The best compliment for a woman is a high appreciation of her style. Most often, eulogies are awarded an elegant style in clothing. It is not easy to create it, because, in addition to clothing, it includes many other details. Collecting a complete image is a real art. An innate flair, or the careful work of a stylist, or mastery of the art of image formation will help to look elegant. We will tell you about the basic principles of an elegant style, about what is its specificity and how to create it.
Concept of elegance
The word "elegant" in Latin meant "make a choice." Later, in the French language, it acquired the usual meaning - graceful, graceful, refined. But these adjectives are quite abstract and individual. Therefore, it can be so difficult to describe elegance, but anyone who sees a woman corresponding to this epithet will easily understand - yes, that’s her. Historically, the "elegant" style comes from aristocracy. And that is why it applies not only to a certain type and quality of clothing. Style is always a perception of the world. Not in vain D. Armani says that elegance is a form of manifestation of the mind. Indeed, style is always an element of personality, character, a unique I. And elegance is a manner of behavior, speech, the ability to combine wardrobe items, an unmistakable flair. Can anyone learn this? Or is elegance only transmitted with genes? Of course, this skill can be mastered, although you may have to work hard. It is not enough to put on a suit and immediately turn into a lady, if this had not happened before.
Principles of Elegant Style
The "elegant" style is genetically associated with the aristocracy, hence its basic principles:
- Restraint. Clothing should not "scream" about its owner, it should only emphasize the virtues, not bulging them. An elegant image should not hit the eyes and cause a storm of emotions. It is in the calm and neutrality of the emotional background that is its main secret.
- Impeccability. There are no trifles in this style, it is very intelligent and thoughtful, which is manifested in every detail - from gloves to aroma.
- Accuracy. This principle comes from the previous one. It is impossible to look elegant in a crumpled skirt or unclean shoes.
- High quality of every detail. Aristocrats have always preferred only the best, hence the attention to the quality of clothing. But elegance does not mean luxury; it is precisely the quality of cut, accessories, materials.
In addition, principles such as relevance, personality and simplicity are included in the concept of “elegant style”. Relevance refers to the suitability of the suit for the situation. For example, you can be thrice elegant in a classic suit from Chanel, but at a participant in a tennis competition it will look ridiculous. Also, the suit should correspond to the age of the person. Style is a reflection of the inner content of a person. Therefore, elegance is an expression of a person’s unique self.
You can wear a standard set of a white blouse and a black skirt and look patterned in it like a third-rate secretary, or you can look like a real lady. Here it is all about the suit's character and unique selection of details. Elegance implies utmost restraint and conciseness - nothing more. And this is precisely the biggest difficulty of this style. In order to show the maximum of internal content with a minimum of expressive means, one must have intelligence and taste.
Elegance every day
We have already said that the concept of “elegant style” is associated with the appropriateness of the costume. Therefore, choosing an image for work or everyday affairs, you need to understand where you will go in this suit. For an office or business meetings, a suit from a jacket and skirt to the middle of the knee or slightly lower, with a simple silk or cotton blouse, is best suited. The material and color of the kit is very important. You should not go in cycles in the black-and-white option, especially since today these tones are more suitable for special occasions. It is worth looking at the blue or brown color of the fabric from natural wool, in the summer - cotton. You can also choose a pantsuit. The style is created by the details. In this case, it can be medium-heeled pumps or genuine leather loafers. You can choose a bag of medium-sized portfolio type or a simple frame bag a la Birkin. A thin string of pearls or a silk square can be worn around the neck. For everyday activities that are not related to a business dress code, you can choose a pencil skirt or straight pants and a cashmere sweater or cardigan with a cotton blouse.
Elegant evening out
Traditionally elegant style is associated with evening dresses. Choosing a costume for going to the premiere, social events, vernissage, it is worth remembering the basic principles of elegance. Therefore, you need to choose a dress or a set of natural materials, restrained color palette and impeccable cut. The hem length can be different: for a cocktail - to the middle of the knee, for the evening - on the floor. Do not overdo it with jewelry: earrings can be equipped with a necklace or bracelets, wear one ring. Shoes are needed in high heels - 8-10 cm, preferably in the color of the dress. The handbag should be small, evening. In some cases, a woman can afford to wear a trouser set a la tuxedo and a set of skirts and jackets with satin, velvet, details.
Elegance and age
Traditionally, the style of an elegant woman is mentally associated with ladies of mature age. But in fact, elegance is beyond age, just in every period it has its own. So, for a girl of 20-25 years old, it is unlikely that a classic costume from a Chanel booklet will be appropriate in any situation. But a laconic, light dress made of high-quality natural material, boats and a string of pearls will be a very elegant choice. An active woman of 30-40 years old can afford both a classic suit, a fitted dress and a trouser suit and will look elegant if she can not go too far with accessories and choose the best things for cut and material. An example of modern elegance is Kate Middleton. She does not always pursue expensive brands, but her style has elegance and personality. And Queen Elizabeth is the ideal lady of adulthood. You can see that these ladies are united by impeccable manners, the desire for simplicity of outfits and measure and taste in the use of details.
Basic things in an elegant wardrobe
Stylists say that elegance is the art of combining simple things. To create a lady’s wardrobe, you will need several basic things around which images will be built for different situations. No matter how corny, but in an elegant woman’s wardrobe, a dress should be hanging, not necessarily black, possibly dark blue, dark eggplant, dark emerald, but ideally cut for its type of figure and made of natural fabric. It is also worth making a suit from a skirt and jacket, possibly from tweed or high-quality wool. It is advisable to sew it to order in a good studio, so that it perfectly emphasizes the advantages and hides the flaws. Perhaps for the summer it is worth making a light linen suit. Perfect fit pants should also be in the lady's closet. You also need to buy several blouses, a cashmere sweater or cardigan, a classic- cut coat of high-quality wool, several pairs of genuine leather shoes for each season, and at least two bags - day and evening.
Color of elegance
To think that elegance is black and white is a delusion. These colors have recently been losing ground, especially since they are not for everyone. Therefore, it is worthwhile to find your shades of gray, sand, burgundy, blue, brown and to withstand the main wardrobe in them. Although for the summer, white is very appropriate. And for an evening outfit, you can wear a black dress without any fear. The new colors of the elegant style are a restrained palette, a game of nuances is important in the image. It is believed that ladies choose only restrained, discreet shades. But it is worth seeing the monochrome images of the Queen of Great Britain in blue, yellow, and lilac colors, and how can she be denied elegance? Therefore, the main thing is a measure and taste.
Elegance and classic
Classics are often called synonymous with elegance. There is an elegant classic style, the icons of which are Catherine Deneuve, Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly. But today there is a new modern elegance, the embodiment of which is Kate Middleton, and before her was Princess Diana. This is the style of an active lady who does not spend all her time at social events. A new classic is emerging, which is much freer than even 30 years ago. But still the main thing is the taste and the highest quality.
Recommendations of stylists
To create an elegant style, experts advise to learn to observe the measure in everything, honestly recognize the advantages and disadvantages of your figure and wear only what suits her. You need to create a basic wardrobe and diversify it with a few details. A real lady will not walk in crumpled shapeless synthetic clothes; she will always give preference to quality. You do not need to buy a lot of clothes, just a few things are enough, but really sitting perfectly and of the best quality.