Educate yourself on the art of femininity. All it takes is self-awareness and some minor work, and you’ll be well on your way to being the new you.
In a world that idolizes trashy behavior from women like Miley Cyrus and those half-naked women running around the desert high on drugs at Burning Man, the art of being feminine is all but lost on society as a whole.
Remember what Lady Diana, Princess of Wales was like? It’s not surprising that almost 20 years after her death, people still remember her as the ultimate lady, princess and role model. The charisma, allure and aura that she exuded is exemplary, and should be channeled by you, if you want to be more feminine.
Another perfect example is Audrey Hepburn. Her kind heart, gentle nature and unparalleled femininity undoubtedly earned her respect.
There is no reason why you can’t be a strong, confident and powerful woman yet maintain class, elegance and femininity. A brilliant example is Amal Alamuddin, human-rights lawyer, activist, author, and, most recently, Mrs. George Clooney.
Jordan’s Queen Rania is also another wonderful example. These women exude class and femininity, all the while maintaining their strength in a male-dominated and highly biased world. If they can do it, why can’t you?
How to bring out your feminine side
All it takes is perseverance, self-awareness and a little bit of work to completely transform into a creature of grace and class. From tweaking your appearance to being a better person inside, here are 20 hot ideas on how you can go about being more feminine. [Read: How to exude femininity and attract men in a way they can’t resist!]
#1 Dress like a lady. If you want to be a lady, then you have to dress like one. Steer clear from unflattering and formless clothes like baggy jeans and frumpy t-shirts. Don more skirts, dresses and figure-flattering outfits.
Whether you opt for blood red or robin blue, don’t worry too much about the color palette as a real lady should be able to pull off any color, so long as it doesn’t clash with her skin tone or hair color. One very important tip: stay away from neon, unless you are attending a rave.
#2 Don’t be afraid to accessorize. Do not be afraid to brighten up your wardrobe with splashes of accessories. From silk headbands to solitaire diamond earrings, keep things simple and classy, so that they don’t draw attention away from your outfit as a whole. If you want to go for costume jewelry, be sure that they don’t look cheap, and do not hesitate to spend more on them than you normally would.
#3 Don’t shy away from makeup. Natural beauty is very important, but so is enhancing it. There is no need to slap on tons of makeup to look good. Tailor your look to go with the time of day and the sort of event you are attending. As a rule of thumb, your makeup bag should contain these essentials: natural mineral veil powder, eyeliner, bronzer, mascara and lip gloss.
#4 No boy cuts, please. Although there are plenty of feminine women out there who have beautiful short hair *think along the lines of actresses Audrey Tatou and Halle Berry*, there is no denying that if you want to amp up your game and become more ladylike, let your hair grow long.
Not everyone can pull off short hair without looking like a tom boy. Healthy lustrous locks is perhaps the most well-known feminine trait in the world. From sweet Disney heroines to svelte supermodels, long hair is the way to go.
#5 Maintain a healthy body weight. There is a fine line between being healthy and overweight, and being slim versus skinny. To give you an idea of just what makes a woman healthily curvy, look up Marilyn Monroe and Monica Bellucci. However, it’s true that not everyone can look like them.
There are women out there who, try as they might, find it hard to gain weight, whereas there are others out there who partake in every diet fad to hit the market and still end up piling on the pounds. At the end of the day, exercise for at least 40 minutes a day and eat right. Your ideal body shape will emerge in no time at all. [Read: 25 tips that will inspire you to work out]
#6 Stop cussing. The fouler your mouth, the fouler you will look to everyone around you. Ladies do not cuss, at least not out loud. Hence, rein it in the next time you feel an onslaught of dirty words trying to escape from your mouth.
#7 Don’t be loud and rowdy. Ever come across a beautiful and feminine-looking woman at a restaurant, and felt absolutely charmed by the way she looked, ate and behaved? Got completely turned off the moment she opened her mouth and amplified her opinions to the entire restaurant? Leave the noise-making and rowdy behavior to frat boys, and start lowering your volume when you’re out in public.
No one likes a loudmouth, even less so when she’s drunk and can’t control her verbal diarrhea. Unless you are giving a speech or presentation, ensure that your voice does not carry past the person next to you. [Read: 10 classy ways to stand out from the crowd]
#8 Don’t feign intelligence. Another way to be more feminine is to listen a lot more than you speak, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the subject matter. There is nothing worse than watching someone dig their own grave trying to act like a know-it-all, when they clearly have no idea what they’re talking about.
