Timeless Sophistication Is The 2024 Fashion Trend With Staying Power – Women

Long before celebrities influenced fashion, New York socialites were the trendsetters. The most powerful and beloved fashionista of the era was Babe Paley, whose sense of style was so distinct and sophisticated that even her fellow socialites seemed to disappear in her presence. In 1958, Paley was rewarded for her exquisite taste when she was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame, a well-earned recognition.

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Although Paley died in 1978, her impact on the fashion world continues. So much so that every time you see a scarf tied to a handbag, you can thank Paley. Not one to leave home without a scarf, Paley reportedly tied her oh-so-important accessory to her bag on one hot day, and voilà! She cemented herself in fashion history.

Paley was one of author Truman Capote’s “swans,” a group of socialites that included C.Z. Guest, Slim Keith, and Lee Radziwill, all fashion legends in their own right. The group’s impeccable style in New York during the 1960s and ’70s remains the epitome of timeless sophistication, and has recently seen a resurrection on fall/winter 2024 runways. Of all the 2024 fashion trends to choose from, the distinct style of the “swans” will remain relevant no matter when you wear it.

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Similar to cigarette pants, the pillbox hat was cemented as a fashion classic by someone with a little more celebrity clout than your everyday socialite. That person was Jackie Kennedy. During her marriage to John F. Kennedy and afterward, Jackie was often spotted wearing a pillbox hat. In fact, she was wearing a pink one when Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963. Today, a pillbox hat looks just as fantastic when worn casually or when you’re spruced up for a special occasion. 

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Don’t let the name fool you: court shoes are not for tennis, pickleball, or any other type of leisure sport. With a low-cut front and almond-shaped toes, court shoes can come either as flats or with a kitten heel, and are purposely subtle and quiet in appearance. A swan, or anyone else trying to pull off timeless sophistication, wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of high heels — save that for the mob wife aesthetic. 

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Not only were scarves an important accessory for the swans, but so were brooches. The right brooch on the right jacket was all it took to complete an outfit. To really nail this look, search for vintage broaches from the era.

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Still, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to appear timelessly sophisticated. As the late Vogue contributor André Leon Talley told The New York Times, “[Lee Radziwell] edited out the excess. She told me she’d never had a Hermès bag or silk scarf in her life.” Nailing this look is more about the pieces and the color palette than the label.