Elegance is not a word we often hear. Worse yet, it’s not one we often aspire to embody. We’re just trying to get the kids to school, run businesses, get to the office on time, clean the house, pay the bills, and put dinner on the table. Living elegantly? Refinement? Luxuriously? Who has time for that? Darling, I get it. Being a single mom and running a company definitely leaves me running around without makeup and my hair unkempt . . . on days. Yet, I know when I’m dressed my best, I am living my best.
I miss the days when women sauntered down the streets, dressed simply and beautifully; when tables were set with a home cooked meal, candles, and ready for a 7:00 dinner spent with the entire family; when cultural refinement was not an option and resulted from time spent embarking on intellectual pursuits.
Unfortunately . . .
Elegance has become a lost art.
And, for many, it’s an art form that many of us never learned.
Like most women, I’ve had to learn the art of elegance. And, whether your eight or eighty, it’s always beautiful to be elegant.
There was one place that taught me about elegance like no other could. I bet you can guess where. Of course, Paris!
The City of Lights will leave you inspired as you experience elegance around every la rue. This is almost a birthright as they are trained in the art from childhood.
Consider how success is viewed and valued in the United States. That’s how the French admire elegance.
Are you wondering if it’s possible to have both?
Absolutely! In fact, I’m going to challenge you that through elegance, your body, business and life will improve in quality.
Why? Because . . .
Elegance is a state of mind.
As Dianne Vreeland said, “The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the rest really comes from it.”
Regardless of your busy schedule, crammed wardrobe, or life circumstances, here are 50 ways to bring more elegance into your life starting right now:
1. Start your day off with ease and intention. An elegant woman has a radiating inner peace. In other words, mental grooming is as important as the physical.
2. Maintain good posture. Shoulders back and head held high.
3. Keep a simple wardrobe with beautiful statement pieces.
4. Have a signature meal that you can prepare at any given minute.
5. Dine, don’t feed. Slow down and savor your meal.
6. Do not smack gum in public — be limited in your use. (Sorry, this is a huge pet peeve of mine.)
7. Put the cell phone/ electronics away while you’re sitting at the table.
8. When you are in someone’s presence, really be with them. Even if it’s only for a minute, look them in the eyes and offer them grace and attentiveness.
9. Learn the basics of proper wine service.
10. Keep your nails manicured.
11. Don’t complain.
12. Be kind with your words about others. If you’re going to talk about someone behind their back, say something good.
13. Accept compliments gracefully.
14. Do more of what comes naturally to you. Where there’s ease, there’s elegance.
15. Tip generously.
16. Give creative and thoughtful gifts. They need not be expensive.
17. Keep a secret garden. It’s not necessary to share your entire life story with a complete stranger. Discretion is elegant.
18. Use your manners and be polite– don’t forget your please’s and thank you’s.
19. Remember that silence can be stunning.
20. Eat beautiful foods in moderation. Don’t stuff yourself.
21. Use subtle makeup. Enhance your natural beauty, don’t try to hide it.
22. Choose an elegant icon. Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly and among my favorite elegant ladies. Now, we have the lovely Kate Middleton as a role model for our younger ladies.
23. Have a signature scent that expresses your feminine essence.
24. Speak eloquently and thoughtfully. There’s nothing elegant about the loud, obnoxious tourist. And, don’t be that lady who swears every other word. Save those expressions for when they are truly warranted.
25. Don’t lose your cool in public. Remember: breathe. Scream later in private, if you need.
26. Move gracefully through life… in heels and without.
27. Learn to adore yourself. Elegance and self-loathing don’t mix.
28. Keep a sense of humor. Never take yourself or life too seriously.
29. Tidy up. Keep your spaces (work, home, car, … ) neat and tidy.
30. Have dreams and live passionately.
31. Have boundaries. Gracefully stand against people who don’t offer you the respect you deserve.
32. Keep fresh flowers in the home. They are nature’s Chanel.
33. Saunter, not speed walk, throughout your day. Life is not a race (unless you’re at the gym).
34. Send thank you notes. Everyone likes getting them.
35. Study the arts. Bring intelligent and refined conversation to the table.
36. Learn some French. If possible, learn from the French.
37. Wear scarves. This video will show you 25 ways to do so.
38. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
39. Listen to elegant music.
40. Dress for your destiny … even if you’re merely taking a trip to the grocery store.
41. Sip your drink, don’t guzzle it down like it’s the last you’ll ever have.
42. Be responsible for your own happiness. It’s too much pressure to put on others.
43. Have a heart of gratitude, especially when you think that there’s nothing to appreciate. There always is.
44. Apologize sincerely. If you’re going to say “I’m sorry,” make sure it’s warranted.
45. Wear your tennis shoes to work out. Choose great shoes for every other occasion.
46. Remember: you don’t have to have money to be elegant. It’s a mindset, not a shopping budget.
47. Choose quality over quantity.
48. Travel. It does wonders for your personal enrichment.
49. Know who you are, what you love and what you don’t. This doesn’t happen overnight, but you can start in this moment creating an intimate relationship with yourself.
