Anyone who reads even a handful of fashion-related articles will soon notice the ubiquitous use of the word “effortless”—like this and this and pretty much all the style and beauty content on Gwyneth Paltrow’s website (goop despises effort).
Whether extolling the virtues of a one-and-done romper or lauding the mythical glamour of French women as effortlessly chic, we want to believe that great style happens both easily and instantaneously.
But, generally, that’s not how life works, and everything that is truly good requires effort.
I have often been deceived by the illusion of effortlessness, especially when it comes to fashion. Once, when a supremely stylish friend told me how she planned and prepared her outfits at night for the next day, I was surprised. I had assumed she just rolled out of bed and made an impulsive, yet impeccable outfit choice every single morning. It never occurred to me that she put work into it—not only the night before, but also in the weeks/months/years it takes to assemble a killer wardrobe, plus all the time it takes to know yourself well enough to cultivate a personal style.
Dressing well is an art form, and I should’ve recognized the amount of care, practice and rigour it takes to look put-together on a daily basis. As a writer, I really should’ve known better.
Sometimes, when I tell people I’ve published a book, they say, “I’d love to write a book!” It’s partly endearing and partly annoying. “Do you know how hard it is?” I want to say. “Do you know how bad I feel about myself every single day???” Instead I just smile and tell them to give it a shot, knowing that most won’t. Because it’s HARD WORK.
These days, when I see a well-dressed person out and about, I applaud them in my mind. I appreciate their level of effort and care because I know what “effortless” actually looks like (cut to a shot of me in a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants). And while I know they’re not doing it for me, I am happy I get to admire the results of their work.
It also reminds me that I have work to do as well, in my own chosen art form, and the only way to achieve what I want is through sustained effort. Nothing is easy, and books don’t write themselves, no matter how much I wish mine would.
:) Teresa
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It's crazy how complex everything is when you pay it enough attention. No wonder simplistic entertainment (and rhetoric, for that matter), is always going to be popular.
Ahh yes, the "effortless" look. Do you think this gets applied more to women than to men? Like, women are supposed to not look made up, but are not supposed to look too plain, either, the desired result being this "effortless beauty" that actually takes a lot of products, time, and attention 🙄. But I stopped wearing makeup at all about fifteen years ago because it was too much hassle. All I know is I can't remember ever hearing a man's style being described as "effortless."