The Chicest Thing You Can Do in 2026 Costs Nothing and Starts With Relaxing Your Shoulders

There’s a certain corner of the internet right now that’s basically built around telling you what’s not cool. On What We Said, hosts Jaci Smith and Chelsey Curtis are flipping that idea on its head. Smith even went down a full Substack rabbit hole while prepping for this episode and came out feeling like “the biggest loser” for liking analog baskets and the word “chic.” But as Curtis puts it, “Number one thing I find chic is when someone focuses on the things they like and not on the things they don’t like.” So that’s exactly what they did. Here’s what made the list.

Stop living like everything is a five-alarm emergency

Smith gets told at every single massage that her shoulders are “like rocks.” She went to a spa in Japan and had a revelation that she’s been clenching her entire body through every waking moment of her life for no reason. “I was driving the other day and my neck is like so tense, my arms. I’m like, what am I even stressed about?” she says.

If your body is also holding tension like it’s a full-time job, here are a few things worth trying:

• Tell yourself “I did enough today” before bed. Curtis started doing this nightly and says it completely changed the way she winds down. Costs nothing. Takes two seconds. Hits like a weighted blanket for your brain.
• If you’re already late, you’re already late. No amount of white-knuckling the steering wheel is going to turn back time. Just show up, apologize, and move on with your shoulders below your ears.
• Catch yourself in the little moments. Brushing your teeth like you’re trying to set a world record, vacuuming like the house is about to be condemned, gripping your coffee mug like it owes you money. None of it needs to be that intense.

Monogram and engrave literally everything you own

Curtis is reading The Secret Life of Violet Grant and the main character has her initials on everything she owns. Cigarette case, wallet, all of it. “I was like, okay, so this is a timeless thing,” Curtis says. Whether it’s a necklace with your initial, an embroidered pouch, or a custom piece of jewelry, that little mark that says “this is mine” never goes out of style. Smith admits that every gift she’s gotten Curtis for the past two years has had her name on it. At least she’s consistent.

Skip the mascara

Smith hasn’t worn mascara regularly in over a year and loves the way it looks. Just skin tint, a little blush, lip tint, and brushed brows. “I think it’s very fresh looking,” she says. “Shout out Pamela Anderson for bringing the fresh face back,” Curtis adds. If you’ve never tried leaving the house without eye makeup, it feels weird for exactly one day and then you realize nobody was looking at your lashes as hard as you were. 

Denim on denim is never wrong

Curtis’ ride-or-die is a men’s Levi’s trucker jacket she’s had for six years. Any wash, any combo, any season. “If you are struggling to find something to wear that you want to look cute, you want to feel put together, denim on denim,” she says.

 Some combos to try:

• White denim jeans with a medium wash jacket. Instant vacation energy even if you’re going to Target.
• Denim shorts and a denim jacket with a plain white tee underneath. The laziest outfit that somehow always looks intentional.
• A denim vest over a chambray shirt for when you really want to commit to the bit. 

All black plus glasses equals instant confidence

Smith avoided wearing black for years and recently swung hard in the other direction. Black tank, black pants, black flip-flops, sunglasses. Done. “A lot of the times that I feel the most confident or I’m like, I think I actually look cool, I’m wearing all black and sunglasses,” she says. And it’s not just a vibe. Color psychology research consistently ranks black first or second for perceived intelligence, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. Basically science confirmed what every main character in every movie already knew.

Take yourself out to eat alone

Smith has done this a few times and cannot recommend it enough. “Sit outside on the patio. Got myself a lemonade, a Caesar salad, and some French fries. Took my kindle out,” she says. “It’s a good sign that you can be alone and that you enjoy your own company.” Not every meal needs to be a social event. Sometimes the chicest table in the restaurant is the one set for one.

Get your inspiration from places that aren’t Pinterest

“If you are only pulling from Pinterest, you’re seeing what everyone else is seeing,” Smith points out. “It’s recirculating and we’re all pulling inspiration from the same place.” She’s not saying delete the app. She’s saying diversify your sources so your taste actually ends up being yours. Some places to start:

• Flip through vintage magazines. Smith has Architectural Digest issues from the 90s and early 2000s and says the inspiration hits completely different when it hasn’t been reposted a thousand times.
• Actually open your coffee table books. They’re not just decor. Smith has a Slim Aarons photography book full of vintage Italian coastal shots that she says filled her with more creative energy than an hour on any app ever could.
• Watch films for visual inspo instead of scrolling. Smith shouts out creator Tony Bravo who says she pulls inspo from movies and books instead of the internet, and it shows in everything she makes.

Being a little ugly is the chicest thing about you

“Whatever makes you a little ugly is the chicest thing about you,” Curtis says. “And I think if you try and get rid of it, you’re losing your chicness.” Smith then shouts out their friend Danny who “never says a bad word about herself” in photos. No retakes, no complaints, just “okay, perfect, I love them.” That energy is everything. Textured skin is chic. Different body shapes are chic. The thing you’re most self-conscious about might be the thing that makes you the most interesting person in the room.

Listen to the full episode on What We Said with Jaci Smith and Chelsey Curtis, available wherever you listen to podcasts.

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