Clothes make the man

Like it or not, first impressions are what count. And do you know how long it takes to form that elusive "first impression"? Just 7 damn seconds!

Yes, this is the bitter pill to swallow. You must therefore know how to spend those brief seven seconds in the best possible way. If you're looking for a list here, a guide to what and where to buy the perfect pieces to impress your employer or the man or woman of your dreams, you've come to the wrong place. Stop reading now.

If, however, you're here because you want to reflect and ask yourself the right questions, form your own critical opinion on what really shapes the phantom first impression, not so much to impress but rather to be at the center of your life and master of the image you reflect, then this post is written for you.

What is elegance?

Coco Chanel maintained, "Fashion fades, style remains." A laconic and now overused expression that essentially delineated a divide between those who follow fashion and those who wear clothes that express their own personality. In reality, Mademoiselle Chanel's full quote continued, "Fashion is made up of a few amusing ideas, to be burned immediately, so that at the next fashion show others can be burned. Style, on the other hand, is like a tree: it remains the same but is renewed."

Elegance has much to do with personality and little to do with fashion. An elegant person is somehow always the same, often expressing an internal consistency through their look, easily recognizable. It requires a constant effort at self-knowledge, a constantly adapting self-styling. Elegance is therefore education and self-discipline. This does not exclude extravagance, nor does it presuppose boredom. On the contrary, consistency is somehow always surprising. An elegant person spends a lot, not just money, but above all time, intelligence, and energy. Style is not about money but about the innate ability to assert oneself and stand out.

Fashion Icon, Fashion Victim or Fashion Maniac?

An elegant person defines their style through conscious, thoughtful choices, combining clothing and accessories, attitudes and movements. There's no separation between appearance and personality. Their recognizability makes them a target of admiration, especially if their image spreads, as often happens on social media; in other words, they can become popular. We call these exemplars of elegance fashion icons.
This, however, is an overused and sometimes misleading definition. It's often misused to define this or that influencer. It's often confused with glamour. Glamour is something seductive and alluring, a game meant to captivate and enchant the public. And, as we know, the public loves to be enchanted. Emulation is a widespread attitude, for many almost a necessity.

And where are you from? On the side of elegance or emulation? How do you handle your first impression and how do you live your seven damned, unrepeatable seconds?