ELEGANCE IS AN ATTITUDE

After spending one too many hours glancing through pictures of models and reading about the weirdest beauty tips in pretty much a pile of ancient magazines, I realised how fluctuating beauty standards have been over the years. As sipped my iced tea, I recounted these famous words of Audrey Hepburn, "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades". While superficial aesthetically pleasing features may not stay the same, elegance radiates and lives longer. It is more than external presentation, it is an attitude.

In psychology, attitude has three components that are represented in the ABC model as: A for affect(emotions), B for behaviour(actions) and C for cognition(mind). Elegance being an attitude means that it is beauty of the mind, emotions and actions. Hence, it comes from inside to the outside. Elegance denotes traits of inner beauty such as manners, grace, respect, kindness, simplicity, refinement, wisdom and maturity. It is, thus, not surprising that the famous Swiss luxury Watch brand Longines has its slogan as "Elegance is an Attitude".

Some say elegance opens doors of opportunitities. Looking at the lives of elegant women like Aishwarya Rai, Princess Mary of Denmark, Kate Middleton, Michelle Obama, just to name to few, I couldn't help but conquer with this saying. Elegance makes one look feminine, attractive and matured. It exudes classiness! Elegance says I am growned, not grownish; matured, not childish. Elegance creates this aura that invites the right kind of atttention and the right kind of people to one's life.

I particularly enjoy watching classic movies like Princess diaries, Anastasia and My fair lady. One thing I have learnt from these is that elegance can be learnt. It starts by having the right mindset, and having the right thoughts. Earl Nightinhale once said that "the the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return annything we want to plant". In essence, for beauty of emotions, cultivate beauty of the mind by having the right thoughts. Like they say, " a thought precedes an emotion".

Indeed, in my fair lady Cockney had Proffesor Henry guiding her and in Princess Diaries, Mia had Queen Clarisse giving her princess lessons. However, not having access special ettiquette lessons should not be a hindrance. From the Bandura philosophy, we learn by observing and imitating. Begin by selecting one or two elegant people, observe who they interact and accord dignity to everyone around. By doing so, you harness the beauty of your actions.

Although elegance is innate, it is important to note that appaearance communicates something. To be elegant, you have to look and feel the part. Work on your posture, accessorise strategically and dress appropriately. In effect, elegance is being the best version of yourself each and every single day.

While I pulled clothes out of my closet and dresser drawers, lyrics of Enya's "Orinoco Flow" echoed from a vintage music box sitting at the corner of the room. A few minutes later, I slipped into my floaty dress which stops just above the knee, touched up my red MAC lipstick,  picked up by crossbody bag, donned La Grande Classique de Longines and whispered HELLO ELEGANCE!

With love,
Elizabeth.

Still smiling in the dreamworld...