focus on the wide-brimmed look.

“[A hat] punctuates a really cool outfit and is also a great solution to a bad hair day,” Kanutson says.

Free People
7007 Friars Rd., Mission Valley
619.220.4906, freepeople.com

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