Everyone has a vice. Mine happens to come in the form of glossy fashion magazines. I realize that I could (should?) be spending that $20/week on a number of other things that would be far more profound than the latest copy of InStyle, but something about that newsstand seems to reach out and grab me every time I'm in the checkout line. And who's to say that a 50 page spread on fall fashions (yes, I realize it is still July) isn't profound in its own right? Sometimes all I need to get my creative juices flowing is a quick glimpse at snapshots of haute couture. Inspiration for my mind, body, and closet. Now that's a good deal if you ask me.
In all seriousness, I do find thumbing through magazines to be one of the most telling representations of today's society. Pages upon pages of celebrity gossip leave me to wonder how half of Hollywood earned celebrity status in the first place. I see ever more clearly the truth behind the notion that everybody wants to be a star. Whether it be through reality TV, youTube, or Social Media outlets, we're creating opportunities for ourselves to get those fifteen minutes of fame. And more often than not, fame, in whatever form it is achieved, lasts not a second over those precious fifteen.
But what about a generation or two ago when technology didn't rule the world and relationships were built on genuine human interaction? It was an age when tabloids followed celebrities who captivated others with their class, not celebrities whose demise would earn the half-sorry attention of a jaded youth. Style icons like Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn dazzled onlookers with outfits that remain something to be sought after, not to be buried in the trenches of fashion faux pas. And amid all of these revelations, I've often wondered...who will be the icons of today?
Tough to say when we're forced to riffle through images of women who've left (almost) nothing to the imagination and men who decided that fake tans, white teeth, and dyed hair would fool Mother Nature into turning back the clock. But this past May, I think the world found a worthy candidate.
Her name is none other than Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. Or, as she's endearingly nicknamed, Kate. Call me partial to her name...I've lived with it for 21 years, after all. But all bias aside, I've been taken by her simple elegance and poise--a combination made all the more alluring as so many others crumble beneath the scrutiny of the public eye. Kate's ability to assimilate seamlessly into the Royal Family isn't just impressive, but has enabled her to earn respect among her elders while making a fan club of her contemporaries. Of course, I love the fact that, at the age of 29, she just makes the cut into the Millennial generation. Finally, someone in their twenties who flaunts the simple sexiness of a sheath dress cut just above the knee.
I understand that college girls aren't going to walk into a bar or club wearing pencil skirts or Blair Waldorf-inspired headbands and Louboutins. (Oh, the travesty to see those red bottoms fight a losing battle against puddles of beer and jungle juice). What I'm saying is that Kate is a reminder that classic cuts and fabrics are both figure flattering and timeless. She'll be able to look at this week's People Magazine coverage of the Royal Tour in 50 years without saying What was I thinking? because every outfit is simple with a fashion-forward twist.
While her silhouette is admittedly waif-like (the last time my waist was that small was when I ran ten miles per day during Cross Country season...in high school), elements of Kate's classic style can flatter women of all sizes. Sometimes the key to accentuating your positives is as simple as making some changes to the hem- and waistline of your next Friday night look. Instead of skirts or dresses that just barely cover the bum, don't be afraid of some extra coverage on the upper thigh. Sometimes an extra couple inches of material actually works to elongate your legs, especially once you slide on a pair of heels. To instantly feminize your silhouette, grab a belt that cinches your waist. Whether this means searching for skirts with a slightly higher rise or choosing dresses with a more defined waistline, the key to creating (or managing) feminine curves is all about picking fabrics that will drape properly once belted.
Kate's effortless look might be slightly intimidating given her direct access to countless designer collections (it also helps to have a non-existent budget). But if there's one thing Kate's polished example has shown millions, it's the magnetic power of her girl-next-door smile. Now that's très chic.
