How to dress like a lady

WARDROBE 101

How to dress like a lady

RECENT seasons have seen the return of a retro ladylike style aesthetic.  A real favourite of mine, the ladylike style trend means it’s time to embrace the woman within and express her femininity. She is seductive yet demure, confident yet controlled. Think peplum waists and modest hemlines.

Coco Chanel once said that “a woman should look classy and fabulous”. But according to legendary Spanish designer Cristobel Balenciaga, “No woman can make herself chic if she is not chic herself”. However, being a lady is much more than the way you dress.

Yes, money will buy you lots of gorgeous things, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to look polished and stylish. And you don’t need to go to finishing school to act like a lady. Dressing like a lady is half the equation, the rest is up to you.

HERE’S HOW TO DRESS LIKE A LADY

DO … 

Keep nails short and paint them in a neutral colour 

Wear classic pumps or elegant slingback kitten heels

Wear a belt and show off your waist

Shop vintage — think elegant and glamorous ’40s and ’50s styles

Be inspired by ’50s icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly or Jackie O and modern muses such as Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson

Keep your hair well groomed and manageable. If you like it long, wear in a classic low chignon or ponytail.

Make sure your skirt, dress or gathered full skirt falls just above or below the knees

Show off real jewellery or top-quality statement pieces

Wear classic straight-leg jeans

Opt for high-waisted pants — the higher the waist the longer the legs. And who doesn’t want longer legs!

Find a perfume and make it your signature fragrance. Have another one for evening

Wear a watch, preferably a classic tank or round face with Roman numerals

Carry a structured top-handle handbag or buy the best quality leather bag you can afford

Handwrite invitations and invest in monogrammed stationery

We all love our smartphones, but a real lady carries a diary or notebook and a good quality pen

Subscribe to certain publications so you are well versed in global news and cultural affairs because a lady’s mind must also be attractive!

Be polite and respectful, and learn to listen. And remember, if you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing at all!

DON’T …

Paint nails in neon or glitter polish or unmanicured

Wear shoes with scuffed heels

Wear ill-fitting tops

Shop retro, grunge or bohemian

Be a girl behaving badly

Shag your hair or wear your bed hair as a badge of honour

Wear a skirt so short it leaves nothing to the imagination

Keep your good jewellery in the safe

Look like an old hippie or gypsy

Wear embellished, dip-dyed or distressed denim

Expose your bum cleavage or muffin top!

Smell unisex or au naturel

Wear a gimmicky or digital watch

Choose a backpack or bumbag, and don’t even think about carrying a small dog in your handbag!

Send mass emails

Carry your money, keys, phone, lipstick, bus tickets, credit cards etc in a plastic bag or in your pockets

Ignore news, local affairs and global events

Be rude and obnoxious, and talk too much.