Personal style is an essential part of our self-identification. We each live by style ideas such as less is more, more is more, bury me at Bergdorf’s, or who actually cares, leave me and my sweatpants alone. Looking at you, Karl Lagerfeld.* You may do this intentionally or nonchalantly. It may change from one day to the next. Honestly, who cares why you wear what you wear? Do you, boo. I am not the fashion police, as long as you are not wearing flip flops and pants. Stop it. Stop it right now. (This is aimed, primarily, at the American male population.) Regardless of your reasoning, personal style is far more important than fashion or trends and that will never change.
What style do I live by, you ask? Sprezzatura. That’s right; I just threw some Italian your way. C’est chic, non? Now I am just embarrassing myself. Ignore my obnoxious foreign language use. [WARNING: HISTORY LESSON AHEAD.] Sprezzatura is a term used by Baldassare Castiglione in The Book of the Courtier. Castiglione defines sprezzatura as, “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.” In other words, I rarely spend more than thirty minutes getting ready in the morning. I do not plan outfits. If I’m feeling fancy, I might sweep on a cat eye or a red lip. Why does this matter to you? Because I am going to teach you the art of sprezzatura by challenging myself to put together a day to night look in thirty minutes. That’s it, no more words. You probably already stopped reading at this point anyways.
DAY LOOK
Coat – Kenar; Shirt – Miss London; Skirt – River Island
Sandals – DV by Dolce Vita; Optics – Miu Miu; Cuff – Forever 21; Earrings – Primark
Were you looking for makeup? Let’s just say on this particular day, glasses are enough makeup for me and, perhaps, a swipe of chapstick.
NIGHT LOOK
The best thing about sprezzatura, you do not need to change. Wear that day look with pride, but here is how you change it up.
Sandals – DV by Dolce Vita; Necklace – Forever 21; Cuff – Forever 21; Earrings – Primark
Eyeshadow – Makeup Academy (Undress Me Too – Eyeshadow Palette); Eyeliner – Almay (Liquid Liner); Lipstick – Rouge Terrybly by Terry (Carnal Attraction); Eyebrows – **
That was easy.
* New to the fashion world? Let me give you a hint. “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.” – Karl Lagerfeld
** Please, for me, brush them. The bushier the brows, the more brushing (and even a brow gel) is necessary.