Although both are males, the peacock and the mallard duck are considered symbols of beauty and elegance. The peacock tends to be known for showing off its feathers and making some noise in the process. The duck, on the other hand, exudes quiet elegance. I once went boating and a mallard duck swam beside me without much fanfare.
I learned that ducklings swim and feed immediately when they are hatched. Plus, the female duck lays a lot of eggs that are more than half her body weight, thus making nesting a somewhat stressful experience.
A rich lady wanted to teach the meaning of elegance by showing the world her expensive gown and her perfectly assembled dinner centerpiece. On the other hand, an old lady with average means never said a word about elegance but rather, exuded it through her exemplary character. Somehow, they reminded me of the peacock and the mallard duck. So, what exactly is human elegance?
It was Coco Chanel herself who said, “Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.” She also used the word “modesty” to describe elegance. And most of all, she is often quoted for saying that “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
Simplicity suggests that true elegance is almost always never flaunted. People will call a lady elegant but it does not usually come from the person herself. If you find a woman who likes to call attention to herself, that would constitute vanity and not elegance.
Quiet elegance involves developing good taste in one’s appearance or demeanor but it has nothing to do with a person’s material wealth. Design techniques or fashion sense can be learned.
It is a word that is hard to define because practicing elegance also includes a spiritual aspect to it, a certain sensitivity to society in general. If the wardrobe or centerpiece costs more than an average worker’s monthly salary, for example, sometimes discretion is needed.
At least from what I remember, it was also Coco Chanel who said that a stylish woman can pass through an ordinary crowd unnoticed and then gather attention as she enters a room full of so-called important people.
Elegance goes beyond the dress and heads straight to the character of a person. While it is good to learn about matching colors and coordinating pieces, it is even more imperative to build virtues such as honesty, integrity, and kindness.
Simplicity is acquired through one’s upbringing or life experiences. It is a series of decisions that often reflect themselves in a person’s design choices, among other things. It is also the touchstone of grace and perfection.
