CHIC IS THE WORD
& don't wear it out
At the risk of pissing everyone off: we need to stop oversaturating our sentences—and every product description on the internet—with the word chic. I think around the time HRH Sofia Richie walked down the aisle at Cap-Eden-Roc, we all collectively sprinted into our old money eras and decided that everything we liked had to be “chic.”
But here’s the thing: chic is not, nor should it be, a catch-all synonym for “beautiful.” As every slightly awkward rehearsal dinner speech starts: “To quote Merriam-Webster…” (eye roll—I know), chic is defined as cleverly stylish: smart. This isn’t one of those “what does chic mean to you” moments. The Substack is called IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH — you’re about to get it.
Let’s think back to the chicest women in history: Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe… you get it.
What do they have in common? Elegance. A signature look. A classic formula to their style that didn’t rely on every trend of their time. When we think about why these women have stayed so culturally relevant, it’s not because they wore the “it” piece of the season. It’s because they embodied timelessness. That doesn’t mean boring or stiff—there was personality, confidence, and a whole lot of effort hiding behind what felt effortless. They had a clear eye for silhouettes, material, color, and the art of restraint.
We’ve all heard the advice: Take off one accessory before you leave the house. And while some people nail it on the first try, none of those icons became icons by overdoing it. They made a statement by being consistent—and that consistency hinted at who they were without giving it all away.
So what’s the point?
Trends come and go. What’s “in” varies not only by person, but by place. We don’t pack the same wardrobe for LA as we do for New York. Same with home design—a cabin in Aspen shouldn’t feel like a house in the Lowcountry. Style is (and should be) informed by setting, season, and story. It’s never one-size-fits-all.
Which brings me to the heart of it:
IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH… NOT EVERYTHING (AND NOT EVERYONE) IS CHIC. And that’s actually the best part. Some people are doing it on purpose! What happened to words like playful, flirty, pretty, whimsical, fun, cute, sassy? We should all have personal styles that reflect whatever we want. If “chic” doesn’t speak to your spirit—don’t force it. You’re the boss of you.
Wear what makes you feel the most comfortable and the most confident. Build your space and your style around how you want to feel—not just how you want to be perceived.
xo
