I honestly don't think that a front rack/pannier is any less ugly than what you currently have on. It's all in the eye of the beholder, but I don't it looks ugly. To me, as soon as you put on a rack it ceases to be elegant and takes on a more utilitarian appeal.

And I'm surprised you don't have fenders. I'm sure it trains in Memphis too. Though I don't feel fenders detract from that elegance the way a rack does.