In this age of bare-it-all reality TV stars, are "elegant" women becoming a rare breed?
Yves Saint Laurent creative director Stefano Pilati thinks so, as he spills in a new interview with VICE.
Pilati says in part of the dialogue:
But seriously, it’s not easy to find elegant women. There are a few, the majority of whom are old – and there are one or maybe two in the world who created a new style when they were young. Today when I go to New York and survey art and fashion, I see smart women and the level is high. But there’s a difference between this and saying a woman is elegant.
Hmmm. Pilati further explains what he means by "elegance."
My idea of elegance – and this refers to women as well as men – is that someone is elegant when he or she shows a good knowledge of what fits them, where you can find naturalness and self-esteem. Not showing off. Elegance is the idea of showing an optimistic depiction of oneself, and to lose oneself in the frivolity of style and fashion. Nowadays nobody gives a shit about being elegant, or chic.
It's hard to argue with that.
But still, we can think of a few women out there who embody this standard of elegance; Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Michelle Williams and Kate Middleton, to name a few.
While it may be true that culture inundates us with examples of women (and men!) who have forsaken their own sense of style and taste for trends and "frivolity," we think we'd all do well to celebrate as role models those celebs who maintain a sense of refinement and grace.
Tell us in the comments: who do YOU think embodies elegance in today's society?
Read more of Pilati's interview over at VICE, including some juicy details on drug use in the fashion biz.