To ask how to be more elegant?

[AugustTime]

Elegance is something I find hard to define, but there are just certain women who have this elegance about them. I am not eloquent or observant enough to know what about them makes them elegant, they just are. I want to be more elegant. I have tried to be with things like manicured nails, styled hair, using good quality beauty products, etc. Yet I just don't have it.

So for those more elegant and/or knowledgeable than I, how can someone be more elegant?

P.S. I don't want to imply that I think that "elegance" is some kind of universal standard that all women should aspire to. All kinds of styles are wonderful in their own right.

Do let me know when you find out 😂

I think a big part of it is composure. The head teacher at my sons school is so elegant - she’s not particularly made up but she carries herself really gracefully.

I don’t think it’s something you can create.

Some people are just elegant in a Princess Diana sort of way and some (like me) are more a Lieutenant Columbo with slightly longer hair and there’s really little hope for us.

Is it something you get from having done a lot of ballet as a child, giving you posture and poise?

It is posture, allure and the joy you convey. So smile genuinely, sit up straight, walk with confidence ie. you know where you are going and with pride, wear clothes that fits you and nicely cut: you must know what clothes makes you look great and to your advantage so know your body type; they dont have to be expensive or trendy just nicely cut with nice fabric.

Good posture.

Not overly casual with appearance/ language/ general effort

Go to finishing school and work on your deportment while balancing a book on your head?

Good posture and a sense of self-assuredness. An elegant person does not seek approval from others.

Wearing clothes that flatter your body shape

Select your clothes the night before. Put thought into outfits, whether casual, smart or occasion

Walk tall

Avoid rushing as this makes you appear flustered and out of breath

Clean skin, clean hair, clean nails

Wear underwear with no vpl (visible panty line) looks so much better under clothes

It looks like I should take up yoga and ballet barre to help with my posture as that is something I definitely need to improve.

The most elegant person I know:

Is tall and quite slim (I’m not, BTW)
Has great posture and moves very gracefully (she does yoga, which might help)
Wears smart, well-fitting clothes and subtle, good-quality jewellery
Is cheerful and well-mannered with great social skills

Cross-posted, but maybe there is something about the yoga.

BTW, I often think that this lady could be picked up and dropped into a wedding without looking out of place.

The most elegant lady I know is my daughters ballet teacher. She always seems to wear black/grey, Simple, well fitted clothes & ballet pumps. She’s tiny but strong & is obviously a good business woman with 500+ dance pupils at her dance school. She is always well groomed & oozes self confidence in a subtle way.

Definitely good posture and walking tall - and walking nicely, too. Walking as if you're walking along a line, so one foot falls where the other has just left.

Being well groomed.

Being thin helps!

Unfortunately, I think elegance is rather out of style. Looking elegant and behaving elegantly isn't the easiest way to live. Elegant little shoes aren't as comfortable as trainers, etc.

Apart from posture, it's having clothes which fit perfectly and are classic in style rather than fashion led. Elegant people look well groomed but not in an obvious way. Understated, I suppose.

I do also think it's something innate. Elegant people don't drop yoghurt down their cashmere jumpers, like I would, no matter how well my clothes for or how much ballet I'd done!

I'm told I'm elegant (I actually think I'm a bit clumsy but maybe nobody notices!)
I did ballet as a child, so op another indication it might be relevant! I'm slim and generally very petite, I'm also softly spoken.
I think I dress in quite an understated way, wear minimal make up but am obsessed with my hair & nails looking great.

As I said, I don't necessarily see it but the things above are perhaps why people see me as being elegant!

My mother was always elegant. Never did yoga or ballet in her life but never slouched either. She wore minimal makeup and kept her hair short and trimmed every six weeks. She did her own manicures and pedicures every week and abhored red nails or red lipstick. Never showed cleavage or vpl and believed in less is more. Didn't let fashion dictate her choices and knew exactly what suited her small farme. She spoke softly and never cussed and believed that your name and reputation was very important and should be protected. The way she carried herself exuded elegance. Sadly I haven't inherited the elegance gene!

Posture. This is why professional ballet dancers can be spotted a mile off; they have perfect posture.

If you have great posture, you will look elegant even if you were wearing rags, had smears of mud on your face and hair like you'd been driven down the motorway in a convertible for an hour!

Just to add, I don't have great posture myself, but I try to work on it when I remember

To me elegant is a ballerina.
And i will never . Ever. Posses this grace.
I wish :)

Get told I am elegant. I’m tall and slim, have a long neck, do yoga and did ballet as a child.

@Twaddledee

Is it something you get from having done a lot of ballet as a child, giving you posture and poise?

Not always. I did ballet as a child and am still like a pet elephant.

Not a stealth boast I promise but I’ve been told I’m elegant (although I’ve also been told I’m clumsy and heavy footed so who knows!) I’m not saying I’m beautiful or anything, just that a number of people have used the word elegant which is relevant to this thread!
I am quite slim but I did a lot of yoga and my posture is good. I am also very smiley and often wear my hair up which I think helps as I have high cheek bones. I also wear pretty/ well fitted dresses most of the time and heels that I can walk in. But to be fair I am quite clumsy at times which ruins the elegant look.

And simple jewellery