The people whom you are trying to have a conversation with will call you on your bluff and you will end up looking like a fool. With that being said, if you know what you’re talking about then go right ahead and impress them all. But if you don’t, opt to listen and learn instead.
#9 Be flirtatious and playful. It will do you well not to confuse being bitchy and being feminine, so don’t give people the cold shoulder. Be flirtatious and playful with those around you, especially if they’re members of the opposite sex. However, remember not to overdo it as you may risk alienating the women around you. Befriend the women by exuding charm and confidence instead. [Read: The guide to perfecting your eye contact game]
#10 Shower daily. Hygiene should be everyone’s number one priority, even more so for you, if you want to be more feminine. Nothing is more disgusting than a sloppy woman with stringy hair bordering on accidental dreadlocks.
Take the time to shower at least twice a day, namely, in the morning before you leave the house and once before bed. Always smell as clean and fresh as you can and don’t forget to apply lightly scented lotion and a spritz of perfume before you start your day.
#11 Groom yourself. Bathing is not enough if you want to maintain a high level of femininity. Be sure to invest the time and money into grooming yourself well. Don’t bother with sloppy DIY wax jobs. Head to a salon and get them all taken care of by a professional. From eyebrow threading and Brazilian waxing to spa pedicures and much-needed facials, the sky is the limit when it comes to keeping yourself in tiptop condition.
#12 Place fresh flowers at home. It is not just about looking feminine, it is also about living and breathing the part. One way to do so is to surround yourself with beauty. You should place fresh flowers at home, so that every time you arrive or leave, you are reminded that you are a beautiful woman with the world at her feet. From daisies to lilies, it is up to you what you want to bring into your home.
#13 Learn to dance. Enough with the dirty dancing already. Play with your feminine prowess, and sign up for a course that will teach you everything from salsa to ballroom dancing. It is always a good idea knowing a little bit of everything, as it’ll give you the chance to wow your audience, if there’s ever any need for it. Not just that, dancing is a great workout, and will give you an excuse to exercise in a fun and sexy way.
#14 Invest in beautiful lingerie. It doesn’t matter that no one is going to see what’s underneath your clothes. All that matters is that you know it’s there. Nothing is worse than ugly granny panties or worn-out bras that have seen far too many washing machine cycles. Want to know what’s possibly worse than that? Visibly saggy tits and muffin tops. Invest in proper lingerie and make sure you wear them, not stash them.
#15 Do not gossip or judge. Exude femininity by turning your nose up at gossip and harsh judgments. The ugliest thing that a woman can possibly do is to bad mouth another woman. Instead of tainting the other person, you will end up hurting your image as now, everyone’s going to label you as the loudmouth who can’t keep secrets and who thinks she’s better than everyone else. [Read: 10 simple ways to deal with difficult people]
#16 Be gentle and kind. One way to be more feminine is to be gentle and kind to everyone you cross paths with. From your superior to the homeless man on your street corner, be nice to people and the world will send it back to you in ways that you could never imagine. [Read: 10 things men like in women besides her appearance]
#17 Stop competing with others. Jealousy is one of the least feminine traits that a woman can possess. Although it’s far simpler to be envious instead of happy for someone else’s success, be sure that you try hard and to always remember that there is no point competing with other people. You will garner success if you work hard for it. In the meantime, stop competing with others and just be happy for them. [Read: How to stop being jealous of others’ success]
#18 Be polite. Politesse is the key to being a feminine and well-respected woman. Never forget your pleases and thank you’s, and never raise your voice in public. Treat everyone as an equal and never think that you are above anyone else. If you fall into this trap, it is a sign of bad breeding, and all hopes of you being a classy and feminine woman will go flying out the window. [Read: 12 ways to make a great first impression]
#19 Set some standards. Be picky about whom you spend your time with, and when I say that, I mean sleep with. Say no to one-night stands and never be easy. Let him woo you, chase you and shower you with everything you deserve. One of the key traits of being a lady is not about how well you play the game, but whether you can do it with standards. This is, by far, the best way to filter out the guys who just want to use you.
#20 Smile often. No one likes a sourpuss, so be sure that you smile often and exude happiness. You’re not an angsty teenager anymore, so don’t behave that way. Being happy is a definite sign of femininity and shows the world that you are positive and excited about your day. This massive dose of positivity will be sure to melt the hearts of even your biggest critics.
[Read: 20 ways to awe your man and everyone else]
No matter what, always remember that there is more to being a woman than looking pretty. What happens inside is more important than what happens on the outside. So what are you waiting for? All the tips that you will ever need to be a feminine woman is right here. Although it will be hard to practice them all, you can certainly try. If Amal Alamuddin can do it, so can you.