Elegant, Refined, Polished, Structured - Are they the same? What do they mean? - YouLookFab Forum

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Elegant, Refined, Polished, Structured - Are they the same? What do they mean?

Ginger

Veteran

A few months ago I took a first stab at my style modifiers:

Appropriate, Colorful, Comfortable, Structured, and Elegant

The two in bold are the only ones that I'm 100% happy with. The others represent concepts, but I'm having trouble finding just the right word to convey each of them.

The last two particularly stood out, because they're used a lot on YLF. And in Una's fascinating discussion about colors being polished, it quickly emerged that not everyone had the same definition for "polished," "RATE," "hard edge," "edgy," &c.

Maybe this should be an Ask Angie question, but I'm really curious in seeing everyone's opinions.

Elegant
Refined
Polished
Structure

How do you define them? How are they different from each other?

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Elizabeth P

Helena

Veteran

To me these words overlap somewhat, and are, as you say, in the eye of the beholder! Here is what they conjure to me:

Elegant I feel has movement to it ... Sort of the flowy grace of an evening gown or cashmere scarf.

Refined implies very carefully chosen pieces, that tell a very tight story. Refined brings to mind subtle wealth and time-tested pieces. Brands with history, etc.

Polished brings "neat and tidy" to mind, as well as finished, or complete, and having clean lines.

Structure brings to mind an architectural feel ... Straight lines and stiffer fabrics. To me this is very different from elegant, in that it has very little if any movement.

Helena

Veteran

Ginger, just had a look at some of your WIWs ... For what it's worth based on my two seconds of expertise on your style I almost feel these descriptors are a bit heavy for you ... Your outfits are really fun and bright. What about fresh, youthful, feminine, light or ladylike as descriptors to consider? Just thoughts

Kaelyn

Veteran

I second torontogirl's definitions. She took the words right out of my mouth.

I'd also add that "refined" makes me think high-end and flawless.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have a busy day so please excuse my brevity - but this a GREAT question and I wanted to give my two cents before I run. My thoughts are the same and different to TG's - and I'm sure there will be very differing opinions on this thread.

Elegant - this is a lot about how YOU carry yourself and move. As far as garments go, I also think that longer lengths exude elegance. A mini or pair of short shorts - no matter how killer - cannot achieve the same elegance as a midi skirt or swooshing pair of flared trousers.
Refined - NOT chunky. Well made. Delicate to some degree. No need for brand history. A Zara item can be just about as refined as a Burberry piece.
Polished - Crisp and fresh appearance, very tidy visual, flawless, neat hair, pressed clothing, scent, pulled together outfit, glowing skin, and make-up. Personally, I don't think you can achieve a polished appearance without make-up.
Structured - this simply means "tailored" to a small or larger degree. (Architectural looks can be very unstructured, actually). First, it’s about accentuating the actual shape of your body, like defining the waist and hips, the shape of your arms and legs, or the shape of your shoulders. And second, it’s about accentuating those details. Like a sharp shouldered jacket that creates an extra strong shoulder line. Or the princess seams and welted pocket positions on a jacket that draw attention to a defined waist. Structured items are often tailored and formfitting.

Your style can absolutely be polished, refined, structured and elegant at once. Audrey and Grace spring to mind right away.

Okay. Got to run.

Sara L.

Veteran

This is fascinating. I identify, to some degree, with "polished" for my own style, but not with any of the other words. They have different meanings to me. I think torontogirl and Angie have done a great job of providing definitions.

LaPed

Veteran

Okay, I'll take a stab, and bring a little dissent to the thread!

Elegant - Elegant, to me, implies something that is tastefully regal, never over the top but right at the top. It doesn't necessarily imply flowy to me. It is a gender-neutral term, and I'm sure images of elegance vary greatly from one culture to another. My western reference points: a tux is usually quite elegant, worn by men yes, but also by some women. Elbow-length gloves. Smoking slippers. Pearls. Elegant is also very circumstantial -- a tiara may be elegant at one event and tacky at another. I think a whole range of styles can read as elegant, and in order to look elegant you have to be wearing something that truly suits you. For one person it might be a very simple LBD, for another it might be ornate lace and brocade in jewel tones.

Polished - Put-together. Clean lines. Not too busy. Reads as somewhat effortless. Probably at least nods to classic style conventions. In my mind, a polished outfit doesn't take too many risks, but still manages to be eye-catching.

