People are longing for authenticity — authenticity in simplicity, in our day-to-day lives, in what we eat, in what we wear, in who we talk to and in what we do. Gen Z, who makes up the majority of the graduating university class, are searching for jobs in a job market that seems almost impossible to break through — and simultaneously are dreaming of owning their own apartment, buying their own groceries and being able to support themselves without the help of their family. Is this too far out of reach, or is it simply something that in today’s world, seems so impossible to our generation, so we romanticize it?
Searching vintage and thrift stores for clothes that are made of real cotton, real wool, materials that won’t inflame or harm our skin longterm and overall last longer and are better built, has been a circulating trend for awhile. At this point, I never buy anything new. First of all, because I cannot afford it — but also because it’s unnecessary.
I recently tried on the Aritzia slouch coat, it’s a blend of cashmere and wool, it’s incredibly warm and also, in my opinion, “chic.” It definitely carries this quiet luxury vibe — but I bought it off of Depop for less than half of the price. I want to wear quality clothes with real materials, but it is unaffordable for the average student or even the average person living in America.
Are the only options to buy fast fashion which falls apart within the first few months of having it or to save up and buy one piece of clothing every few months?
Authenticity means many things, in dating, in people, in fashion, in social media; and it feels hard to find. The word, “chic,” to me, is a word that is slowly developing into a new definition.
Lauren O’Neill from British Vogue wrote an article titled, “RIP ‘Chic’ — The Word Has Finally Lost All Meaning.” O’Neill covered the topic of this evolving term, “The preoccupation with chic, then, is probably a reflection of our preoccupation with presentation; with how what we’re doing looks to everyone else, maybe even sometimes more than how it actually feels,” wrote O’Neill.
This is an incredibly important point — each one of us should have an individual sense of style that makes us feel good. Not wanting to adhere to a certain look, although I personally love the 90s minimalistic kind of quiet luxury aesthetic, I am not strictly one “aesthetic.” I also love fluffy penny lane coats and 70s style shoes and hair — we are all an amalgamation of different looks that inspire us. To dress only to impress another person or to want to look a certain way I would argue is not chic in itself.
O’Neill addressed this concern as well, and wrote, “In the end, if we simply let chic be chic rather than forcing it on every single thing we do, we might rediscover its meaning a bit.”
Maybe getting a coffee in the morning makes you feel good, maybe drinking one at home and making it yourself makes you feel good, or chic even. Similarly to our inability to always feel chic, our generation yearns for higher quality and purer authenticity because it feels just as out of reach for us. The term, “frugal chic,” coined by Mia McGrath, is the way in which we spend money as a consumer, and how we can still feel luxurious, without over-spending. This is my current favorite phrase; it appeals to the average person in their 20s, wanting to look put-together, but also needing to save money in order to pay rent and maybe get an extra treat while grocery shopping.
Anything can be chic; it might be a way my generation is romanticizing our lives while trying to save money — but either way, let me share five things I find incredibly chic:
The Le-febour everything bag 02 is made and shipped out from Ontario, as well as all the vinyl and leather being sourced from Canada. Large and durable, this is on my list because I know how much use I would get out of it; a big bag like this I could use for the rest of my life, depending on how well it holds up. I am already dreaming of wearing this bag to school or taking it with me on a night out. It has such a versatile look, as well as being versatile as a big itself.
Once more, the Aritzia slouch coat, but particularly in burnt cedar. This is the coat I bought off Depop for less than half of the original price, but I love it. Not only is it very warm, since it’s made of a blend of wool and cashmere, which really seals in all of your body heat. This classic look in a dark brown makes me think of 90s minimalism, especially when worn with a chunky turtleneck, jeans, with your hair tucked into the coat. It keeps me warm and feeling very effortless.
You can’t go wrong with a classic thin black or brown belt. I’m seeing this trend surface, particularly in the summer, it was all about very thick wide belts, going over a skirt or dress at hip height. It gave a very boho summery aesthetic that I loved. Now, also with the resurfacing of “officewear,” thin belts with low waisted somewhat baggy jeans, or even a mid/high-waisted straight leg jean with a thin belt is a more quiet luxury business casual vibe. I am currently searching for a thin belt, hopefully a cheap one off of Depop.
I recently purchased the Rhode lip liner for my birthday on Newbury Street in Sephora. I am not great at lip liner, but this liner allows you to be bad. I don’t need to meticulously shape my lip like I normally would with a regular lip liner, I don’t even need a mirror — the somewhat dull tip literally shapes my lips, or “contours,” as Haley Bieber said. I really appreciate that the ingredients are not harsh and mostly natural and nourishing. For $24, although expensive for a lip liner, I think it’s worth it. This natural color that matches my lips, simply enhances my natural color, something I find incredibly chic and effortless — since I am truly not putting in that much effort.
While saving money is not an item or something that would per say make you or someone feel chic but I promise it is. Back to the idea of “frugal chic,” this is the first step to start achieving and living the way you want too. Starting slowly, saving only what you can, but having a goal, some outlook on what you want and the steps you need to take to get there is so important. This gives our lives somewhat of a purpose and even excitement when we get to the next step of what we want — whether it be career, work, or lifestyle-wise. Savings are incredibly chic.
