I think that “ruggedness” and “elegance” are alternative strategies for dealing with adversity - basically tolerating versus preparing for problems. Both can be done more or less skillfully: low-skilled ruggedness is just being unprepared and constantly suffering, but the higher skilled version is to be strong, healthy, and conditioned enough to survive harsh circumstances without suffering. Low-skilled elegance is a waste of time (e.g. too much makeup but terrible skin) and high skilled elegance is… okay basically being ladylike and sophisticated. Yes I admit it this is mostly about gender.

Other examples: it’s rugged to have a very small number of high quality possessions you can easily throw in a backpack in under 20 minutes, including 3 outfits that cover all occasions. It’s elegant to travel with three suitcases containing everything you could possibly need to look and feel your best, including a both an ordinary and a sun umbrella.

I also think a lot of misunderstanding between genders results from these differing strategies, because to some extent they both work but are mutually exclusive. Elegant people may feel taken advantage of because everyone starts expecting them to do all the preparation. Rugged people may feel they aren’t given enough autonomy and get impatient (“no, I’ll be fine without sunscreen”). There are obvious advantages to having a rugged and elegant member of a team or couple though. 

Thanks to useful discussions with my friends / family: Ames, Adriaan, Lauren. Loosely expect I picked the idea up from someone else, can’t be original.