There is something about women who are elegant. They exude confidence whenever they enter a room, and don’t care what anyone thinks of them. These women have impeccable style and don’t get caught up following trends, but rather stand out as her own person. They could care less to wear the most expensive brands (because truthfully, they make Amazon fashion look like designer), the latest trends, how much something costs, how people will view them, etc. They just walk into a room and own it! I am not saying wearing designer is a problem (I love designer personally), but it doesn’t have to define who you are as a woman. When you allow material things to define you, it’s a struggle to purchase a nice outfit, handbag, or a piece of jewelry that isn’t designer. I recall shopping back when I was in college and always wanting the latest designer handbag or shoes. However, I wasn’t wearing anything that was unique because so many people wanted the same thing. Whenever I would carry one of my designer bags, I never received compliments the way I did when I wore a handbag from a boutique store. Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of boutiques tend to buy some of the same items, which is why shopping around is so important. The point I am making is this: people typically won’t compliment a handbag, piece of jewelry or an outfit that they have seen a million people wearing. So be that woman that stands out and create your own style that’s not solely based on designer labels. Be the woman that makes people’s mouths drop when you tell them your handbag or outfit came from Amazon, Walmart or Target, because they assumed you were wearing designer as a result of you wearing it with such confidence.
Here are some great qualities that every elegant woman possesses:
They don’t follow trends
There is a reason God made you the way you are. You are unique and different from anyone else on the planet, and that’s a good thing. You don’t need to spend hours on social media trying to keep up with the latest trends if that’s not something that makes you feel like yourself. An elegant woman is knowledgeable about what works or doesn’t work for her. Too many times I’ve seen people step outside of their comfort zone (which is good in certain circumstances) to appease society. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you, and that’s okay.
One of my favorite quotes: “Fashion is a trend. Style lives within a person.” -Oscar De La Renta
They don’t care what others think
It’s easy to get caught up in the opinions of others, especially when those people are close friends and family. But ultimately, your happiness will be determined by how happy you are with yourself. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that being yourself is the key to success. In today’s world, it can be difficult to be yourself with so many pressures from people who want you to conform to what they think you should be doing. For example, enjoying the type of places they enjoy, liking the type of music they like, being outgoing when you’re shy, etc. In some cases, you may want to change some things about yourself, but just make sure it’s on your terms. If it’s hard for others to accept your authentic self, then it’s better if they aren’t around you anyway.
They make self-care a priority
Many people struggle to find time to take a break and relax. If you follow my personal page (@patrana_s), then you know my love for the Calm app. I learned about this app during COVID, and it has been life changing. I was always a person that journaled, but this app is on another level. They have ten minute daily inspirational messages, meditations for longer periods of time, sleep stories to help you drift off to sleep, and so much more. I have never been one to fall asleep quickly, but the calm app has changed that entirely. I know we tend to make excuses of not having enough time to relax with our demanding lives of working in our careers, taking care of family, household responsibilities, weekend errands for ourselves and/or children, etc. However, if you can schedule time for meditation and journaling, it will become a habit. You will see a major difference in how you approach things in your life. With everything being so digital now, that’s what makes the Calm app the perfect solution, because it guides you on what to do. From sitting comfortably with correct posture, to the proper way to relax and breathe, and provides tips on how to tackle life when it challenges your peace. Always remember that you cannot take care of anyone else if you don’t first take care of yourself. Self-care is not selfish; it is necessary for your health and well-being.
They prefer to stand out from the crowd
If everyone were the same, then life would be boring and monotonous because there would be no diversity in opinions or different ways of thinking. Can you imagine if everyone tried to fit in with each other; we wouldn’t have any originality left to us, which is detrimental to our creativity and success as individuals. Take Thomas Edison for example. When people found out that Edison was developing an electric light bulb, they mocked his invention idea saying it could never happen. However, he made one of the greatest inventions known to man that is still very useful today. Something that couldn’t have happened if he believed the negativity from others and decided to agree with the crowd instead of standing out from it.
They take risks
Taking risks is what makes life fun and exciting and allows us to explore more possibilities in life. Be careful to take calculated risks that allow you to grow as an individual and make progress towards your goals in life. Don’t be afraid to fail, because that’s what allows us to learn from our mistakes, and you can always make adjustments as needed to achieve better results next time around. Taking risks helps you develop self-confidence and courage. When we take risks with things we are unfamiliar with, it gives us an opportunity to learn about our abilities as well as judgments about certain situations. As an entrepreneur, I had some fears preventing me from taking risks. One fear was creating reels on Instagram. I was so nervous to put myself out there, but doing so gave me a boost of confidence to make more, and now I enjoy it. It is important to understand that taking risks doesn’t necessarily mean doing something dangerous or reckless without thinking about the consequences. It simply means having faith in yourself and your abilities and believing that whatever happens will work out for the best. Try not to think about failure when taking risks; instead, focus on how good it would feel if things did work out! So go ahead and put yourself out there, you never know who is watching.