When first hearing the term “messy chic,” you may fear it's just another fleeting micro-trend, impossible to keep up with and gone in the blink of an eye. In reality, the aesthetic transcends trends: it’s timeless, ageless and trendless. Messy chic is all about embracing imperfection, leaving one thing unfinished to create an effortless nonchalance.
Messy chic is closely associated with the fashion and attitude of French women, with their iconic no-makeup look, unstyled hair and perfectly-tailored minimalist wardrobes. Developing your own style and that elusive “je ne sais quoi” that radiates confidence and individuality is more important than consuming fast fashions trends you’ll discard by the next season.
As French icon Coco Chanel once said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Don’t rely on overly trendy items. Instead, achieve this effortless approach by wearing high-quality, basic pieces and allowing your personality and energy to be the focus.
Some women, French or otherwise, perfectly exemplify this simple style. Get inspiration from Caroline de Maigret, author of “How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are,” actress and singer Jane Birkin or even Zoe Kravitz, an American actress, singer and filmmaker. These women demonstrate that the messy chic aesthetic is not merely about clothing; it is an expression of inner confidence and personal style.
Jane Birkin, described by Vogue Magazine’s Chelsea Daniel as “the original It-Girl,” embodied messy chic with her wispy bangs, flared jeans and chemise tops. She inspired the iconic Birkin Bag and exuded an allure that joined the classic with the bohemian.
Birkin was a complex and influential woman who created her own path, famously stating in 1969, “I don’t care much about expensive couture clothes.” She rejected the hip-hugging silhouettes popular in the 1960s and cultivated an effortless style that felt authentic. Beyond fashion, she advocated for women’s healthcare, animal activism and human rights, proving that messy chic is about much more than appearance.
Embodying this aesthetic means embracing imperfection. Birkin reflected on aging in an interview with Zoe Ruffner for Vogue, saying, “40 is, I think, a great, great age for a girl, 40 and even 50. It’s a lovely age because girls are as fragile as when they’re 15, and they don’t know what’s coming up.”
This style isn’t just ageless—it improves with time. Growing older and giving yourself permission to evolve enhances your confidence, which naturally translates into a more poised and effortless style.
Fashion influencer Camille Charriere, in an interview with Alexa Chung, model and television personality, also highlighted the beauty of imperfection, calling stretch marks “quite chic.”
The effortless quality of messy chic comes from acknowledging traits deemed “imperfections” by society: freckles, wrinkles and stretch marks being just a few examples. Embrace them rather than trying to conceal or fix them. In a society that pressures women to appear perpetually youthful and perfectly composed, messy chic challenges these norms by celebrating natural complexity, self-assuredness and comfort in one’s own skin.
In today’s world of picture-perfect filters, where photos are edited and bodies reshaped to fit societal expectations, this authentic self-expression is not only refreshing but necessary. The “clean girl aesthetic,” where everyone has the same body, the same slicked back bun and the same items even down to their ever changing, ever trending water bottle, is not only unrealistic—it’s harmful.
Messy chic, in contrast, values diversity, individuality and self-expression through clothing. Fashion should be about wearing what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Core staples of the messy chic wardrobe often include perfectly fitted white T-shirts, high-rise wide-leg jeans, cashmere sweaters and classic brown boots.
Achieving this effortless style goes deeper than replicating a list of items, though. Instead of focusing on name brands or replicating looks, try going through your closet and picking out pieces you wear because you really and truly love them.
Messy chic style is a reflection of your complexity and individuality. As fashion stylist Mac Rose of Phika Styling notes in her youtube video, “Forget Everything You Know About Getting Dressed and Start Here,” “you cannot get dressed to either look smaller or trendier. That is not a sustainable goal.” In an interview with Metrosource, Tim Gunn, American fashion academic and TV personality, said the same thing—achieving an effortless look requires knowing your body and proportions.
True nonchalance is cultivated by observing what you wear repeatedly, understanding how it makes you feel and investing in items that resonate with your personal aesthetic. Buying into cheap trends will never capture your true personal style, and it certainly won’t make you chic.
SHOOT LEADS Sabrina Li, Summer Neds / PHOTOGRAPHERS Abby Nocera, Allison Ho, Ellis Berry / MODELS Ava Barrett, Kate Flanagan, Yu Liu, Ziya Patel, Shekinah Tuazon, Sultan Alshaye, Melanie Tran / STYLISTS Allison Ho, Amelia Weiker
