Oh no, is Glamour Dead?

OK so the Oscars were last night.  A “glamorous” evening of gowns, jewels, beautiful people . . .

But what really is glamour?    Glamour is not necessarily defined by uber expensive clothes, lots of bling and fire-engine red lips.  No, real glamour is far more subtle.  The dictionary’s definition of glamorous is:  an air of compelling charm, romance and excitement—

But how can we be glamorous on shrinking budgets?  Not to mince words—but most ladies in the real world right now are a little afraid to spend much money—which means we won’t be buying as many of the things that often make us feel . . . well happy . . . you know . . . new things now and then . . . I met with some friends recently and as we discussed the situation, we wondered: in the current economic state, will we lose our desire to dazzle?  Will we feel uncomfortable being chic?  Does this mean glamour will be but a memory? 

We can always be glamorous without spending a lot.  Even if we don’t have much extra money right now, we can rummage in our closets, mix the old with a few new things and look grand!  Bring out that simple white blouse you couldn’t bear to part with 10 years ago (they never go out of style), pair it with jeans and a great necklace (have to make a pitch)—and voila—glamorous!   What about that cool vintage dress found for a song at the thrift shop last summer?   Add tights and high boots and you’re gorgeous!  We can certainly approximate the Chanel look with a simple black dress.   And great jewelry does help—one special piece can bring a whole outfit together and give us the feeling that we’re forging our own tantalizing and bewitching identity.

So dare I say it?  There is a positive side to these times.  We can re-discover our own unique sense of self, not dictated by what the fashion industry tells us is cool.   We can be newly confident of our own sensibilities.  And we will be authentically, enduringly and uniquely charming, romantic and exciting—in a word—glamorous! 

Emily Blunt wearing a Sautoir

Posted: February 23rd, 2009 under Uncategorized.