elegance, class, SOPHISTICATION, glamour, chic, and style

Nora and Nick Charles a.k.a. Myrna Loy and William Powell - from The Thin Man film series

This post is the third in a series about elegance, class, sophistication, glamour, chic, and style; words that are often used interchangeably when referring to attractive, well-dressed people, but which don't necessarily mean the same thing. Today, I'm going to talk about sophistication...

Sophistication:  the quality of refinement — displaying good taste and subtlety rather than crudeness, stupidity and vulgarity. In the perception of social, sophistication can link with concepts such as status, privilege, and superiority.

Sophistication adds yet another element to the mix. A sophisticated person is certainly elegant; but also cultured, witty, and hip to the ways of the world. Sophisticated people are most often well-traveled and well-educated; whereas, elegant people are not necessarily cultured, erudite, or worldly. 

Do sophisticated people have class? That depends on your definition of class; because for many, sophistication and class are synonymous. For instance, in last Monday's post, I quoted the Merriam Webster Dictionary's definition of class as, "social rank; especially high social rank, and high quality." However, a lot of people today don't equate class with social status or wealth; rather, they associate it with good taste, high moral standards, and refined behavior. I think it's safe to say that most sophisticated people are class acts; and if they're traveling the world, staying in nice hotels, and dining in fine restaurants, they might have healthy bank accounts. 

To-MAY-to...to-MAH-to...if you call someone sophisticated; or classy, for that matter; who is elegant, immaculately dressed, well groomed, smart, and polite; but they're not a member of the Royal Family or in the Forbes 400; I don't think anyone is going to challenge you.

Who is "sophisticated?" - In my opinion, Diana Vreeland, former Vogue Magazine editor in chief, taste-maker, and style icon; Nick and Nora Charles, aka. William Powell and Myrna Loy, from the Thin Man movies; pianist/cabaret singer, Bobby Short, who performed regularly at Cafe Carlyle in NYC; and don't forget Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and Duke Ellington; and every Cole Porter song every written. I once heard someone compare Swiss art dealer, Thomas Ammann, to a superbly designed, finely crafted, precision made Swiss watch. Since then, that image has always come to my mind when I think; "sophistication." 

C