Friday, April 5, 2013

What is elegance?

"We must never confuse elegance with snobbery"  ~Yves Saint Laurent

"Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress"  ~Coco Chanel

"The only real elegance is in the mind; if you've got that, the rest really comes from it."  ~Diana Vreeland


For me elegance in a look is paramount!  I enjoy whimsy, a bohemian vibe, a touch of the unexpected, but at the end of it all, the overall effect must be elegant.

Cecil Beaton said, "What is elegance?  Soap and water!"  He's right!  Elegance doesn't need designer labels or a credit card.  Elegance is found in simplicity.  As Ms Chanel once said, "Elegance is refusal". That speaks to me of refusal to be a slave to trends.  Refusal to carry oneself differently whether wearing an evening gown or a pair of jeans.  Refusal to go straight for "sexy" instead of letting the imagination entice.

 photo photo26a_zps56f0c336.jpg

I love that there's no price tag for elegance!  This is a thrifted vintage dress that cost $5 and a thrifted Chico's long blouse that I shelled out $2 for!!  Truly the. best. blouse. EVER!  The collar is made to stand up perfectly!
 photo photo27aa_zps75a8b1ef.jpg

Finished off with my favorite over the knee leather boots, a pair of silver hoops, and my favored red nails.  I can't tell you how great I felt in this!!  If there is an outfit that just FEELS like me, this is it!

I just thrifted a pair of black leather flat heeled boots for $5.  I could have worn those with this and the whole look would be about $12!  

I leave you with a final thought from Mr. Benjamin Disraeli that really speaks to me:

"Teach us that wealth is not elegance, that profusion is not magnificence, that splendor is not beauty."

Photobucket

15 comments:

  1. Oh,Serene, you look stunning and so elegant! I heard actress Rita Moreno say this week that elegance is dead...I disagree, I believe it is all around us and you are right, it is not about wealth! You are just breathtaking!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A wonderful post!
    I believe being elegant starts with one's attitude & the confidence in how you carry yourself....not what you're wearing.
    With that said, you look perfectly elegant from top to bottom! Love your hair, dress, shirt, boots, and your attitude!
    Happy weekend, Serene!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Agreed, elegance is not a price tag - it's an attitude. And you've got it, my friend. Love this dress and blouse.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You do look very elegant! How perfectly that whole outfit works together. I am loving the new scarf I got from your Ebay shop - for me a scarf always adds a touch of elegance. (And those extra touches you put in when you ship something makes me smile everytime I think about it.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful quotes and an very elegant outfit to prove the point too! Love the black dress and boots!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the quotes. The outfit is so classic and elegant on you.
    I do think that elegance stills exists in fashion and the proof is right here on all the special 'lovely lady' blogs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Totally agree with you, elegance is definitely not about price tag

    ReplyDelete
  8. great outfit! amazing sleeves!

    Lyosha
    Inside and Outside Blog
    P.S. I'm your newest follower

    ReplyDelete
  9. You look like a million bucks! It's so good to see your gorgeous (and elegant) face back on the interwebs. I love the quotes and the way you show how style isn't about the newest, but the best for you. LOVE this post!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dressing with imagination...love that! Wonderful quotes. I'm a big fan of collecting good quotes and thrifting! Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. wow gosh love quotes
    http://www.mogulinteriordesigns.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, just wanted to mention, I loved this blog post.

    It was practical. Keep on posting!

    Here is my weblog - übersetzung deutsch englisch kosten

    ReplyDelete
  15. Casinos Near Bryson City NC | MapYRO
    Search by 양산 출장안마 area and get directions, reviews and information 경기도 출장마사지 for 충청북도 출장안마 Casinos Near Bryson City 고양 출장샵 NC in Bryson City, NC. Bryson City, 의정부 출장샵 NC 280 Highway 315.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! ~Serene