Some considerations about elegance and style

Fashion changes, style remains. 
Coco Chanel

The neologism "fashion victim", term coined by Oscar de la Renta, identifies persons who are unable to recognize the common boundaries of style. These persons are victims of faddishness and materialism, two of the widely well-known excesses of the fashion system. According to Versace, a woman becomes a fashion victim when she alters her look too much from season to season. On the contrary, there is the dressy woman, who has a basic wardrobe periodically integrated with some new items. An elegant lady knows what suits to her, has a personal elegance and doesn't change style with a new season, at most completes it with some fashion details. This woman distinguishes herself not for what she wears, but for her charm. Nevertheless style and elegance don't reside only in the clothes. An authentic lady has a gentle or even aristocratic bearing and is gifted of a good politeness.

From my point of view this kind of woman follows for sure some bon-ton rules, like:

• General

She always takes care of her personal hygiene in all its aspects. Concerning the bearing, she keeps the back straight and, once seated, maintains the legs always closed and never crossed-legged wearing a skirt (and wearing the trousers too). She perfectly uses fork and knife during the meals (also when she eats alone) and doesn't speak loudly. She avoids excesses and ostentation, which go against the universal rules of style.

French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy poses during UK State Visit 
in London on March 26, 2008. She has no crossed-legged. 

• Make-up

The make-up should not change too much a face and, once removed, a woman should recognize herself and appreciates also her natural version. Carla Bruni says that women over 25, 28 at the latest, should stop wearing make-up because it ages them. In general a good make-up embellishes an average beauty, but reduces the level of a wonderful beauty, which is more emphasized by the absence of  it Concerning the hair, she doesn't dye her hair with a colour farther than 2 or 3 tones, because she respects her natural appearance.

Model Natalia Vodianova attends Etam Spring/Summer 2010 Collection Launch 
  by Natalia Vodianova at Hotel Ritz on January 25, 2010 in Paris, France. 
She doesn't like to use too much make-up out of the catwalks and so her beauty results emphasized.

• Jewellery

Not everything at the same time. Gold, pearls, diamonds, not all together. Only one big jewel at a time.

• Neckline and heel

No necklines below bra line during the day. Only for few special occasions in the evening or at the beach. Only medium or low heel during the day.

• Accessorizes

They are necessary to personalize a style, but watch out the gaudy ones. No visible brand name (bag, foulard, shoes, jewels); the ostentation is boor.

The elegance is boring, never garish nor loud. If I am attracted by something too much garish, I ask to my self what my mother, my grandmother (this kind of ladies are always rarer!) and my few style-icons would think about that. Would they look at me disgusted or would they appreciate? And it works!


Sources of the photos: Getty Images, Zimbio