It’s Not Simple, Its Simplify!
18-02-2010
If we look back to the past, we meet Madeleine Vionet. She thought the cut was all that mattered. All the rest was superfluous. Establishing a perfect harmony between the intrinsic qualities of the fabric, cut of the garment and the way it lays against the body. So, we would see Pierre Balmain, who has been declared enemy of the superfluous decoration. I'm not speaking about rules. Now the rules are broken. But it is unforgiving to break the harmony. You can be subliminal, sophisticated without extravagance. Christian Dior said that Elegance may be audacious but never extravagant. Extravagance is in bad taste; when dressing, it is better to err on the side of simplicity than extravagance.
How? Quality, Harmony and The Detail.
Quality: There is the inversion. You may wear simple black, but the quality of the garment makes a difference. You can spend hundreds on a designer t-shirt, but it doesn't mean you have a quality t-shirt. You have to know. Read inside: Where is it from? What material is it made off? The cut, and how it is fitting on you. Quality is never out of fashion.
Harmony: It doesn't mean always-in-black. It is not being simple, it is just to simplify. It is not being boring, it is just playing with logic, and coherence. You can wear colours and stay pure. Colour is life, it is happiness. Harmony means balance, logic. Only with a simple green t-shirt, a white linen skirt and your personal touch, it's possible to look like a simplified but individual, fresh and pure person.
The Detail: that's the main factor. You can play with the detail. Maybe your detail is a huge plait. You can have a special touch if you add a little french cup of coffee pendant hanging from your necklace. You can wear a breathtaking hat. You can be innocent and chic colouring your simple look with a red handbag and a pair of shoes.
Play with the weather. It's winter, so play with a woolen coat, a traditional trench, a little cape, or (why not?) a cloak, a big cashmere cardigan… Try, for example, getting your detail with a fur waistcoat.
Clubbing… Play with materials. Feathers and denim, it's so daring. But always, play with coherence and harmony. Never in excess…
We have the perfect example: Audrey Hepburn, the Huber de Givenchy's muse. The designer is recognised because of his perfect lines. His elegance has purity, restraint, architecture and sophistication. With Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) she is wearing, with Coco Chanel introducing, the Little Black Dress, it signals it is a garment to wear at any time of day, according to the way it was accesorised. Because independently of the style, time or place, you are able to pursue simplicity, not extravagance. Coco Chanel said: Some people think luxury is the opposite of poverty. It is not. It is the opposite of vulgarity. Maybe you wear trainers, perhaps high heels, jeans or a lovely dress. But it's possible to wear these with good taste.
By Maria Ortiz
