Chic is defined as elegantly and stylishly fashionable. The style is a combination of classic elements, along with refinement sometimes with a dash of duality. It’s always polished, refined, and sleek, yet laid-back, comfortable, and carefree.
In this video, I will be focusing on the basic foundation of curating a wardrobe consisting of everyday wear that is chic and effortless, this will be a more modern approach that has elegance with an edge consisting of different elements to elevate the look.
There’s a very Parisian element to this as it should come off as very effortless and natural. As model Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis stated. “Parisian style is being ahead, without being above.” Think similar to the SLP, it’s Parisian flair infused with edge, but for this look, it is a bit less rock ‘n’ roll and more gentle. It is not about overdressing, although to some people it could be seen as as this style should not go in any extreme direction, it requires a lot of balance. It’s sophisticated and intellectual, but still very modern and laid back as it’s more minimal with sleek lines and Avant-Garde touches.
To start we will do a rundown of the basics because the effortlessly chic look is not a trendy approach to fashion, but rather a timeless and versatile one meaning that this style can be worn pretty much anywhere at any time if you style it on the spectrum of casual to formal to suit the occasion.
In this section, I will often refer to wardrobe staples as this is how to decipher a wardrobe piece from a trend piece in order to curate long-lasting clothing that can be utilized in different manners as they never go out of style. This isn’t to create a capsule wardrobe, although that concept can be applied here, but a quality wardrobe in order to have a more focused sense of style and in this case: an effortless chic one.
Let’s begin with shirts. A simple tee is usually the go-to for a lot of people, but you can easily elevate a look by wearing another piece that is just as comfortable. A more flattering piece would be a fitted turtle or mock neck Three-quarter sleeved top. This has a more sophisticated yet laid-back nature that is very versatile and can be worn almost everywhere. For blouses: a plain white button-down is a must. A more dimensional take, for instance, a ruffled blouse can give a very different feeling to the look. Different cuts, lengths, and styling approaches will change the tone of your look.
Outside of staple tops, statement pieces can be invested in. This is shaped more by preference, like a band tee is more suited for someone into rock who has more of the cool vibe while a lace corset suits someone who is more into a feminine look- but even these can work in the same wardrobe as long as the staple foundation is created. A go-to piece that goes with this style is structured tops that have geometric make as you can pair this with any of the basics mentioned from layering with a blouse and trousers to dressing up jeans which leads us into the next section.
Trousers are both slim fit and wide work I would say this depends more on your body type. I plan on doing a body type series based on body structure and dressing to flatter your figure in the future. DENIM is a great base foundation as you can dress the look up and still look very comfortable, but not as formal as a trouser. This isn’t a hard rule, but I would say just stick with black denim for the most part. Lightwash can be dressed up and look very good, but will always have a more casual vibe which can be fun for the right occasion.
Sweaters are great for bringing different subtle elements to a look from such preppy intellectual to upscale grunge. They are also great for layering you have a lot to play with as you can mix color, texture, and pieces of different styles to create a very unique and fresh look.
When layering it it’s best to just have one more bulky item and build around it to not look overdone or like you’re trying too hard.
Skirts a great as well as they can give a more feminine flare to a look which can be adapted to or contradicted with other pieces. Dresses that are solid in color or have more subtle patterns or textures are great basics. A foolproof one is the classically famous little black dress made famous by Givenchy and Chanel. Dresses that are more of a statement in a casual setting can be more balanced out by pieces that are darker or less delicate. In a more formal piece, you can do the same duality with a lesser degree or stick with other delicate pieces to create focus.
For shoes: A go-to heel that you can walk in comfortably is a must. Boots are my favorite, my go-to are black-heeled boots. I also love boots with a platform as they come off a bit edgier, but they need to be sleek and polished.
Now sneakers can be chic to some degree, but they will always come off a bit more sporty even if they are not made for working out. which is fine if that’s an element of yourself you would like to share, but it’s not the most elegant option in my eyes. They can also downgrade a look to a low-tier smart casual rather than elevating it but this is just my preference as I just personally would rather keep mine for the gym. It can look great on the right person though, but it has to be done very well for this style.
If you want flat shoes I would opt for a type of loafer as they are more sophisticated and have more of a luxury element. Think dark Prada, there is a very academic look without being overly scholarly it’s cooler in nature.
