Almost all of us can picture it: Audrey Hepburn standing in front of Tiffany’s in a little black dress, her hair pulled back in a soft up-do with a long cigarette and holder in hand.

She had just finished eating her “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and was due a good smoke. As she continues to move through the famous 1961 film she leaves a trace of smoke wherever she goes.

Now lets think about women like Edie Sedgwick, Mae West and Marilyn Monroe. They were all icons ... and all smokers.

The bottom line — smoking is sexy, and it always has been.

Okay, I know what all of you purely organic, “I run marathons,” people are thinking: “Smoking kills!” And I agree.

A staggering 440,000 people die in the United States from tobacco use each year, according to the American Cancer Society, and nearly one out of every five deaths is related to smoking.

The question is, how far will we go to be in vogue?

As for myself, a girl who has only smoked a handful of cigs in her life, I know I feel significantly cooler when I smoke. Make fun of me for feeling that way, but I know you do, too.

What really gives me the urge to light up, however, is the fact that smoking has recently shown up on the runway.

Jean Paul Gaultier, chief designer for the House of Hermes, broke all of the rules in March at a Hermes fashion show when he sent models down the runway with lit cigarettes in hand.

Some fashion critics scrutinized Gaultier for this bold act but if you ask me, I’ve never seen a sexier set of models in my life.

Let’s face it, there is just something about cigarettes and high fashion that go together.

I’m not saying that an old leathered woman who has been a chain smoker for fifty years looks good. I’m just implying that taking a leisurely smoke with the right kind of model can do wonders for an outfit.

It is important to remember that smoking is a horrid habit, but almost anything can have positives when done in moderation.

Smoking because of an addiction isn’t cool, but smoking on occasion because it’s sexy should be acceptable.

Sure, it has its downsides, but so do things like tanning and cosmetic surgery.

So the next time you decide to inhale, ask yourself: “Is this a vice or an accessory?”

Cassie Rhea Little is a journalism sophomore.