As the season changes and fall makes its presence well known, people’s fashion have been changing as well. Not only do people want to stay warm in this windy and brisk weather, many also want to look stylish while doing so. Wool trench coats, fluffy scarves and knee-high boots are making their annual comeback. It’s safe to say that being chic is more popular than ever.
Out of all the aesthetics in the world, chic happens to be the one people have the least knowledge of. Others are easy to spot while this one seems to be harder to pinpoint. Since all aesthetics are subjective and bound to change with the person, how does one know what “chic” really means? “For me, it’s about having the mindset that you are rich in spirit, mind and body,” Baruch student and psychology major Chloe Mitchell said. As someone studying the mind, she knows all about the impact that looking good does to a person’s mood and behavior.
Chic, by definition, is something or someone that is stylishly and elegantly fashionable. The word is usually associated with other words like “sophisticated” and “sleek” because there is often an aura of quiet luxury that radiates from it. When people think of this aesthetic, business suits and minimalism come to mind. Long silk skirts, blazers and even the current trend of Tabi flats are pieces that are considered “chic.”
“Pieces that you can wear at any season of your life,” Mitchell said about what pieces she considers to be chic. “Pieces that aren’t fast fashion, but the pieces that have long term wear.” To her, this could include garments that could be of quality fabric that gain value over time, like those that may have been passed down from a family member.
Timeless pieces can also be considered chic. Jewelry and clothing from previous generations that can still be worn after a long period of time say a lot about someone’s taste. Keeping a versatile wardrobe helps with transcending ever-changing trends.
It’s a way to stay different and stray from what everyone else is wearing, while staying the same by sticking to originals in a world full of renditions. Mitchell said she knows a thing or two about this, as her mother is a big inspiration to her.
She would strut her mother’s accessories to all four of the high schools she attended. “There were moments where I didn’t understand why she bought the clothes she did, but every piece she had invested in, I still see being worn today,” Mitchell said. Although she’s putting her own spin on her everyday style, watching her mother navigate her style and her job positions in the fashion industry made a huge difference in her life.
The question remains: Is chic an aesthetic with principles to follow, or is it a subjective style that people have room to play around with? According to Mitchell, it can be both subjective and aesthetic. “It’s important to find what works for you and how it makes you feel,” she said. With fashion, it’s all about what you make of it. Whether it’s a style to follow or something created, fashion is expressive with zero limitations.