In regards to JACKETS: trench or peacoat, leather, and faux fur are great staples to have as they are not only warm but can be a great accessory to add to a look. Staples should be in should blacks or neutrals, but you can also get ones in patterns or colors that go along with your personal color scheme.
For accessories, you want to keep it quite simple and clean. Structured bags and sunglasses are great functional basics. This is where you can play around more with subtle statement pieces like hats, scarves, purses, and more depending on your personal taste. When you’re deciding how to accessorize, you can go for one of two general looks: bold or subtle. An easy set of guidelines is if you are wearing basics go for bold to upgrade your outfit, if you are wearing mostly statement pieces go for subtle to compliment.
Jewelry has been worn for centuries to enhance people’s looks or to make a statement of status. While trends come and go, there are still some basic guidelines that are timeless. Staple jewelry should be able to go with anything in your wardrobe and achieve true versatility. Being chic is being put together and jewelry can contribute to this. Gold or silver is a personal preference, but the shade should match. These pieces are quite unique and should adorn you so it needs to compliment your skin tone and you want to determine it from the undertone of your complexion.
While color is not completely off limits, it should be strayed away from as blacks, whites, and neutral tones such as beige, greys, navy, etc should be the base color scheme. This type of color scheme is more chic as black is a color of sophistication, seriousness, control, and independence. Although neutrals can create a more classic European look, they do indicate a lack of enthusiasm, passion, and sentiment but are timeless, versatile, and natural. This is because they are not located on the color wheel. For example, shades of red convey a lot of emotion, while shades of off-white like creams are more subdued. This can create more of a sense of mystery as you’re expressing less emotion and remaining more contained. The darker tones tend to create a heavier mood while the paler ones create a lighter mood so can play with the balance according to your personal preferences to your taste. People who have the same style often sound very similar when listing preferences, but their personality, past styles, and personal aesthetics show more thought than the actual pieces sported. Like how one person could wear an outfit in black with some whites and a bit of neutral as accents but could wear the same pieces with mostly neutrals to achieve the same sort of style with a very different look.
Styling varies from person to person, but some concepts that are applicable to everyone are that contrast creates interest, use proportions individual to you, and rather than going all out just stay relaxed and flattering.
How these pieces fit, drape, and stack are very important, unless you are purposely adding an oversized piece, the clothes should fit meaning not too big or too tight. Also, when clothing does not fit your body it can create distortion of your features of emphasis on the wrong places. This doesn’t mean you have to tailor everything but to ensure the fit suits you prior to buying. Basics are the foundation, added statement pieces should be delicate or bold in nature to build up.
A myth about dressing chic and elegant is that it’s overly girlish and conservative in nature. Pieces do not need to be traditionally feminine, actually mixing in more traditional masculine elements can work in your favor as they emphasize and highlight the differences in each other like how lace will combat yet work well with leather. For instance, a structured, darker blazer paired with a softer, daintier dress creates a duality that is cohesive to the eye. Structured or oversized pieces on a daintier figure create more visual depth and highlight features like in this example it would be the neck, wrists, and waist. Also using this, pieces can create new proportions and silhouettes within your wardrobe.
The last point here is attitude. It’s actually a very relaxed approach to fashion that is catered to personality. The pieces themselves can be chic in essence, but how you feel and carry yourself creates the look. This means many different things as we are all different people but we can all achieve a chic, confident, and carefree look. It’s the way you style the clothes, the way you move in them, and how you present yourself.
Even as Yves Saint Laurent says in a famous quote, “without elegance of the heart, there is no elegance.” It doesn’t mean playing a part to achieve the look, but using your own personality, intelligence, and experiences to create the look. Your personal style is unique to you even if others sport the same sort of look as your style is a combination of all that you think, feel, want, and do.
SOURCES: Have an Elegant Woman’s Wardrobe Definitions- https://medium.com/@ciarafitzgerald_20093/have-an-elegant-womans-wardrobe-in-8-easy-steps-a000f5e129d3 Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis Interview- https://www.interviewmagazine.com/fashion/gabriel-kane-day-lewis-believes-in-magic Understanding Capsule wardrobe- https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/what-is-a-capsule-wardrobe Jewelry Etiquette- https://www.thespruce.com/jewelry-etiquette-1216702 Dress, body and self: research in the social psychology of dress- https://fashionandtextiles.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40691-014-0020-7
