Link to: A study of Elegance Part 1

[Guest]

I'd like to point to an excellent aricle by Mr. Alden.

http://thelondonlounge.net/gl/article.p ... 3030040277

In particular what strikes me, and make me think, is the part about "presence". Indeed this is a gift that almost everyone would like to have, but in particular politicians and managers (I fall in the latter category). Every once in a while Top management in various companies, especially Consultings, decides for courses on management and communication; these are believed to teach this wounderful quality, the quality who makes a manager/politicians listened by his people.

In Television terms this is called in Italian "Bucare lo schermo", that is "to make a hole in the TV screen"; people who make a hole in the screen is supposed to phisically come through TV screen in your living room.

Sometimes I find someone who has "presence" a magnetism; maybe in a meeting, or in the streets, in a train station etc. At first moment, I do not understand why I'm attracted by him. I look at him curiously, and try to understand. He does not strike me firstly as well dressed, by then I begin to see that he is a man of a marvellous, though understated, Elegance.

Giona.

[uppercase]

Yes, you are right Jona, it is an interesting subject., the subject of presence.
I think that it is many things put together, certainly understated, elegant clothing is important to presenting oneself.
Only today, I was reading an article on the company Givenchy and the managers in the company were commenting on the presence of Hubert de Givenchy. They said of him that when he stood in a room, without speaking a word, he drew everyone's interest and attention. They thought it was the way he held himself, his elegant mannerisms, his simple but equisite clothing sense; they thought that it was also his aristocractic upbringing, I believe that he is from the French nobility.
Presence or style is something undefinable, the sum of one's experiences, upbringing sense of belonging and place in the world.
Clothing which is too studied actually can detract from presence, no matter how beautiful or expensive.
But I do think that clothing can certainly enhance presence; but the clothing must be of such a style to support the confidence and bearing of a man with innate presence and magnetism.
I think that returning to bespoke with classic cut and patterns and colors, returning to the tailoring traditons which were supported by societies leaders can certainly help impart the image to people all of which must be supported by the substance of the man.

[RWS]

. . . Only today, I was reading an article on the company Givenchy and the managers in the company were commenting on the presence of Hubert de Givenchy. . . .

Your summary is so descriptive of the seemingly ineffable, uppercase, that I'd like to read the article itself. Would you be so kind as to give us the citation?