50. Comment on the Facebook page or in the section below and share your elegant tips!
If you read this list and are feeling inelegant, please know that these are qualities of my life that I continue to cultivate. This is not about perfection; that’s never elegant. It’s about awareness and simple shifts that you can incorporate into your daily life.
With Love and Grace,
Tonya
Self-Image Makeover
Live Your Life With Style, Flare, and Elegance
IF YOU LIKE IT, SHARE IT
I love the list, Tonya, I was surprised to see you give us 50 ways! 🙂
What I love the most are manners... etiquette is quite forgotten on the North American continent, and when you really taste the manners, they become you.
Or you become them.
And many of the points you listed here would come naturally, as an extension of the code of etiquette.
And, of course, going to Paris often enough can and will change the idea of 'elegance' in a delicious daily routine.
Lovely, thank you 🙂
~ Llyane
Merveilleux !!
Absolument merveilleux ma chère, j'ai adoré!!
Oui en éffait la vie worth to be living with class and dignity !
The only thing that a do add to my life from your list is to give ( attention, help, consideration, respect, gestures,
listening, empathy, sympathy, etc.. ( you see my point) ), to any other life kind around me, just like I would love to
receive . And I do apply this mindset to all life on earth and, I do have to say that at the end of the day, I am the spoil one, life do give me so much 😊.
Franchie
😉
Wonderful! Thank you for a useful list. My thought was I wish I could have interned for you when I was young! I plan to up my game for my daughters' "internship" with me here as as a family. Thank you for inspiring!
Wonderful, Tonya! Indeed good manners, morals and a code of ethics have become as good as non-existent today. Confidence confused with cocky rudeness seems to be the norm these days. In fact I believe there would be room for good old-fashioned finishing schools again. Be blessed,
Gillian
Wonderful suggestions. Posture and calm are two simple steps to appearing more elegant. I respectfully disagree on the simple wardrobe front. I think elegance comes in all forms of personal style. Not everyone wants to wear basics. It is all in your carriage.
RE: #18 plurals do not require an apostrophe.
Gina with all due respect you are very wrong: there is quite a difference between being elegant and being chic and being fashionable. If you don't wear classic pieces, you'll NEVER be elegant. You might be chic at best. Also, elegance has nothing to do with most of the things listed here: elegance is simply a WAY to wear your clothes. It's first and FOREMOST about body lines, plain and simple, coupled with a certain attitude... a state of mind which is the definition of attitude (sadly now it means something else!)
The rest (etiquette etc..) has to do with being CLASSY. You can be very classy but not in the least elegant... and vice versa. Think Mary-Ann in Cybill: she was oozing elegance but she (the character) wasn't one bit classy. You can be rude yet elegant (wear your clothes in a way that turns heads) but you canNOT be rude and classy. Classiness & elegance are NOT synonym, sorry! One would hope to meet someone who is both. I hope this helps!
There are many fashions and trends that come and go that, while fashionable and trendy and quite all right if that's what you like, could never be called elegant. For example, the torn jeans look that will not go away. I've seen women put together casually elegant looks with their well-fitting, untorn dark wash jeans, but IMHO it can't be done with skinny jeans or torn jeans. Might look cute or fashionable or trendy, but not elegant.
I agree. I love wearing fun dresses and listening to exciting music, but being polite, kind, and graceful is still very important to me. I can be elegant and still be myself!
Love it! And truly elegant in that you do just as you say.. you keep everything simple. all 50 of them 🙂 thank you!!
I think an important way too be elegant is to keep your promises or commitments. I noticed women these days act quite carelessly towards wasting others' time. This is valid for men too, but for women it is particularly bad if they appear untrustworthy.
Hello,
thank you for the list, it is truly inspiring, but there is a problem with the music track list - it can't be seen anymore. Is it possible to find it somewhere else, as well?
Wonderful suggestions Tanya!!....Thank you so much for your wonderful tips!
I don't know whether you would agree on this, but I think an additional way to be elegant is to never to say the word "No" as much as possible. Sometimes, it's unavoidable, but having seen the effect it has on some people, I try to phrase it in another way. I was also taught this as a part of customer service. You can say "No" gently, but often you don't need to say it at all.
Beautiful list, it made me think of my grandmother and made me grateful that she took the time to teach me many of the 50 on your list.
That's not just logic. That's really sesnebli.
Hello,
I was not able to obtain the list of elegant music playlist, said there is an error? Any idea what may be wrong, can the list be directly sent to me?
I think your website needs some fresh content. Writing manually takes a lot of time, but there is tool for this boring task, search for: ssundee advices unlimited content
Whether YOU'RE eight or eighty....
I would like to elaborate on numbers 29 and 38. It's easier to tidy up if you don't have a lot of unneeded items. Donating usable but unused items to charity is VERY elegant because it helps someone else become more elegant, too.