When you think about a classy woman, you might think of someone who’s polished, always looks put together, and stays true to their personal style. If you’ve ever dreamed of emulating her timeless style, then there are a few fashion “rules” you might want to follow. Although a classy woman knows that her confidence is key to her enviable look, she also knows that there are a few tried and true lessons that have taught her what to stay away from and what to wear instead. These are the 7 things a classy woman avoids, and what she reaches for instead!
What Makes a Classy Woman
A classy woman is more than the clothes that she wears. That’s because class is just as much about what’s on the inside as what’s on the outside. A classy woman carries herself with grace and etiquette – she is kind, has good manners, and treats others with respect. She is in the habit of good posture, positive self-talk, and carrying herself with poise. She has empathy, integrity, authenticity, and focuses on her own personal growth. These might seem like small daily actions, but they all contribute to an elegance that shines from the inside out.
Classy women stand the test of time. Style icons like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Grace Kelly are perfect examples of women who seemed to exude composure, compassion, and inner grace wherever they went.
However, beyond just their personality and poise, these classic women also shared a few style principles. Keep reading for the things that they avoided wearing!
What Classy Women Avoid Wearing
1. Overly Revealing Clothing
Although sheer pieces, micro shorts, and low-cut tops might be trendy at the moment, an elegant woman tends to avoid these clothing items. She prefers to dress with moderate coverage and avoids letting her undergarments show beneath her clothing. Elegant women tend to favor classic style and timeless pieces that don’t rely on showing too much skin, which may make them feel uncomfortable.
What They Wear Instead:
We’re all different in the pieces that we feel comfortable wearing, but as a whole, classy women avoid pieces that are very low-cut or very short. If they do wear a low-cut shirt, they balance it out with longer pants. On the flip side, if they wear shorts with a higher hem, they might reach for a shirt with more coverage. The key to always looking classy, even if you like to wear shorts or tops with a low neckline, is to balance these pieces out with ones that might have more coverage elsewhere.
Quince
Stretch Crepe Pleated Shorts
2. Unkempt Pieces
A big part of looking classy is not only the pieces you wear, but how you wear them. No matter how expensive or inexpensive a piece of clothing is, if it’s not taken care of, it will look unkempt or cheap. Simple maintenance will go a long way to creating a classy look! That means not wearing items that have stains, pills, or lots of wrinkles. These features can detract from an otherwise polished look.
What They Wear Instead:
Classy women know that clean clothes go a long way in contributing to their polished appearance. They take the time in the morning (or the night before) to ensure that they iron, steam, wash, or de-pill pieces that need sprucing up. The trick is to not only treat your expensive items this way, every piece you put on your body should be shown similar attention! These small details really add up to make you look more put together (like the classy woman above).
If you’re in a rush to get ready in the mornings, daily habits like laying your clothes out the night before, or at least choosing what you want to wear ahead of time, can significantly help you out. These little tricks can be practices of self-care, and help prepare you for the next morning and de-stress you during the rush of daily life.
J.Crew
Pleated Slip Skirt
3. Overdone Accessories
We always say that accessories can make or break your outfit! However, too many accessories can have a negative impact on your overall look. Instead of making your look interesting and unique, they overwhelm your outfit and wear you, instead of the other way around.
What They Wear Instead:
A classy woman limits the accessories that she adds to each look. She knows their power and that a little goes a long way. True elegance is taking time and thought when it comes to how you present yourself to the world, and taking this time can include thoughtfully choosing what you choose to put on your body.
Quality over quantity is something else to remember when wearing your accessories. Choose a small quantity of pieces that complement your clothes, rather than ones that distract from them. Maybe stick to a minimal selection of pieces that are meaningful to you and that harmonize with your overall style. It could be pieces like pearl stud earrings, a small pair of hoops, a pendant necklace, or a pearl bracelet.
quince
14K Gold Diamond Bezel Necklace
4. Too Many Trends at Once
A classy woman knows the value of a timeless wardrobe. She realizes that fashion trends come and go as quickly as we can blink, and that so many trendy pieces end up unwanted in the landfill in a matter of months. Wearing too many trendy pieces at once can signal that someone might be lost when it comes to their personal style. They aren’t sure what they like to wear, so they turn to popular trends to be told what to wear instead.
