Melanie Rickey Edit

ELEGANCE IS REFUSAL

The brilliant Coco Chanel once said, “Elegance is refusal,” a deceptively simple mantra, but one I’ve fully adopted as my guiding philosophy for life, style, and decision-making.  At first glance, it’s about the sheer joy of saying “no” to all the crap out there.

Flip it, though, and it becomes something way better – finding and choosing only what truly matters and forgetting the rest. For me, that means only buying gorgeous, high-quality pieces made from natural fibres—things that’ll last for years and make me feel fabulous. Where I can, I avoid plastic-based fibres.

If you’ve tried this criteria for shopping, you’ll know the high street is an actual jungle of polyester, which is why Percy Langley is a lifesaver—by working with independent British designers who create responsibly, with style and longevity baked in, they cut out the crap in advance.

By refusing most things, only a tiny handful of treasures make it into my life each year. And everything I let in must earn its keep by sparking joy, empowering me, reflecting my values, and aligning with my purpose: helping people find their “Just Right” in life. (This is the stuff I talk about on my podcast, The Enoughness with Melanie Rickey. Check it out, if you’re curious!)

Oh, and speaking of “Just Right,” the 100% organic cotton Albaray suit in my Percy Langley edit had me at “hello” – well it matches my hallway, what more could you ask for?  It’s fabulous, it’s functional, and it’s everything Chanel would approve of—minus the crap.

Melanie Rickey is the host of The Enoughness with Melanie Rickey podcast.