I have chosen just 2 images that embodied what elegance means to me. Two iconic ones all of us are familiar with and in which we recognise the essence of being elegant.
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
The simplicity of the design of her dress, how it fits her body beautifully and gracefully; her body language that expresses confidence in her beauty and demeanour; her hairstyle impeccably arranged that frames her delicate features; the jewels, slightly big that add that touch of restrained luxury; of course her linear beauty and finally the presence of black, all of that talk effortless, it is as a whole a statement of elegance. So we have: grace, taste and simplicity
Elegance, elegance, elegance…. does the effect of repeating this word make it easy to understand or apprehend?
It happens as with many other words like love, forgiveness, generosity, compassion, among others where its regular use somehow reduces them to a sort of basic understanding, one that seems to be detached of its deepest and real meaning.
Imagine an orange.. when you peel it, is the skin of the orange the orange, or is it just that something that wraps the real thing: that juicy and fresh core, the real orange? For experiencing an orange is not enough to be able to smell it or feel the skin, you need to put the orange flesh in your mouth and allow it to reach all your senses. It is an act of free will, awareness and sensorial willingness to feel, slow and somehow, restrained so we can get the most out of it.
For me this example helps me to express what elegance means to me: somethig that needs to be felt and expressed, not something that just can be copied. But let’s see what the dictionary has to say:
Elegance:
a. Refinement, grace, and beauty in movement, appearance, or manners.
b. Tasteful opulence in form, decoration, or presentation.
c. Restraint and grace of style.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/elegance
Or
Elegance is a synonym for beautiful that has come to acquire the additional connotations of unusual effectiveness and simplicity. It is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness particularly in the areas of visual design, decoration, the sciences, and the aesthetics of mathematics. Elegant things exhibit refined grace and dignified propriety.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegance
Or
a.- The quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner
b.- The quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple; neatness:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/elegance
So the common elements here seem to be grace, taste and simplicity. For mastering these 3 one needs time and a certain pace. In a world where speed seems to be more and more the norm it is not unusual to see how things are obliged to stand out so they can get noticed. Is that loud expression a cultural manifestation or the manifestation of an impoverished culture?
In interiors this phenomena is happening as well. Is the need for shiny and bright materials just for the sake of them being put together without any measure or restrain the definition of a new style? Or is this exaggeration the luxurious version of being kitsch?
What I can see if that this new kitsch embraces the opposite of those elements we care so much when talking about elegance. It likes decadence, exaggeration and unrestrained freedom? It is ”tasteful” just if is bigger, shiner and brighter.
The interiors of your home are a projection of how you see life, how you understand it, how you want to be perceived and how you want to be seen and understood. It is not a game.
Your surroundings have the ability to talk; one gives them the words and the tone with which they are going to create phrases, sentences or entire novels or poems.
It is true we want to have and enjoy the freedom living in whatever way we want. However we cannot be that naive not to recognise if we are part of a social entourage that the way we live is a statement, a declaration and an invitation to be recognised not just as an individual but as a part of a bigger circle.
So when choosing your interiors choose wisely, pay attention to the vocabulary of forms, shapes and colours, learn or get help to read them correctly and then express your interests. You are going to be surprised what a visual novel, poem, sonnet, thriller or pamphlet you have created or we designers have created for you.
To be or not to be elegant?
It is a matter of taste…. and grace
Royal Crescent, Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood the Younger 1767-1774
The Royal Crescent is one of the most beautiful examples of Georgian architecture.
Probably it can be said that our references to understand and appreciate beauty come from the appreciation of the classic style. But it is not just about how elements like columns, cornices, pedestals, pillars, etc are used. It is the proportion and relation between them that make them so beautiful and attractive. In this impressive building it is the rhythm of the columns and windows, the use of the 3 different orders and the selection of just one type of stone that makes it so beautifully designed. Time, pace, serenity, simplicity and grace are there.
