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2020 seemed like a write-off at times. We spent the year sitting inside, binge-watching Netflix, and making whipped coffee. 2021 is a new year and a chance to use quarantine as a way of working to improve ourselves. Ladies, it’s time to get classy! Let’s leave lockdown with a spring in our step and ready to take on the world. Here’s a list of ten things you can do to become classy!
1. Work on Your Posture
Do you ever see a royal huncing? We all remember that scene from the Princess Diaries movie where Clarisse is teaching her granddaughter how to sit properly. Not only is proper posture important for your health, but it also impacts how people see you.
If you’re sitting slouched over a computer or coffee table, you can appear disinterested and even lazy. Work on fixing your posture by straightening your back and standing tall. If you’re working from home, it’s worth investing in a chair that will support your back and help improve your posture.
2. Pick Up a Book
Yes, it’s time to get classy, but that doesn’t just mean heading to your wardrobe. Head to the library too! Women with class are intelligent and full of knowledge. They can tell you everything about a classic Shakespeare play or the nuances of foreign policy. Work on setting yourself reading goals and diversifying your reading material.
You never know what might come in useful at a dinner or a networking event. Education is a life-long process, and you want to try to learn something new every day.
Related: Parisian Books That Will Inspire Your Whole Life
3. Learn a Language
Thanks to your iPhone, it’s never been easier to learn a language. Apps like Duolingo allow you to pick from over 30 languages, with fun interactive activities to help you become familiar with popular words and phrases. You can take a little time each day to work on learning a language. Whether you’re standing in the line at Starbucks or waiting for your bus, you can pull out your phone and learn a new word in Italian or French.
If you want to learn a language the traditional way, consider signing up for a language class. Being able to learn a language in person helps you remember it as you’ll develop it more conversationally.
4. Overhaul Your Wardrobe
When it’s time to get classy it may mean that it’s time to overhaul your wardrobe. We all have pieces that we wish never saw the light of day. By streamlining your wardrobe and getting rid of what you no longer wear, it’ll be easier for you to put outfits together and to see what you have.
If something no longer fits or isn’t something you would wear, make a bag of clothes for donating to a local charity or women’s shelter. Once you know what you have, you can consider the gaps in your wardrobe and what classic pieces you should add. For step-by-step help on how to do this, make sure you check out my eBook!
5. Treat Yourself to a Mani & Pedi
A classy woman is always well-groomed. Treat yourself to regular salon appointments. A manicure and pedicure are one way to look instantly polished. If you want to keep your look elegant, consider going with a French manicure, ballerina pink, or a nude shade. For a bold color, red is always a good idea! You can also opt for jewel-tone colors if you want to have a little fun. Jewel tone colors like purple and emerald can still look very luxe. Purple is the color of royalty after all!
6. Try a New Hairstyle
When it’s time to get classy, it’s time to have a haircut. Go in and visit your hairstylist to have your dead ends chopped off. Not only that but changing up your hairstyle can change your entire look!
Your hairstylist will be able to advise you on the best cut to help frame your face. If you already have a few ideas of what you want, bring along reference photos to show your stylist so that they can understand what you want. You want a hairstylist that is easy to maintain and a manageable length.
7. Get a Hobby
Every classy woman has a hobby. For some it’s baking and for others, it is traveling the world. Hobbies are something you’ll always be asked about at interviews or even when you meet people for the first time. We’ve all heard the “tell me about yourself” question and internally freaked.
Use the rest of the quarantine to find a hobby. You can go and explore the outdoors with a mountain hike, or you can take up a practical hobby like sewing. Not only will it give you something to talk about, but it’ll also help pass the time during lockdown!
8. Learn Etiquette
Etiquette is something that we don’t always learn. Thanks to the internet, you can learn anything today. You can learn through YouTube videos and articles, or take the plunge and buy a few books on etiquette.
Start your etiquette training by learning lessons like how to properly use silverware and the correct way to address people in different social settings.
9. Show Gratitude
Graces go hand in hand with gratitude. You should show your thanks to those around you who have helped you. Buy a set of thank you cards and keep them on hand to send notes to your friends, family, and acquaintances.
Due to instant messaging and social media, the art of note giving is slowly dying. This makes it even more special and the perfect way to show gratitude. Always say thank you to people, whether it’s a waiter in a restaurant or someone who helps you with a project at work.
10. Take a Social Media Cleanse
When it’s time to get classy, you can’t neglect your mindset. Block out the noise around you and consider taking a social media cleanse. Without the distractions of Instagram and Facebook, you can take that time and use it to improve yourself and to try out the rest of the tips on this list.
A social media cleanse can help you re-engage with the actual world outside your phone. You can have in-person conversations instead of messages over WhatsApp. You’ll find that it gives you a whole new perspective.
For more lifestyle tips on being classy, check out the posts below!
8 Books on Being Classy (To Become the Best Version of Yourself)
30 Ways to Pursue a Parisian Lifestyle
