[Ads-l] Quote Origin: Elegance Is Refusal

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Fascinating discovery, Ben. If this text is in the book "Allure" then
it adds a new wrinkle because Vreeland seems to be disclaiming credit
for the saying although she also says "I've known it all my life".
Garson.

On Fri, Nov 1, 2024 at 10:07 AM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Garson,
>
> While I don't have access to the book, here is the full passage, wherein
> Vreeland responds to someone asking about "the difference between elegance
> and fashion."
>
> ---
> https://breaktheseal.substack.com/p/34-wheres-the-line
> "You can't ask a question like that casually," I said. "Fashion is a
> passing thing -- a thing of fancy, fantasy, and feeling. Elegance is
> innate. It has nothing to do with being well-dressed. It’s a quality
> possessed by certain thoughts and certain animals. Gazelles, I suppose,
> have elegance with their tiny heads and their satiny coats and their little
> winning ways . . ."
> Once, years ago in Sidi Bou Said, a little gazelle jumped in my lap,
> terrified. His greatest terror, of course, was being in my lap, but I felt
> these tiny hoofs and this miniature face looked in my eyes as only a
> woodland creature can . . . I've never forgotten it.
> So I said, "Gazelles have elegance. And Audrey Hepburn -- magnificently."
> Then I said something I’ve always known. I don’t know who it's a quote
> from. I didn’t get it from you, shall we say, and I didn’t make it up, but
> I’ve known it all my life.
> "Elegance," I said, "is refusal."
> -- Diana Vreeland, _Allure_ (1980) pg. 203
> ---
>
> --bgz
>
> On Fri, Nov 1, 2024 at 9:11 AM ADSGarson O'Toole <adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > The opaque statement in the subject line has been attributed to
> > fashion mavens Coco Chanel and Diana Vreeland. I received a request to
> > determine the correct authorship. I was unable to find evidence that
> > Coco Chanel employed this saying. She died in 1971 and received credit
> > by 2000.
> >
> > The statement appeared in a 1980 "The New York Times" piece about a
> > new book by Diana Vreeland titled "Allure". Apparently, the statement
> > also appeared in the book, but I have not been able to verify that
> > yet. If someone can access the book and find the phrase (together with
> > a complete and accurate citation) that would be great. I think most of
> > the book displays photographs.
> >
> > [ref] 1980 September 14, New York Times, Section: The New York Times
> > Magazine, A Vision of Style by Francesca Stanfill, Start Page SM18,
> > Quote Page SM74, New York. (ProQuest) [/ref]
> >
> > [Begin excerpt]
> > Fame in all its forms is celebrated by Diana Vreeland. Some of her
> > favorite subjects -- and her impressions of them in "Allure" -- are
> > presented here. …
> >
> > "Elegance is innate. It has nothing to do with being well-dressed.
> > Elegance is refusal." …
> > [End excerpt]
> >
> > Here is a link to the Quote Investigator article:
> > Quote Origin: Elegance Is Innate. It Has Nothing To Do with Being
> > Well-Dressed. Elegance Is Refusal
> > https://quoteinvestigator.com/2024/11/01/elegance-refusal/
> >
> > Garson
> >
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org