sprezzatura

American  

[sprets-uh-toor-uh] / ˌsprɛts əˈtʊər ə /

noun

1. seemingly effortless grace in manner or careless stylishness in dress; casual charisma or allure.

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Explanation

Sprezzatura is a kind of studied carelessness or seemingly effortless grace. Someone who always manages to look chic, even in their weekend clean-out-the-garage clothes, displays sprezzatura — they make it look easy to look good. The word sprezzatura is borrowed from Italian, and it dates back to the 1500s, during the Renaissance. It was used to describe a desirable quality amongst the nobles — making difficult things appear easy and acting in a cool, nonchalant manner. Today, the word is often used in the arts, especially in fashion, where it refers to a relaxed but stylish look that seems like you didn't really bother (but you did) — e.g., a partially untucked shirt, a slightly crooked tie, a fancy dress paired with sneakers.

Example Sentences

The cult of Sprezzatura faded to a glimmer before the end of the seventeenth century.

From Art Principles With Special Reference to Painting Together with Notes on the Illusions Produced by the Painter by Govett, Ernest