I hate to say that recently, the overuse of compliments resembling the word ‘chic’ has quite literally given me a headache. If you ever struggle to pick out the exact words to describe someone’s style that simply looks “clean”, “effortless” or “classy”… you’d probably rely on this word.

We are so often criticised to have maximalist ideas, as of now, we want to achieve utmost output by inputting the bare minimum – we try to elevate with basics while the basics aren’t at all feasible. Now, let us consider the word “chic”. The word that is supposedly the remedy for all things basic.

When Love Story came out, I might have lost a little bit of sanity trying to figure out why so many people started to dress like Carolyn Bessett – the Calvin Klein publicist who married JFK Jr. and became a style icon by wearing mostly black and looking deeply unbothered by everything. Her wardrobe contained exactly four colours – black, grey, navy, and white – and she treated anything brighter (let’s say, pink) the way most people treat a spam email.

“The word is supposedly the remedy for all things basic”

It really became a phenomenon. Eventually, you’d realise that Carolyn Bessett would still look good in a potato sack, yet you’re still struggling to find comfort and belonging in a black turtleneck. So, who is the real culprit? The undeniable alliance you share with Carolyn in denying that colours exist?

Growing up around French people, it came as a surprise to me that the word “chic” is used more in English than in French. I’m sure many people would presume that French styles would align more with the standard of “Chic-ness” – the nonchalant, messy, carefree attitude while still looking fresh and ready to take on the world…

Rubbish. The French love effort, perhaps in a different way, and while they still may be able to persuade you into believing that they have got their lives figured out, in truth, nobody does. However, it is the effort they choose to put into always looking their best which makes them seem presentable, no matter the occasion

So many of us desperately paint stereotypes of other people based on how they present themselves, then we desperately try to compare them to our own. But what we don’t see or realise, is that behind every so-called “chic” person is a “not-so-chic” side of themselves that must take on mundane responsibilities, the side that breaks down, the side that tells them to “chin up” and face the world with a smile.

"That’s chic to me. Then again, I’m a bit of a freak..."

I’ve recently had the great pleasure of meeting Vittoria Colonna, a contemporary Irish-Italian artist/singer/director (and so much more) based in Florence, named after her renowned Renaissance ancestor - the poet and muse of Michelangelo. As I told her about my recent project on “defining chic”, something she said stuck with me: “Don’t you think it’s strange, this word? Well…almost like. a frequency that can’t just be found anywhere! That’s what makes something timeless. That’s chic to me. Then again, I’m a bit of a freak…”

So, if chic really isn’t about how you look, what is it?

Chic is the frequency of change, of adapting to uniqueness without regarding people’s opinions. Chic is the courage to own up, to not be afraid to deconstruct identities. Chic is the eye that sees beauty in people but also in itself. Chic is the capacity that commands respect and kindness. Chic is the unsolicited passion for living. And maybe to fight back all the Carolyn-monotonous supporters, Chic is the ability to pull off a bright yellow shirt.

In simpler words, be yourself, and learn to love being yourself. Because I’m sure can find a better word to compliment you than I guess – chic.