Refined - This is very close to polished for me, but perhaps implies something a little more intentionally minimalist. Something that is polished because everything unnecessary has been removed. A sense of having everything in place, again perhaps somewhat effortlessly. Maybe it's easier to be edgy+refined than edgy+polished? Not sure.

Structure - Structured clothes have a distinct shape/silhouette, as opposed to drapy or flowy clothing, where the silhouette changes constantly as one moves. A heavy wool blazer is a very structured piece; it shapes the wearer, rather than the other way around. Most trousers are fairly structured, although different shapes will read as more or less so: a slim, fitted jean lends more structure to an outfit than a pair of slouchy boyfriend jeans. Knits can provide structure, depending on context. I think a tunic worn over leggings looks more structured than a tunic worn over palazzo pants. The leggings in this instance are providing structure because they're close-fitting and balance out an unstructured piece. Skinny jeans or leather pants would lend even more structure. (At least within my own wardrobe, color also provides structure: dark neutrals like black and navy feel more structured to me than lighter ones.) Structured pieces can be elegant, polished, or refined, but are not inherently so. And plenty of unstructured garments also have the potential to be elegant, polished, and refined.

Whew!

Anonymous

La Pedestrienne spoke for me.

I felt I knew what each of the terms meant to me, but I could not put those feelings into words. When I read La Pedestrienne's descriptions I knew instantly what she meant.

Her descriptions are slightly different from what Angie listed. The difference might reflect a retailer's view, but I have no idea.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Nothing to add to the great descriptions here. Just a suggestion for finding your "words". I was having trouble finding words that felt 100% right too. I found a Thesaurus & just listed all the meanings of the words I liked then sat with them for a while. Even thought the meanings of the words may overlap, certain words became easy to cross off the list & others felt right.

Ginger

Veteran

This is SO COOL!

TG, I feel the same way! I have fun with what I put together, and I think it's missing from that list. Someone a couple months ago suggested "playful," I think.

At the same time, it is fascinating that I DID nail what I meant with "structured." I love items that are tailored and fit well; it's a bit of why I'm taken with eShakti and their made-to-measure items. I tend to emphasize my waist with a band or belt, or princess seams. (Sometimes both...) My antithesis is drapey layers. I just can't.

And I think I am "elegant," most of the time. I admit to wearing short skirts/dresses in winter, and shorts in summer. But I've been called "ladylike," and even nicknamed "lady" as a teen who lived in t-shirts and jean shorts. (I was even called queenly recently. As opposed to princess.) I love getting really dressed up - I wish I had the chance to wear formals! Maybe that's part of why I like fancy costumes.

But "polished"? Probably not. My hair's always on the curly/wavy/volume side, and I like it that way. It's always controlled, 98% of the time off my ears and face, but it's only sleek when I'm doing an 1860s style. I always wear makeup (it's an easy routine) but rarely scent, and I've gradually stopped wearing anything crisp. I'm just not comfortable in it, particularly as it's getting harder to find a good fit. I guess I don't need polish to feel I look my best.

"Refined"... probably not. I tend to like things that are just the other side of delicate - enough to make an impact, though never over the top. (La Pedestrienne, like what you said about "elegant.") It's really like me - I feel a mix of delicate and lush features. Not gamine; tending toward dramatic. (I'm trying to stay away from "diva"... but I DO sing high soprano...)

Anonymous

I have nothing to add except that "elegant" to me invokes images of old Hollywood glamor.

deb

Veteran

OK, here is my stab at it.

elegant - LP nailed it for me - regal. Elegant also must be polished. It is not just the way the person looks in the clothing but how the person presents themselves in whatever clothing they are wearing. The opposite of Boho.

refined - yes, not chunky. Although a chunky heel on a booty can look refined to me if the toe is pointed. Refined also has a simplicity to it. I do not see the Edwardian style as refined.

polished - I seem to see polished as literal, clean and shiny. I do not agree with Angie on this because I see men that look polished and they do not wear makeup. Just sayin'.

structured - the opposite of drapey. Lack of movement as with thick denim jeans versus thin denim jeans. The thin denim has more movement the thick denim.

Well that is my take.

Sal

Veteran

Interesting thread....

