The Elegant Face

"Beauty is power. 

The right makeup enhances that." 

- Cassandra McClure

Young women today have few places to look for elegant role models. Perhaps striving for elegance is not even a thought or reflection. Their choices are even fewer if they do not come from the 1% of families where certain traditions, rules and principles of style are passed down. So where do they look, these young girls from around the world to find ideas on how to do their makeup in the most flattering fashion? The Kardashians, Hollywood starlets, Instagram influencers, pop stars, female rappers? With this being so, we have what we have now -- an absolute travesty. Too many overly made-up faces lacking any discipline or refinement. Some look theatrical, some too matte and brown/neutral -- very 1990s, some too discotheque shiny, and some have chosen the popular early 2000s "no-makeup makeup look" quite celebrated in Paris. There's no balance or moderation, and that is the true beauty of makeup -- to improve one's appearance and enhance le visage, not detract from it. 

Properly Sexy

Cindy Bruna at the 24th amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes.

"Too much intellectualism is too boring; too much sexuality is too vulgar. The good balance makes people interested." 

-Domenico Dolce

Style has become so complicated for women today; I fear we will soon look like the bourgeois characters from The Hunger Games. What has become even more complex (and terrifying) is how women are expressing their sexuality through their choice of fashion -- how they put themselves together in such a common display of truly painful desperation. This thirst for attention, validation, impersonal likes and following, has a generation or two of women conveying the appearance of sex workers. Yet, pleading publicly for the highest respect, and thankfully acknowledged for their brilliant minds.

The Trend Guide

"I believe in style, not fashion." 

-Ralph Lauren

There are several trends this year, and season, you should absolutely avoid. The French are less taken in by trends and stick to a more classic/conservative wardrobe. American women are often slaves to trends and everything nouveau. Not only is this bad for one's finances, but the environment as well. A recent global study by Fashion United UK, noted that Americans do not wear up to 82% of the clothing in their closets. Yet we continue to purchase one trend after the next. According to the Wall Street Journal, "American shoppers snap up about five times more clothing now than they did in 1980." (Dana Thomas, The High Price of Fast Fashion, April 2019).

Q & A with Amber Szűcs

"Style is a personal thing, yet good taste with one's style is like having proper etiquette. It takes education and affects those around you in a positive and harmonious way."

-Amber Szűcs 

I've received a lot of questions lately about my thoughts on style. What is the best style? What trends should I avoid? How do I create chic looks on a budget? How can I look consistently well put together traveling to different countries? As a person that has studied the socioeconomics of fashion and style for almost 30 years, with a Master's degree in International Relations, I am happy to give my advice!

For me, the foundation of great style is good taste. However, the tricky part of having good taste is this -- you're either born with it or you cultivate it with proper education. Most people need to cultivate it. Good taste, throughout history has been the social armor of the aristocrat. Those with the oldest money. However, today, where the less cultivated masses have trumped those with these family backgrounds (in the media and in popular culture at least), you have to merge the two worlds to some degree to look up to date. 

The Simple Life

"Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It's your masterpiece after all." 

-Nathan W. Morris

Many people mistakenly believe, in order to be, appear or feel successful in this life one must accumulate and mass consume. Especially today, everyone wants to go bigger and have more. Discipline and moderation in one's consumption is not de rigueur. Gluttony reigns supreme, especially in the Unites States. More clothes, shoes and accessories, bigger homes to display, uber-luxury cars, weekly exotic vacations, A-list events, the highest end restaurants, etc. is now the ultimate desire. Social media, of course, has played an instrumental role in creating these upscale desires. According to inc.com, "companies are shelling out approximately $255 million a month investing in Instagram influencer-sponsored posts per month."

Style & Beauty Tips for a Chic 2022.

Photo by George Mayer

"It is important to be chic."

- Roberto Cavalli
 

1. Eyelashes Au Naturel. The resurgence of faux eyelashes in the past five years, once used by women with minimal and scant eyelashes to imitate naturally long ones (and in fashion and entertainment for the purpose of art and exaggeration) -- has grown to unnatural proportions in the real world. It is understandable if you are amongst the meagre of lash to naturally enhance what was not God-given. However, if your eyelashes are normal in length, volume and quantity, there is no reason to cause permanent damage by getting eyelash extensions. I speak from experience. For one year, I regularly had professional eyelash extensions. After every appointment I was dizzy and nauseous from the chemical glue used in the applications. Shedding faux eyelashes also became an annoyance for myself and my husband. They were everywhere. After removing them (or letting them fall out naturally) I was shocked to find my once normal lashes half their previous appearance. Two years later, they are still only 80% of what they used to be. Luckily, I stopped when I did. If you look at chic women with a truly cultivated style, rarely a faux eyelash will you find. Beauty and style icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was known for not enhancing her pale eyelashes, creating a classic almost Renaissance era look. She was the quintessential representation of "less is more."