Uplifted State Of Mind

Michelle Obama has it, so do George Clooney, Anika Moa and PM Jacinda Ardern. What is it? That happy high status of being able to raise others up because you’re comfortable in your skin

- Deborah Hill Cone

I once went to a swanky awards function at the art gallery. I thought I looked pretty smart in my Savemart second-hand Armani jacket. It was a black linen Nehru jacket, simple, buttoned up to the neck with a mandarin collar and buttons made of coiled braid.

The party was fancy. There was champagne and we were served hors d’oeuvres on these individual glass plates that had a special clip on the side of them so you could attach your wineglass to give you a free hand to wave around in full art snob mode: “The mechanical mark making is resonant with modernist juxtapositions.” When a Herne Bay matron with asymmetrical hair and aggressive glasses frames shoved her empty plate at me, I was a bit taken aback. But I had a mouthful of seared tuna with sesame crust so I just took it and went “Yrwlm”. And then a Hooray Henry with too short pants, loafers and no socks – I know it’s a thing, but still – also gave me his plate. That was when I noticed that all the waiters and waitresses from the trendy catering company were all wearing plain black Nehru jackets. I fitted right in, but at that moment I stopped feeling smart and spent the rest of the evening feeling like a heroic yet put-upon serf.

I needn’t have done.