This article is dedicated to my reader Anna who asked that it be written.
Good morning!
When I'm browsing around the internet, a question that I notice a lot on other sites like mine involves how to be elegant and ladylike when in high school -- fortunately, I'm serious!
Beautiful girls (with great values) stumble onto these sites/blogs and at young ages and they already want to be mature, intelligent, well-spoken, warm, graceful, and ladylike. I personally think that's amazing!
I admire those girls so much - let me tell you, I have readers as young as twelve and when I was twelve years old, being ladylike and elegant was truly the last thing on my mind.
I started thinking more about what was ladylike at the age of 16 and I started to actively do research for this blog at the age of 17. At the time, I thought that was young but look at these girls who are even younger and already making this huge decision in their lives!
To all the younger girls, high school or younger, who have taken up studying my blog (The Proper Lady) and blogs like it, I truly do applaud you, lovelies.
From elegant and ladylike girls, you will blossom into distinguished elegant and ladylike women. *smile*
So, how to be ladylike and elegant in high school? Well, first off, let me say that the basic and most important principle of elegance does not alter with age, dove.
That basic and important principle is the following: hold yourself with kindness, warmth, etiquette/manners, and a consideration to others.
No matter what else you have, that is still the strongest and most accurate predictor of your elegance and class. It does not know age. :-)
Here are some tips on how to be elegant in high school...
1) Dress in a way that is less revealing. Many high school girls will dress with revealing clothes but you don't have to. As an elegant and ladylike high school student, you prefer modesty. You can be more covered up and conservative in your dress without being "boring" or seeming much older than your age. Here are some outfits from Kate Spade to give you an example as to how to be conservative and tastefully dressed yet still youthful:
You see, these girls are barely showing any skin yet they are dressed so youthfully and so cute. Where are some good places to buy clothes for younger people that is a bit more on the conservative side?
- Ann Taylor Loft
- J. Crew
- Kate Spade
- Ralph Lauren
Kate Spade is an American designer brand and quite expensive, so if you don't want to spend that kind of money perhaps you can simply take inspiration from her style like I do?
2) Be the moral one, the mature one and the kind one, despite how the other students are acting. If they're screaming and shouting, be the one who's still chatty and sociable, outgoing, yet doesn't feel the need to raise her voice. If they're running inside the building, don't run after them or with them. If someone's gossiping, don't join in.
3) Show your teachers and other elders utmost respect. Do this both because it's the right thing to do and also because you want to set a good example for the other students. Address your teachers as "Mr. _______" or "Miss/Mrs./Miss _________", unless they've asked you to call them otherwise. The first time you see them before an interaction or a conversation, say "Hello Mr. ______" or "Hello Mrs. _______". After that, if the interaction continues, refer to them as "Sir" and "M'am."
4) Study hard and work hard to get good grades and to be successful in extracurriculars. The elegant woman is distinguished and accomplished. She may be attractive and graceful, but she knows that looks alone are not enough. That's why she improves her mind with reading, writing, studying, pursuing an education, traveling, etc.
