How do some people manage to look so effortlessly cool?

[NotBigBrotherAgain]

Is there a secret to it or do you have to be born with some kind of special 'coolness' gene?

I'd love to be able to chuck on something vintage with a pair of Levi's and look cool, but instead I'd look like I had no decent clothes to wear and had just gone out in the first thing I grabbed off the ironing pile!

Is there anything I can do to make myself look a bit more edgy and cool?

Iris Apfel, other picture is my specs

I'm obsessed with this thread now. I'm watching my customers and assessing their cool level.

I just had a VERY cool woman in. Minimal but brilliant makeup, foot tattoo, toms, hair in a messy bun, leggings and smocky dress - on another person meh, but she made it work.

I think it was because she was naturally very pretty, thin, and had that lovely tanned skin.

I suspect good genes may contribute to the 'cool' vibe...

Hhmmm not sure I agree with all of that ( The Kooples - cool. All Saints - not cool). I think it's the person isn't it not the items of clothing themselves. I saw a girl today black vest top, black jeans, hair pulled back no make up and she looked super cool. That being said a skinny girl with imperfect hair wearing men's clothes always looks cool to me.

Sorry Mumbod that comment wasn't directed at you!

My boss is effortlessly cool. She's quite tall, slim, is on the border between beautiful and handsome and wears mostly classic clothes in neutral colours but always has one POPOUT part of her outfit like a cool scarf, edgy shoes or cool jewellery. She's also very very rich so even the 'basic' parts of her outfit are very well made and fit her perfectly. Plus she's extremely confident which makes all the difference IMO.

Gwent Stefani - cool
Annie Nightingale - cool
Pixie Lott - not cool

I'm over invested in this thread.
I want to cool so bad.
But I'm just not.
And because I want to be cool I will never be.

Haven't read the whole thread but I think Sharon Horgan is one of the coolest women around at the moment. She isn't particularly beautiful but is really comfortable in her own skin and looks fantastic in just about anything she wears. Being extraordinarily talented helps as well! (huge girl crush)

Ha, I'd like to be cool too, but I simply care too much what people think to manage it.

Insouciance, that's the aim. Insouciance and confidence.

I agree with the pp that said Emmanuelle Alt looks cool - I think so too. I generally stick with her look -I'm wearing black skinny jeans, high heals and a tshirt and blazer for work today. I think I look amazing! (am changing to a skimpier top to go out in this evening).

I don't think it's the home counties blond highlights, mulberry bag look myself. But maybe we all have different ideas of cool.

nick I copied (as in shamelessly bought everything) that Sharon Horgan was wearing once on the cover of the saturday times mag - wore it all last week to work and was complimented by so many people!

(I clearly don't have any style of my own - just copy other people, which clearly isn't at all cool).

No, blonde Home Counties isn't cool.

polly unfortunately I'm 4 foot 11 with big norks so can't translate a lot of what she wears directly but I like short skirts with ankle boots and statement coat/jacket which is a look she does very well.

Not suggesting for a moment that I am actually cool, but when I think I look slightly cooler than uncool is when I have a pair of well fitted jeans, nice boots, my Schott leather jacket and a reasonably fresh short-cropped haircut. Minimal make up, just enough to cover blemishes, shine and redness, and make my eyelashes visible!

Stevie Nicks is still cool. I think she turns 70 this year or next.

Floisme - The actress whose name starts with 'M' , is it Mila Jovovich (Joan of Arc, Fifth Element etc)?

This is going to keep me awake tonight....

If Gwen Stefani and Angelina Jolie are considered cool then I'm not bothering

Rest easy Martin it was Tilda Swinton.
That's Tilda with an 'M' obviously

To be fair, it's closely related to Matilda.

Thanks Floisme, Tilda Swinton is very cool but I always find her a little scary too (don't know why)!

Eva Green is my nomination for cool.

That's true, thank you robina I feel slightly less silly now

I like Eva Green too.

I have now vowed to become cool. Never mind the fact you are just born with it and I definitely wasn't. I'm going to fake it. So there.

I think it's mostly to do with attitude rather than clothes.

A cool person is never in a rush, flapping about or talking loudly.
Cool people swagger or drift and never look harassed.

I agree user. It's where I fall down. Look alright until I open my gob.

Yeah, you need to drawl a bit to be cool. And definitely don't be stupid. If you suspect you may be dim, it's probably best to stay silent. Bianca Jagger is cool.

Julia Stiles.

Also only wearing a band t-shirt if you like/know the band is definitely not cool. That's just investing too many fucks.