The Elegant Aesthetic

For the past few years, aesthetics have been all the rage.

I’ve read that it became very popular in 2020 when many people were stuck inside and were dreaming of different experiences.

It really has gained so much in popularity.

From old money to cottagecore and dark academia and if you search Pinterest, there are hundreds!

The Elegant Aesthetic is no different.

But what does it mean?

The Elegant Aesthetic – It’s Not Just a Look

From the looks of it just as with other aesthetics, it’s mostly about your clothing, your hair and nails. It maybe even extends to the home you live in but I do find that it can be very superficial.

I think it is important to have that guidance too because sometimes the best steps to changing is to start with something tangible, such as your wardrobe or even a fresh haircut to get the ball rolling. (Which I fully agree with, especially if you’re in a rut or just need a quick change.)

However, if it is just about how you look, you won’t be able to fully embrace the elegant aesthetic because your attitude, thoughts, and the way you see life will not be affected. And personally, I find that those give you more satisfaction then just wearing the watch that is classified as “Old Money”.

The Elegant Aesthetic + Attitude

When you can combine both aesthetic with the elegant attitude or mindset, then you will start to really see the changes.

Not only will you look the part, but everyone you come in contact with will feel this elegance that emanates off of you.

Elegance is not only how you act, but how you make people feel.

What is the Elegant Aesthetic?

If I were to define what I think the elegant aesthetic is, I would include different factors from physical to mentality.

Timelessness

Not only does timelessness account for choosing your wardrobe, but also hair and make-up.

Living elegantly is not about only following trends, but keeping things so that if you were to look back at a picture – it could have been taken yesterday.

Simplicity

Simplicity in everything.

From eating to scheduling your day to your physical appearance and even your home.

Simplicity makes everything run smoother.

I find that when I think of simplicity and a woman who adopts this lifestyle – it usually feels effortless.

It’s effortless, or at least seems that way, because she is not thinking of a million things at once. She is able to be present with everyone at each moment.

Subtlely

The elegant woman’s secret weapon.

I wanted to say that “quality over quantity” would help to define the aesthetic, but honestly, I feel that it is so overdone I thought I would just include it here under subtlety.

The beauty of being subtle is that the smallest gestures makes the biggest impact.

Balance

With simplicity, life is just better when you are better at balancing all your tasks. It takes practice because we have a tendency to over plan our days and try to cram too much. I was and still am quite guilty of this. I have to remind myself every day to let some things go and enjoy work along with pleasure.

If I don’t balance out my day, I can see the anger or frustration start to build. It is not good for remaining elegant and poised. I am always reminded how important it is to balance out my life.

Attention to Detail

Every little thing truly matters and often it is in the details.

I find this sometimes goes over people’s heads because it can seem a little unneccessary, but it isn’t.

For example, I love drinking my morning coffee out of my fine china. I started doing it for a couple reasons.

First, my cup is so beautiful and it makes me happy to think that something I treasure, is enjoyed on a daily basis.

Second, it reminds me that even the good things that are deemed for special occassions can be used every day as long as you appreciate it. Not to sound too corny, but every day can be a special day.

Thirdly, the cup is much smaller and I drink less coffee which helps with any jittery feelings I get after having too much.

It really helps in so many ways to just appreciate the little details that often go unnoticed.

Poise and Grace

This is one of my favorite aspects of elegant living because there is nothing more beautiful than seeing a woman who not only looks elegant but her gestures and words emulate the ideal of elegance.

I like to think of being delicate and intentional with my movements and being kind with my words.

What Areas Reflect the Elegant Aesthetic?

The biggest areas that are impacted by the elegant aesthetic is:

• fashion
• home decor
• lifestyle

If you are new to this aesthtic or you simply want to adopt more of this way of life, my advice to you is to start looking at each aspect individually.

Fashion

We are all very different, and what I find “stylish” might be different from what you find flattering. I really don’t want to change that because frankly I appreciate the individuality of everyone.

The one thing I’ve noticed in the last few years, is that people all want to look the same. Not because they don’t have their own sense of style, but because with social media – when something is trending, everyone wants the same thing.

Unfortunately, this has caused the world to look a little boring. Everyone has the same pants or shorts. The same hairstyles, and coats.

When I talk about fashion, I don’t want to see everyone trying for the same silhouette because we all have very different bodies. What looks good on my body might not flatter yours.

If you want to address your wardrobe, I will be talking about that in a future post because I find that a lot of women (this used to be me) would feel lost because every season the look is changing and what you think looks good one day, just doesn’t feel the same in a few months.

Fall in love with your wardrobe.

Home Decor

Furnishing your home is important and if you were to look it up on Pinterest, it would be so overwhelming because it makes you feel like you need a splash of color here or a pillow there and don’t forget about an accent wall.

As much as I love going through my feed, (and before that there used to be endless magazines to devour) I like to look at my home as something along the cozy and peaceful side of elegance.

I will get into about how to make your home the peaceful elegant haven if that’s your thing – but as for now remember that your home is an extension of who you and your family are.

It will be changing constantly!

I’ve noticed this with living with just my husband, and then the kids when they were young, then with older kids. It never is exactly how I want it but letting that go and just loving it for the season of life that I am in has made my home more elegant.

It is easy to fall into thay trap of thinking you need a renovation or move to a bigger home – but you don’t. You just need to make it yours.

Fall in love with your home.

Lifestyle

I find this a bit harder to really see on the elegant aesthetic because, well, it might be harder to photograph?

Not really sure.

I’ve seen it pictured similarly to the old money aesthetic. You might see a boat or fine dining or expensive and classy cars – and while yes, technically this can be part of the lifestyle, it doesn’t encompass all of it.

If you think of the typical day-to-day life, it has to do more with living with intention and mindfulness and learning to find beauty in every aspect of the day.

Let me give you an example.

When you have your morning coffee or tea, this can be a true pleasure. It is the start of a new day that has many possibilies. The coffee is the first thing you taste (besides water of course) and it should be a moment of quiet and calm.

It activates all of your senses. The smell, the warm touch, the delightful taste, hearing the coffee being made and seeing it in your favorite cup. The whole moment should be enjoyed.

The simple act of having your coffee can be more than just getting some caffeine. It’s really about a minor celebration that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Now learning how to slow down and appreciate every little moment like that is what brings you true pleasure and makes your life feel more elegant.

Another example is getting dressed. Choosing the clothes for the day that wil make you feel beautiful, putting on a spot of make up and perfume. Looking in the mirror and loving what you see. Giving you the opportunity to make an elegant impression with the world with the way that you look.

The same with all five senses.

The smell of the delightful perfume.

The sight of how you look and that you are proud of it and love it.

The feel of the luxurious clothing on your skin.

The taste – well this one might be harder because we aren’t chewing on our clothes but maybe the taste of the lipstick on your lips and knowing that you feel put together.

And hearing how you walk on the floor with your shoes that you know finishes off the look.

Find ways to add elegance to every moment of your life.

Fall in love with your lifestyle.

The Essence of Elegance Aesthetic

At its core, the essence of elegance aesthetic is about creating a sense of sophistication and beauty in every moment. The boring, the mundane, the daily errands, the meals and every other time.

I would love for you to try to add this to your day even if it is just for 5 minutes a day. It gets easier and easier and then you will find that it starts to permeate through the rest of your day!

Let me know what you love about the elegance aesthetic in the comments!

I’l be back on Monday with another article and I hope that you have a beautiful and elegant Easter 🙂

Talk soon,

Jennifer