So why is it then that we continue to feign nonchalance when it comes to personal style? Could it be that we’re afraid to fail and the idea of opting out of caring feels like a security blanket? Or perhaps the paradox lies in the way we equate effortlessness with exclusivity. To admit to trying is to admit that great style is accessible—that it can be studied and practiced—rather than something only a select few possess. “Effortlessness symbolizes the ultimate luxury,” shares personal stylist and writer Heather Hurst. “In a world where personal branding is super important, effortlessness represents an ability to rise above this culture of incessant optimization. Even if the look is carefully crafted, it still gives the illusion of not having to try, and that illusion is powerful.”
This paradox becomes even more striking when we consider how effort in style is perceived across cultures. Imani Randolph, a model and creator, recalls her mom’s upbringing in the Bronx where effort wasn’t hidden, it was celebrated. “There were certain stylistic codes that were really present in that environment, like wearing gold jewelry, door knocker earrings, and embracing a more flashy aesthetic,” she explains. For them, Randolph noted, effort is not just about looking good—it’s a sign of pride. Publicist Gia Kuan agrees, sharing that in cultures like early 20th-century Japan and China, effort was viewed as a habitual practice of refinement, not about appearing effortless. Nowadays, Kuan believes social media has exposed these rituals, shifting our understanding of what “effort” in style truly means.
Our current mindset on putting in effort further adds to this myth. Research suggests that individuals who believe skills like style are fixed—rather than developed—are less likely to invest effort into cultivating personal taste. If effort is seen as futile, it’s easier to lean into the idea that effortless style is something one either possesses or does not. Of course, there’s privilege wrapped up in the notion of effortless style, too.
Wealth, access, and time shape how one curates their look. “Women of a certain status have always had help curating their wardrobes,” Johnson says, referencing personal stylists and inherited wardrobes. Privilege often manifests the most in the off-duty model aesthetic, a look deeply tied to Eurocentric beauty standards, that further pushes the narrative of unattainable ease. “The discourse of ‘is it style or is she just skinny?’ exists for a reason,” Hurst adds. “We’ve been trained to conflate thinness with good taste.” That’s not to say that effortlessness is limited to a privileged background though. “My father has always had effortless style, and he grew up poor,” shares Kuan. “For him, effort came from observation, through watching films, and paying attention to culture.”
