Dressing with Elegance and Class
Being Stylish, Well Dressed and Perfectly Groomed is Easy
May 10, 2009
A stylish woman is one who knows who she is. She is mature, comfortable with herself, and her look is one of understated and simplistic class. It does not take a massive budget to be "the stylish one". It takes the ability to take classic pieces and mix in a subtle trend, like an animal print scarf, a piece of costume jewellery, or a coloured tee and create a look of their own.
Being stylish has a more longitudinal sense to it than fashion on its own. It is a mixture of good dress sense and the ability to take something and create a look that belongs to you. A great sense of style is not something that the majority of us are born with. In saying that, a lucky handful of people are bought up with an innate sense of elegance and have been able to translate that into everyday dressing. For the rest of us though, dressing stylishly and developing a look that is our own takes more than a flick through of the pages of latest glossy magazine, more than the purchase of the jacket that was way over our budget, and more than we already know about clothing.
Get yourself a mentor.
This does not have to be someone close to you; it does not even have to be someone you know. You may admire a person from a distance, for example a more senior woman in your workplace or a person you have met a few times. Maybe a celebrity that you like and has a similar body shape to you. It may be someone whose dress sense you like and can see working for you.
Try their look on yourself. Spend a lunchbreak window shopping in stores you think they might shop. Try on a suit that is similar to one you have seen them wearing, see if you can make it your own. Look at how they put together different elements of their attire, what they pair their suit with, what shoes they wear with dresses, if they wear knits or prefer shirts. If you do know them, don’t be afraid to comment about their clothing. A simple “I like your jacket”, will work wonders. Every woman likes to be complemented on her dress sense and her clothing.
Do a trend.
Just not all of them at once. A pantsuit with a basic tee underneath looks great with an understated trend blended in. Try an animal print scarf around your neck or on your handbag. Add a chunky cocktail ring to a simple shift dress, or a statement necklace to an all-black ensemble.
A truly stylish woman is able to sift through the trends and pick and choose what works based on what suits her and how she can wear it. Know that you may not have the body shape that some trends suit, like women with bigger busts and pussy-bow necklines. But this woman can wear a deep V top with a pair of chandelier ear-rings and know she looks great.
Grooming.
Nothing whispers elegance like a well groomed woman. Glossy hair that is brushed and looked after, eyebrows plucked to perfection and glowing skin are all important elements of looking like pure class. Keep you skin fresh and learn how to apply makeup to suit you. Keep your nails natural and buffed, with a slick of clear coat to strengthen them. Just be sure to remove it and start again when it is starting to show signs of wear. Use eye drops to keep your eyes sparkly- nothing gives more away than dull, dry eyes.
Trust Yourself.
If you don’t believe you can pull a look off, then you will not be convincing anyone else either. You need to believe that you look good. A stylish woman does not need reassuring from others that she is just that. She is relaxed in her own company and does not seek approval from others about who she is.
The author's grandmother once said that the essence of elegance is the ability to stay true to you, and to smile. That, and if you are ever in doubt about being seen as having personal style, try wearing pearls.
