WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES SOMEBODY COOL?

Most of us have probably wanted to be cool at some point in our lives, and these efforts can have a big influence on the things we buy, the way we dress, the hobbies we invest in, the people we look up to and even the words we use.

- JONATHAN SCHAEFER

Being part of the in-crowd does have its perks. Studies have shown that cool people are more admired and are perceived as being more friendly, competent and attractive. But what exactly does it mean to be 'cool'?

The concept of coolness goes back centuries, with similar ideas found in traditional cultures such West Africa and China. In Europe, cool has its origins in the 16th-century Italian concept sprezzatura, which was an effortless, aristocratic kind of cool (the Mona Lisa is a good example of this, with her graceful pose and enigmatic smile). This form of coolness was all about nonchalance and perfecting the art of making difficult things look easy.