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Anonymous wrote:NP- Because someone doesn't consider Oprah or Serena Williams "elegant" doesn't make them racist. Stop it. Oprah looks like a disaster often and Serena Williams has a masculine physique and poor clothing taste- and that dress doesn't fit her well ether. Wearing a ball gown doesn't make you elegant, and neither does skin color. There are elegant women of all colors and we all have different taste in what the criteria is- but no one here has said "white" is one of them. Please stop accusing total strangers that disagree with you about beauty and elegance that their opinion is racist.

It's funny how the only examples they can come up with are white/thin women. As if white/thin women are the only people who can be elegant, or present themselves with elegance. I'm tired of the "elegance" obsession on this forum. "Elegance" and "classy" ... the bywords for DCUM posters. I think Kate Middleton is lovely, but I'm tired of thin white women being held up as elegant, and any woman daring to have boobs is written off and told to cover up.

I'm not OP but in her original post there is a non white woman- so what are you talking about? There are also several other examples people have cited in the thread of non white women that many are agreeing on. Stop race baiting

Anonymous wrote:NP- Because someone doesn't consider Oprah or Serena Williams "elegant" doesn't make them racist. Stop it. Oprah looks like a disaster often and Serena Williams has a masculine physique and poor clothing taste- and that dress doesn't fit her well ether. Wearing a ball gown doesn't make you elegant, and neither does skin color. There are elegant women of all colors and we all have different taste in what the criteria is- but no one here has said "white" is one of them. Please stop accusing total strangers that disagree with you about beauty and elegance that their opinion is racist.

Anonymous wrote:I'd never really thought about it before, but it's true I associate elegance with a combination of slenderness, poise, and polish. Gemma Chan and Ruth Negga are two examples that come to mind now. I'm having trouble thinking of any white women I think of as elegant. I would describe Martha Stewart and Ina Garten, examples cited above, as polished rather than elegant per se. Not always stick-thin though-- Diahann Carroll is extremely elegant.

In general though, I guess I've been socialized to think of elegance tied to a certain body type. Maybe because it's easier for skinny women to wear almost any cut of clothing?

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Anonymous wrote:You can tell that, for some people, "elegance" is really just another code word.

Yep!

I’m guessing I’m one of the pp that you might be referencing because of my comment on Oprah. But I wasn’t focusing on traditionally Caucasian skinny white chick looks. I think Lupita Nyong’o is naturally elegant and one of the most beautiful actresses I can name.

I guess it boils down to how you carry yourself - shoulders back, chin up. Being a healthy shape for you. Well fit clothing leaning towards conservative (meaning you don’t need to show off your assets to grab attention), regardless of style. An easiness and natural beauty without excessive makeup to get you there. And confidence.

I guess understated and natural beauty with a focus on presentation is always elegant to me.

Let me just guess: despite carrying herself with confidence--shoulders back, chin up--being in healthy shape and well-fit clothing leaning toward conservative (for evening wear), natural beauty without excessive confidence, that you wouldn't consider this woman to be elegant:



Gee, I wonder why.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And too much boob. Not elegant.

Keep blowing that dog whistle of yours. Elegant means white and rail thin, we got it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And too much boob. Not elegant.

I feel sad for you. You've fallen into the trap that elegant = white, thin, rich. Chase those dragons. The rest of us have evolved.

Anonymous wrote:Yes you can be elegant without being tall and thin! Think Martha Stewart or the Barefoot Contessa. I would absolutely consider both of them elegant, even though they're often dressed relatively casually. Good haircuts, simple makeup, tailored clothes.

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder on DCUM if this is the same crowd who only thinks Jackie O and Princess Kelly are elegant while shopping at old navy?

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Anonymous wrote:I think you can be elegant even if you aren't stick thin.

Its easier to pull off when you are tall and thin, since clothes look better on tall and thin people, but its possible for even average-sized people. I do think that very overweight people have a much harder time pulling off elegance.

It requires very classy, well made and PERFECTLY fitting clothes, very well-groomed, classically styled hair that is healthy and glossy, well-applied, not overdone makeup, basically perfect skin, and perfectly straight, white teeth. Quite a tall order for most people!

Oprah, basically.

Is that a joke?

-NP

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Anonymous wrote:I don't think the women on the bottom is ugly at all. It just isn't a great picture. She has on a pretty blouse and what looks to be a structured wool coat. The scarf is a poorly worn. If she lost the scarf, put on a swipe of lipstick, and fastened her coat I think she would look lovely.

This is her cleaned up, pretty! It's all about grooming

Sorry but she still does not look elegant at all. Cleaned up, but not elegant.

Agreed. An elegant outfit would never have bowling shoes with a dress.

Are you the same people over in the Jeff Bezos thread complaining about his new partner not being pretty in the way you'd hoped for?

My advice to the tut tutters here and elsewhere is to go do something fun today. Eat a donut. Take a walk outside. Have sex. Do something pleasurable.

I'm not a fan of Lena, but I actually think she looks elegant in the top picture. Nice, classic hairstyle, simple makeup, tailored outfit. She also looked really nice in that pic on the first page of this thread. Slightly preppy outfit, good colors, etc.

The green dress pic shows why she is NOT elegant. The tattoos. The dress doesn't fit great. The pink and green clash rather than contrast. In her case, it's more her personality than her looks that make her unelegant. But overall, I think elegance means knowing when to keep a look simple.

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There’s nothing - nothing - elegant about excessive cleavage.

+ 1

Put those things away. She looks like a cow.

Omg seriously? Only in DC someone would call
Monica Belucci a “cow”. Wow.

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There’s nothing - nothing - elegant about excessive cleavage.

+ 1

Put those things away. She looks like a cow.

Omg seriously? Only in DC someone would call
Monica Belucci a “cow”. Wow.

I wouldn’t call her elegant

I thought she was that actress from 90210. She's very elegant looking whomever this is but her cleavage is a bit much in this shot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes you can be elegant without being tall and thin! Think Martha Stewart or the Barefoot Contessa. I would absolutely consider both of them elegant, even though they're often dressed relatively casually. Good haircuts, simple makeup, tailored clothes.

They both have good bone structure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP- Because someone doesn't consider Oprah or Serena Williams "elegant" doesn't make them racist. Stop it. Oprah looks like a disaster often and Serena Williams has a masculine physique and poor clothing taste- and that dress doesn't fit her well ether. Wearing a ball gown doesn't make you elegant, and neither does skin color. There are elegant women of all colors and we all have different taste in what the criteria is- but no one here has said "white" is one of them. Please stop accusing total strangers that disagree with you about beauty and elegance that their opinion is racist.

It's funny how the only examples they can come up with are white/thin women. As if white/thin women are the only people who can be elegant, or present themselves with elegance. I'm tired of the "elegance" obsession on this forum. "Elegance" and "classy" ... the bywords for DCUM posters. I think Kate Middleton is lovely, but I'm tired of thin white women being held up as elegant, and any woman daring to have boobs is written off and told to cover up.