We’re Ready for a Return to Refinement

In an age when “dress sneakers” are considered a proper footwear category and closets filled with “easy-care” linens have us forgetting when we last used an iron, the idea of making an effort can seem like, well, a lot of effort. We’re here to remind you that it’s often worthwhile: From sofas that make you sit up a bit straighter to heeled pumps that give a more graceful gait, these unabashedly elegant essentials are the secret to a more stylish life.

ENTERTAIN

When exactly was it that the phrase “white-tablecloth” became less a euphemism for “fine dining” and more an indicator of “fusty” or “uptight?” Don’t get us wrong—we love a block-printed backdrop for an alfresco meal—but when it comes to laying the groundwork for a truly elegant affair, nothing does the trick like freshly pressed white linen. Best of all, it keeps everyone on their very best behavior—no wine sloshing here!

SET THE TABLE

While we might lack scientific proof, we have a theory that a meal seasoned with a pinch of salt from a porcelain cellar (or pepper sprinkled from a sterling-silver shaker) tastes just a bit better. So next time company’s over (or not), go ahead and pull out all the stops with a properly laid table with crisp linens, just-polished flatware, and a beautifully arranged basket of flowers at its center. As for the cellar vs. shaker debate, we’ll leave that up to you.

DECORATE

The line between luxury and flash can be a tenuous one: In the wrong hands, fine materials like mahogany, veined marble, or gold leaf can overpower. But when applied to truly timeless silhouettes (think a George III–style chair or simple candlestick lamp) and deployed with impeccable proportion (there’s not an extraneous note to be found here), what might be considered extravagant seems positively essential.

SHOP

In certain corners of the internet, tailored camel coats and logo-less bags might be considered a trend—raise your hand if the words “quiet luxury” have lost all meaning—but in our opinion, a well-made wardrobe staple never loses its cool. From a reissue of Cartier’s first-ever men’s wristwatch to a new update on Guerlain’s iconic fragrance, developed more than a century ago, these pieces are the literal definition of timeless style.

WEAR

Grown-up dressing is back. From New York to Paris, runways were filled with structured silk gowns and precisely cut suiting—looks that embraced luxury and strength in equal measure. Perhaps it was Wes Gordon who put it best when describing the ethos behind his Fall 2023 collection for Carolina Herrera, inspired by Empress Sisi of Austria: “A disciplined opulence. The belief that elegance is restraint. And my firm conviction that beauty is never a bad thing.”

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 10 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!