Let’s be Ladies
When I think of femininity, I think about being a lady and embracing ladylike tendencies. Behind basic etiquette, which I will be diving into at a later date, I think that being ladylike is imperative to truly dive into the full realm of femininity.
Being ladylike is a full body and personality choice that is important to adopt in the best way that you see fit. It is not an overnight change that we should ever expect of ourselves or anyone around us, but I want to give some ideas to adopt a more ladylike positioning in your day to day life.
Understand that your attitude matters. It is very easy to get caught up in your frustration when you have to do something that you may not want to do or lash out when someone pushes you in a direction that you do not deem as beneficial. In these situations try to remember that everyone has their own set of priorities and what they think is important to them may not be important at all to you. Remember to still give them grace and bless them with patient understanding. The task that they are asking of you may not be able to be done at the drop of a hat but do set a realistic timeline as to when the task will be completed and be sure to verbalize that with them. This is great for the working woman, as well as the stay-at-home woman because in both situations there is a chance that there are people who will have their expectations for you. Establish a line of communication with the individual that has those expectations and respectfully convey that the task will be completed in "x" amount of time. It is very important to either follow through or follow-up if the task was unable to be completed in the amount of time that you stated.
Adopt a slower and more gratitude-filled life to increase positivity. This world that we live in is extremely fast-paced, and it is very easy to get caught up in the “go go go” and “boss babe” mentality that is forced in our faces. This is a great way for some women to function, but for many women who are focused on living a more feminine and traditional life, it is important to know that it is OKAY to take life a bit more slowly. I have learned to implement that in my day to day, by taking moments to appreciate nature, sit down with a book after work, focus on not being on my phone as much so that I can have intentional time with my man, and trying to take a peaceful walk at least once a week.
Modesty is a beautiful gift. Dressing modestly does not mean that you are dressing in a prudish way, but rather finding the shape of clothing that accentuates your body without showing it all. It is so easy to think that we have to show the same amount of skin as models that are shown on TV, the internet, and social media, but there is no mystery left for the outside world when we embrace dressing in that way. Choose pieces that either shows a bit of your upper body or lower body, but not both at the same time. I have found that I love to wear dresses and skirts for this reason. I can show off the shape of my body but stay covered. The overall reaction that I have received since choosing to dress in this way has been widely complimentary.
Stay present in your relationships. By “staying present” I mean to make sure to keep in touch with the people that matter most in your life. If you can, make the time that you spend with them be in-person time. Go out to get a coffee, bite to eat, or meet at a local shop or park to spend time chatting and discussing pieces of life that help to grow your relationship. I have more recently found that this is important for romantic relationships, friendships, and familial relationships. If you are unable to meet with that person in-person, then consider a video chat or phone call instead of texting or messaging.
Check your final appearance right before you walk out of the door. This tip is quite self-explanatory. I have found that one final check of your outfit, hair, and makeup before you leave the house can make a world of difference. If you’re like me and you do you hair and makeup before putting on your outfit, then you may realize that the small fixes that you make after you get dressed can drastically change your overall appearance, even if it’s as small as fixing the part of your hair or touching up the powder on your face.
Be conscientious with your posture. Although this point is last I find it to be so very important because posture is something that can make or break any first impression. Spend some time focusing on sitting and standing with your shoulders back. I have found that this is the foundation to begin to hold yourself in the most feminine way possible. You can be wearing workout clothing and tennis shoes, but remember to hold yourself with your shoulders back. I would much rather see women in their workout clothes with good posture than someone all dressed up, clomping around and slouched over in heels. People notice when you hold yourself with respect and confidence. Even if you aren’t feeling the most confidence, with your shoulders back you could fool quite a bit of people.
