What is a Classic? [Reflections on time passing]

What is a classic? I pondered this recently as I watched the movie Charade with Audrey Hepburn, released in 1963. A classic movie, certainly. And a showcase for Givenchy’s classic clothes. Why classic? Because the style endures. The appeal endures. The connection to the audience endures. When something continues to resonate with people long after it is introduced, that’s a classic.

Some things truly do seem timeless. Take Hepburn herself, for instance. Audrey Hepburn was considered a beauty 50 years ago, and she’s still viewed as a beauty today. She had a certain je ne sais quoi that made her stand out from the crowd. Maybe it was her bone structure – those cheekbones! – maybe her soulful eyes – maybe the way she carried herself. But whatever it was, Audrey Hepburn made people sit up and take notice.

The fashions designed by Hubert de Givenchy for the film were also timeless – all simple lines and understated elegance. I think they could be worn today, minus the hats maybe, although a few daring souls could manage to pull off those pill boxes, I’m sure.

What can timeless pieces – whether they’re cinematic or fashion-related – whatever they may be – what can they teach us? Sometimes less really is more, and simplicity tends to be pleasing long after embellished items have lost their luster. True good looks last, as does a good story line, an appealing performance (even if the dialogue is laughable today), a chic outfit. And with people, innate intelligence and style are always attractive.

I guess I may be pondering the idea of timelessness, of classics, because I am turning another year older today. I’m thinking about the passage of time as people so often do as they mark the anniversary of their birth. I think I’ll make it a goal to think of myself as classic. I like that word so much better than older. Not a classic beauty, perhaps. Not a great intellectual. But someone who strives to get better with time – and also feels better about herself with each passing year. Someone who endures all things life tosses at her and goes on having the time of her life.