She brings peak HBIC vibes.
Repeat after me: Sweaters are to be worn around your shoulders.
The other day while watching Ina Garten’s Food Network show, The Barefoot Contessa, I realized something: This woman has serious swagger.
It’s a slightly more subtle swagger than, say, Snoop Lion, but it’s there: in the nonchalant flick of her wrist while tossing garlic cloves into a food processor; in her decision to throw a spontaneous formal garden party just because she made a frittata; in her firm pronouncements to use only “good” ingredients (without ever defining what that means).
After watching approximately 300 episodes of The Barefoot Contessa (hello, for research!), I’ve identified some of the key elements of Ina’s swagger.
Want to imbue your life with some swag à la Ina? Of course you do!
Here’s how to do it:
1. Have a uniform.
A huge closet full of flashy clothes might seem like an obvious path to coolness, but in reality, the coolest people usually ascribe to a super simple, super-specific aesthetic that’s instantly recognizable.
For Ina, it’s black button-up blouses with an open collar. She always looks great, and she always looks like HER.
By simplifying her wardrobe and focusing on a single timeless style, she can use the time she saves on choosing an outfit for more important things: sipping rose on the patio and making hothouse tomato salad for Jeffrey.
2. Don’t ever put your arms into the sleeves of a sweater.
Repeat after me: Sweaters are to be worn around your shoulders. The sleeves are for tying around your neck.
Do not put your arms in the sleeves. To do so is to instantly identify yourself as a commoner.
3. Foster specialized friendships.
Ina would never dream of having a general group of friends who are all down to do “whatever.”
No, for Ina, each friend belongs to their own genre — they have a specialty interest and a specific reason to be summoned. “My friend Gerald LOVES deviled eggs,” she’ll say proudly while shaking paprika into a bowl. Or, “When it comes to creating Renaissance Italy-themed tablescapes, I know just who to call: my friend Patrice.”
So here’s what you need to do: Make sure every single person in your contacts list serves an incredibly focused purpose. Maybe even replace their names with their main topic of interest. Your friend Katie becomes “British comfort food.” Your buddy Max is now “Improv duos from the 70s.” This method ensures you’ll always have a specific friend for a specific situation.
The next time you find yourself needing a plus-one for a colonial flag restoration class or a garlic festival, you will know just who to call.
4. Get obsessed with quality.
Ina is a stickler for quality. She reiterates this multiple times on every single episode of her show: “Use good chocolate.” “Use good vodka.” “Use good tomatoes.”
It may seem repetitive, but that dedication to quality elevates her entire life. You get to decide on the definition of “good,” but for the love of God, never use anything less than good.
By doing this, you’ll start to be known as someone who doesn’t settle for mediocrity. People will admire you and be slightly intimidated by you — which is exactly what you want.
5. Project authority.
The easiest way to do this, as evidenced by Ina? Speak in superlatives.
When Ina mentions a restaurant, she doesn’t say it’s her personal favorite restaurant or a pretty great restaurant — she says it’s the BEST restaurant, period.
And do you question her? Of course not. Because she states it as a fact, with confidence.
#SWAG
6. Slow down.
When you think of people who are confident, successful, and charismatic, you probably think of people who lead a high-energy, constant hustle type of lifestyle.
Ina proves that the ultimate proof of swagger is in choosing to slow down. Have you ever seen this woman leisurely pour coffee into a pristine, white cup before retiring to the patio for 3 hours while her her bread dough rises?
These are the moments when she brings peak HBIC vibes. She’s not in a rush. She’s not stressed. She knows she’s got shit handled.
And how badass is that?
