The real secret to effortless elegance?
Looking like you haven’t tried is the holy grail of style: the irony being that appearing unbothered can mean a lot of bother! Eleanor Harmsworth shows you the tricks and key buys that will nail no-fuss chic – whatever your budget
John Keats wrote that if poetry comes not as naturally as leaves to a tree, it had better not come at all. This sentiment has traction beyond poetry’s elysian fields, and is particularly relevant when getting dressed. In this new trend of ‘I woke up like this’, style must be effortless, natural and exude the casual off-duty elegance of someone who looks as if they have thrown on the first thing they’ve seen in their wardrobe.
But it’s not that easy – as the best make-up artists know, sometimes the ‘natural’ looks require the most effort. The key to this style is to invest in simple pieces that you can wear in a variety of combinations.
Simplicity is key to an effortless aesthetic, and also allows you to dress up or dress down your look.
You’ll find simplicity in a monochrome colour scheme with muted colours and pinstripes for variety. Simple dressing prioritises quality over quantity, so invest in high-quality pieces that you’ll wear day after day and season to season.
And, yes, it’s sexier to cover up. Looser clothing suggests where tight clothing reveals – and it’s infinitely better to leave people guessing. The key to a chic silhouette is to mix oversized and fitted clothing; layer a cardigan over a vest, a slim T-shirt with straight-leg trousers, or leather leggings with an oversized blazer and chunky-knit jumper.
Here are the ten simple pieces that will never let you down…