I agree with what has been said mostly...but I think elegance does not have to be SUPER polished.. I think of English people going to the hunt in their jackets, boots and jodpurs - super elegant but the jacket may not be pristine, and the boots may be worn, and the face reddened. I also think there is some understatement with elegance - you may have a low neckline but certainly not a short skirt too, you may wear a bold colour, but it is one that really suits you, and you may be fashionable, but only in the trends that are intrinsically part of your style.

When I think of refined I think of smooth textures and fine shapes, I guess it is a certain dressiness.

Ginger - while we have different styles much of what you said resonated with me. I am trying to be elegant, and a little more polished, and I do like some structure, but I do not see myself as refined. Part of this is because I am tall and somewhat curvy, with big feet and strong features. I am trying to have everyday elegance....and when I talked about this in a recent thread the words that came up were:

long lines
great posture
classic with movement
flares without frills and fuss

I agree with elegance that someone has to be totally comfortable in their clothes...you cannot be elegant hobbling along in heels you cannot walk in. But I think you can be elegant in a boho way (Judi Dench in The Exotic Marigold Hotel), in a classic way (Princess Catherine) or in a more fashionable way (Cate Blanchett). You can even be elegant in your jeans (Marion Cotillard).

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Very interesting. Agree that elegance has something to do with bearing, refined is not chunky, structured indicates some sort of angles as opposed to all drape, and polished has to do with neatness and grooming. I can definitely do refined and structured without looking polished :).

unfrumped

Veteran

Fun to review descriptors!
Sometimes if one gets in your mind a certain way, it can be hard if it turns out it means something else to other people. Sometimes, some words feel or sound better even if another word is more correct. Not sure why that it and how much is due to having absorbed a wrong meaning through general population misuse, or if it could mean aspirational style (or delusional style!), or if it is a phonetic/rhythm thing.

I still have not settled on the right ones !

rachylou

Veteran

I'm on my phone, so cannot do justice but of course I'm giving this a good think:

Elegant - This to me is an opulent style, but streamlined. Elegance exercises a restraint that conversely allows for a free flow.

Refined - This is a certain attention to structural detail that makes for greater... civility. Like weighting the hem of a skirt or feet on the bottom of a purse.

Polished - This is a certain attention to the care of things and a precision of execution in the wearing. Ironing, coiffed hair, tailoring to fit one's specific body.

Structure - This is the odd man out, in my mind. It's more 'what' than 'how.' This means to me it's tailored to fit your body and looks like it. I mean, you could have a very flowy baggy garment cut and hemmed for you which obscures your body shape to quite a deg - i.e., be tailored without being Tailored in style. I also think the lines of your garments will be sharper, harder... Leggings which show your shape are too 'soft' to me to be structured.

...

Staysfit

Veteran

I need more time to think on this one but this is a great question. May be back later if I have time....

Anonymous

This is a great thread. I agree that elegance relies on a person's bearing. Something else I can't really define, but I know it when I see it. I don't think I see it all that often in real life. Perhaps because everyone is hurrying through life?

Summer

Veteran

Off the top of my head:

Elegant - simplicity, clean flowing lines, nothing tight or too short, and beautiful carriage.

Refined - quality fabrics, fine knits, excellent tailoring, attention to detail.

Polished - immaculate grooming, neatness, attention to detail.

Structured - tailored, sharp or crisp lines, stiffer fabrics.

I think the key, when choosing descriptors, is to have a clear impression of what those words mean to you regardless of how others define them.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Well, no wonder I've had such a hard time narrowing down descriptors! I had landed on "refined edge" a while ago, but based on the thoughts posted above, "refined" is not me. It's too... well... refined. I definitely have elements of all of these, just not sure what would be the top one or two. Back to the drawing board!

My one thought is that in my mind, polished is the opposite of RATE. This is something that is inherent in a person, and can't be avoided. I sway polished... I just can't get away from it, no matter how non-polished I may feel sometimes. For example... sweatpants and plaid shirt... but sleek hair. I've NEVER been able to tolerate the messy hair look, I may love it, but I just can't do it. (This is not to say I can't have spectacular bed head )So I don't agree that it's attention to grooming, or make up ... it's just something you are, or aren't. I think if you ARE polished by nature, then you probably naturally do pay attention to the details, but that "polished" comes first.