Sophistication and lifestyle is the understanding the difference between trinket and treasures- Jim Rohn

Let’s talk style and elegance. I know folks like to be serious on this blog. Talk about pretty serious heavy stuff; life lessons, insights, broadening the mind, educational expository, history, even love! These inclinations speak to the level of sophistication of this blog and her readers.

Today is for vanity, and pointers to increase our sophisticated “shoulder pads”

Style is more than owning expensive clothing and it’s not enough just to look good. True style and sophistication comes with an understanding of numerous aspects of grooming, dress, and attitude.

Simply put, your dress may be Chanel but you may still come off looking tacky if you don’t channel it properly.

Sophistication is refinement, comportment, a mindset, a way of life and the totality of your package. You have to look the part, talk the part and act the part. I mean people around you should feel you breathe superior oxygen!

Some tips to cultivate or enhance sophistication

1; Body language is a key indicator of how sophisticate a person is. It should be schooled to exude elegance, if you want to be sophisticated, then you have to master refined body language so people are instantly impressed when they see the way you carry yourself. Sophisticated people are confident, in control, and composed, so make sure you’re never walking too fast, shuffling through your bag frantically, or generally acting in a way that makes you look frazzled and unsure of yourself. If you want to look sophisticated, then the movements of your body have to be measured and calm.

Make eye contact confidently. Don’t stare at people you’re not talking to and don’t avert your gaze when spoken to.

This is particularly for ladies, avoid fidgeting with your hands especially when you are nervous. Keep them at your sides if you’re standing or fold them on your lap if you’re sitting.  Maintain good posture by keeping your back and neck straight and looking ahead of you instead of down at the floor. It’s not sophisticated to slouch or hunch over. School your eyes to convey the right emotions and message per time. A sophisticated lady has a millionaire’s confidence which can be communicated through her body language and her eyes, never forget.

2; Your looks count! Ever heard of the phrase – dress the way you want to be addressed? Got it? I have a friend who could surmise my mood just by evaluating my dressing.

A shabby or tasteless dress sense has no place in sophistication, and no, you don’t have to break the bank to look the part. Clean, well-coordinated outfit works wonders. Go for classic look instead of trending, the black shift dress and brown pumps you buy today will still be wearable ten years from now.

Buying one good pair of pearl stud earrings outweighs the 10 pairs of trendy statement earrings that will be out-of-date a year after you buy them. Having a sophisticated and classy style means that you can wear your outfits to work, time out with friends, a date, or traveling the world. Invest in timeless fashion pieces! Have a personal style that flatters your physique.

When you find your personal style you know you look great and feel confident wherever you find yourself. Whether you prefer unconventional, street, high fashion, minimal or classic, you can make your style look classy when the occasion calls for it.

May I state here that dressing classy requires a bit of modesty? Yes, you read that correct my lady.

Choose complementary accessories that fits the occasion. Simple jewelry is the best way to go when aiming for a classy and sophisticated style for both genders.

And don’t forget your shoes. Yes, shoes are an accessory! It may be cliché but you really can tell a lot about a person from their choice of footwear.

Personal style includes grooming, hair must always be well kempt, please keep clean nails, choose the right cologne for the occasion, your skincare regime should be on point.

3; Be comfortable with luxury- Learn labels, food, music. More importantly develop a sense quality and learn to pick out the labels that carry the most quality for the best prices. Learn to appreciate the finer things in life, in food, music, in clothes amongst everything else. Develop a taste. Find out what you love about design, in furniture, in decoration, in clothes, in shoes, in paintings, in literature. It is amazing what you can appreciate by looking at our everyday things. You do not have to spend a lot of money. Start with one luxury item at a time, cut back on wasteful spending and channel them to your area of interest.

4; Don’t lose your cool- Being sophisticated means that you should keep your act together in public. This does not necessarily mean you never show any emotion, just that you do not fall to pieces in public. A sophisticated person gets angry with a witty retort, not by shouting obscenities. A sophisticated person may cry at a funeral, but not make a scene about it. If you find yourself getting angry in public, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths until you feel yourself returning to normal.

5; Be yourself, with class- Sophistication is about presenting yourself well, not pretending you are someone else and doing things you do not like to do. Don’t try to keep up with the joneses, you will end up miserable.

It is OK to enjoy conventional things. You do not have to be a golf aficionado or an art buff if it doesn’t appeal to you. Sophistication is not the same as snobbish. Being a well-dressed person, who is well-educated, cultured, and poised is a worthy goal. Sometimes this is confused with being a snob. A snob looks down on people who are not well dressed, or educated, poised, and so on. A sophisticated person is kind, friendly, broad-minded, and think well of others.

6; Travel as much as you can- Traveling is a great way to broaden your horizons, become more open-minded, and to have a firmer understanding of how the world operates. If you have the budget for it, then try to travel to a foreign country once a year or as often as you can; if you don’t have the budget, try traveling to a difference state or whenever it’s possible for you. You can learn a lot about the world by seeing how other people live in other places.

Reading books is my cheat sheet for not having a budget to travel and trust me the internet works, research about place of interest, google away!

7; Be well-read. – this just has to be on my sophistication tips. Be knowledgeable on a wide range of topics. Be up to date on happenings around the world so you can contribute intelligently to conversations. investing intellectual materials in will make you a more well-rounded, interesting, and sophisticated person. Though it’s hard to make room for reading in your busy schedule, try to read at least 2-3 books a month, or more, if you can make time for it. instead of watching TV shows endlessly pick up a book instead. You will be better for it, even your grammar.

8; Treat other people with respect- You may think that being sophisticated means acting condescending, or acting superior. However, to be truly sophisticated, you have to show that you respect other people and that you think everyone deserve to be treated as your equals, even if they aren’t as well-read or refined as you are. Whether you’re talking to an old friend, a new acquaintance, or a stranger, you should always be polite, kind, and helpful when you talk to other people. Being polite is a major sign not only of your maturity, but of your sophistication. Hold doors for people, don’t cut into lines, and say “please” and “thank you” as often as necessary.

Watch your facial and body language because they give away the real you that you want to polish. Be on the lookout for your thought process while deep in a conversation, don’t be too hasty to speak and remember to hold your cards close to the chest.

I hope these tips spur you to aim for sophistication,

Stay classy and fabulous.

Jolade