Elegance, Class, Sophistication, Glamour, CHIC, and Style

Jenna Lyons - photo via stylopolist.blogspot.com

Ines de la Fressange - photo via markdsykes.com

This post is the fifth 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 chic...

chic: attractive, fashionable, stylish; an element of fashion meaning "stylish" or "smart" 

Chic is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. It weaves a slightly different spin, compared to the other five words, because it's the most superficial; meaning that it is almost more about the clothing than the attitude; although attitude is always important, otherwise one is just a clothes-hanger.

In my opinion, chic is less about classic and timeless; it's fashionable, of the moment. It could be elegant and sophisticated, but doesn't have to be; it could be classy or glamorous, but not necessarily. Chic women (and, I suppose men, although I usually associate chic with the ladies) know what is current, fashion-wise; but they also have the ability to adapt cutting edge fashion to suit their unique style. 

Chic women love fashion. They have fun with it; but they also take it very seriously. Many of the most chic women I know of are in the fashion and beauty business. Who is chic? In my opinion - model, Kate Moss; Amanda Harlech, well known muse for John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld; J. Crew's executive creative director, Jenna Lyons; former editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue, Carine Roitfeld; Ines de la Fressange, French model, aristocrat, and fashion designer; and the late Lou Lou de la Falaise, designer, associated with Yves Saint Laurent. Très chic!