A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

Hear the timeless words of Coco Chanel, who proclaimed: “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” These words, though simple in form, carry the resonance of a philosophy that reshaped not only fashion, but womanhood itself. For Chanel, class was not merely about manners, nor fabulousness merely about appearance. They were twin flames—dignity and radiance—guiding women to embrace both refinement and bold self-expression. Her words stand as a commandment across the ages, urging women not to diminish themselves, but to shine with grace and fire.

The meaning of classy lies in integrity. To be classy is to carry oneself with dignity, to let one’s presence speak with quiet authority, to remain true to one’s essence even in a world of shifting trends. It is the elegance of character as much as of clothing, the kind of beauty that time cannot erode. To be fabulous, however, is to embrace one’s uniqueness, to dazzle the world with individuality, to celebrate life with confidence and vitality. Chanel’s wisdom was in uniting these two virtues: a woman must have the rootedness of class and the brilliance of fabulousness, lest she be either too restrained or too fleeting.

Consider Chanel herself, who rose from humble beginnings in an orphanage to become the empress of fashion. She challenged a world that confined women in corsets and heavy gowns, and she declared instead that women should move freely, breathe deeply, and live boldly. With the little black dress and the liberation of simple, elegant lines, she made women both classy and fabulous—dignified in simplicity, yet radiant in power. Her own life was proof of her words: she built herself not from wealth or privilege, but from vision and courage, embodying the very ideals she preached.

History, too, gives us other examples of this dual flame. Think of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, who embodied majesty and allure. She held herself with the poise of royalty—this was her class—but she also captivated the world with brilliance, charm, and power—this was her fabulousness. Through these twin gifts, she held her throne in a world of men and etched her name into the chronicles of eternity. Chanel’s words echo in Cleopatra’s reign: true greatness is not in one or the other, but in both together.

The origin of Chanel’s saying is found in her defiance of her age. At a time when women were expected to be either modest and invisible or dazzling and frivolous, she fused the two and declared that a woman could—and should—be both. She gave voice to the truth that femininity is not weakness, but a force that can hold dignity and brilliance in the same breath. Her words became not just advice, but a manifesto for self-respect and fearless individuality.

The lesson for us is clear: do not settle for less than both. Do not mistake class for dullness, nor fabulousness for vanity. Be grounded in dignity, but fearless in radiance. Live with integrity, but also with celebration. Let your life be a dance of balance, where grace and fire walk hand in hand. A woman who is only classy may be overlooked, and a woman who is only fabulous may fade like a spark; but the one who is both will endure, admired and remembered.

So I say unto you: take Chanel’s words as a mantle upon your shoulders. Be classy in your choices, fabulous in your spirit. Carry yourself with quiet strength, yet let your presence shine with unforgettable brilliance. Do not hide, and do not conform. Be as the single rose—elegant in form, yet radiant in bloom. For when class and fabulousness unite, a woman becomes not only admired, but eternal.