Top 10 Things We Find Utterly Chic

By: Natalie DeVito

Is your notes app filled with nothing but niche lists only pertaining to you, or perhaps a half finished grocery list, or maybe even something you don’t remember even writing? Slowly, specifically over this summer my social media has been occupied with posts of people curating preciously specific and personal ‘Lists of things they find utterly chic.’ I saw this trend first take a storm on TikTok first, where influencers posted their niche lists, some including some of their own ‘hot-takes.’ Never seen this trend? Here’s our Top 10 list of things we find utterly chic to give you a better idea of what yours may be: 

Clinique’s Black Honey Lipstick

Small, compact, and moisturizing, Clinique's Black Honey lip product has never strayed us wrong. They even sell them in a smaller size, as a matter of fact for a cheaper price, if you’re looking to try out the shade yourself. It’s a perfect shade to add as an accessory to an outfit, as it can be casual yet eye-catching. This is an utterly chic staple and must-have. 

Writing down a word you come across in a book you don’t know and accumulating a list of them, with definitions. 

If you’re a reader, try this out. It may seem time consuming and quite disruptive to your reading but it is actually quite rewarding watching a list accumulate over time. Not to mention, your vocabulary widens, something we consider very chic.

Buying print magazines! 

This may seem like an oxymoron considering you’re reading from a digital magazine right now, BUT there’s nothing more chic than a space filled with an archive of print magazines! It can say so much about a person, from which magazine brand fills their home, to the type of magazine they gravitate towards. Not only does it represent who you are but it also creates a hands on time capsule you have access to for the rest of your life.

Taking the second item off of a shelf when buying something, instead of the first. 

I understand what’s going through your head as you read this, as it is a very random and specific take to find chic, but do trust. Imagine getting home and opening up an item that you have been thinking about for days just to find that the seal is already cracked, or the box is already opened because you dreadfully picked the first one on the shelf? Understanding now? Grabbing the second off of the shelf is chic merely for the fact that it prevents said scenario. 

Mismatched earrings! 

Something a little more obviously chic is, of course, a mismatched earring! This can include mixed metals, shapes, and sizes. It draws attention to not only just one ear, but both ears! It’s a clever way to bring in another color to your outfit and also use as an excuse to get pictures of both sides of your face, of course to capture both earrings.  

Having a signature scent! 

 I’m sure we’ve all had moments, many times in our lives, walking past someone in a street and inhaling at the perfect moment to catch what one would assume is that stranger's signature scent, that you’ll be left to think about for months. A scent is something people remember you by, as well as the creation of a memory that triggers nostalgia. It’s a beautiful way to mark time and in simpler terms, it is chic to just smell nice.

Maintaining a pop of color in every outfit! 

As we talked about in #5, your earrings can deliver this pop of color we speak of. If you’re someone with a monochromatic wardrobe, including these pops of color is very chic. One of my favorite ways to do this is with glasses, whether they are real or bluelight. Not only would you have a signature scent, but you’d now also have a signature color and look.

Listening to holiday music in July!

Now, I am unsure if this is an unpopular opinion but I’m taking a risk here in sharing what may be considered a guilty pleasure. Holiday music in July…chic to me! The holidays can either bring on warm memories, or bring up tougher memories to be met with. Either way, look to that playlist that you can consider your guilty pleasure and play it until your ears bleed. For me, I am listening to holiday music in July with no shame and maybe i’ll even put on a holiday pj, and pretend it’s the holiday season.

Knowing your favorite movies by heart and quoting them. 

This is niche, but being in a scenario where your niche is understood, is always a chic feeling. It’s almost like a party trick, being able to pull out a full blown script from your favorite movie. What makes it even better is when people get it, and then I’m sure it’ll be referenced almost every time you’re with that person. 

THE MOST CHIC: BEING YOURSELF💋

Yes, this may sound silly and cliche, but it’s true! Regardless of what anyone thinks, as well as this completely opinion based list, it doesn’t matter! Being chic is up to you, which IS the ultimate act of being chic! Make your own list of your niche chic’s and let it collect amongst all of the other lists laying around in your notes!