What They Wear Instead:
Instead of relying on trends to tell her what to wear from head to toe, a classy woman picks and chooses what trends she wants to spend her hard-earned money on. She looks at trends with a discerning eye and only invests in trendy pieces that actually speak to her personal style. These aren’t just pieces that are popular, but that also align with her true tastes, or that get her excited about getting dressed.
Trends aren’t all bad! The trick is to purchase and wear them sparingly. Wearing too many trends at once can confuse your personal style. Instead, try to limit your outfit to include one or two trends. Then, stick to your go-to pieces for the rest of your look. This will ensure that the new items don’t overwhelm your overall aesthetic.
nordstrom
Animal Print Trench Coat
5. Logo Looks from Head to Toe
Wearing expensive designer items with flashy logos from head to toe can sometimes be incorrectly labeled as “good taste” because of how pricey these items are. However, the opposite is true. Wearing loud designer pieces with recognizable logos from head to toe isn’t a signal of a classy woman. Instead, these pieces are often worn to signal that the wearer has wealth and wants to show that off to the world.
What They Wear Instead:
Classy women tend to avoid wearing big logos from head to toe. However, that doesn’t mean you have to cut out logos from your life completely. When worn in moderation and on pieces you actually love, you can still create elegant, classy looks. Just try to stick to one logo per look. After all, quality pieces should be able to speak for themselves! You can also look for high-quality pieces with no visible logos at all, if you prefer a more minimalist approach to dressing.
j.crew
Palais Topcoat
6. Ill-Fitting Clothes
Fit can be everything if you’re going for a polished look. Even expensive pieces can look cheap if they don’t fit you correctly. And on the flip side, inexpensive pieces can look more luxurious if they fit correctly. For this reason, classy women tend to avoid super baggy jeans, hugely oversized pieces, and crop tops, to name a few.
What They Wear Instead:
Prioritizing fit will ensure that your clothes not only flatter you, but also look well thought out and more expensive. Instead of baggy jeans, go for a wide-leg version with clean lines and a bit more structure. Straight-leg jeans are another great option if you like a slightly looser fit, but still want to look put together.
Another change you can make for a classier look? If you are wearing a shirt with any sort of cropped hem, make sure to pair it with a high-waisted piece on the bottom so that your midriff doesn’t show if you bend over. This can be a great styling strategy for those who have a long torso who want to balance out their proportions, so don’t discount cropped tops entirely for this reason!
Another easy trick? Add a belt! Tailor your clothes instantly (and on a budget) by adding a belt to your favorite dress, coat, skirt, pants, etc., to highlight your natural waist.
Simple tweaks like these can make a big difference in ensuring that your pieces fit you well and give off that smart look that you’re going for.
j.crew
Executive Dress in Stretch-Linen Blend
7. Loud Prints
In general, women who prioritize a classy look tend to avoid overly loud prints with bright colors. These loud prints can completely take over your look, drawing the attention away from you and directing it instead to the bright or large print.
What They Wear Instead:
Classy women tend to opt for more minimal designs that might be smaller or have a neutral color palette. Swap out Hawaiian print or neon patterns for neutral leopard print, stripes, plaid, or polka dots. Florals are another great choice – just be discerning when you choose these styles. Small, repetitive patterns are always a safe bet when it comes to nature patterns!
sezane
Ambre Shirt
Understanding the Refinement of a Classy Woman
Being classy is so much more than the clothes that you wear, but your attire certainly plays a part in how you present yourself to the world. That’s why the time and care that you put into your appearance makes a difference – it’s not about how much money you spend on your possessions; rather, it’s about how spending a little time on yourself signals your own self-esteem and self-respect. This can be easier said than done when you are juggling so many other priorities in your life, but it truly makes a difference in how you feel, inside and out. Classy women know that they deserve to spend at least a few minutes on themselves every morning, and that this habit is an important aspect of life!
Want to learn more about the classy style of Audrey Hepburn? Up Next: How to Recreate 15 of the Best Audrey Hepburn Outfits
I have always been modest in the way I dress and you categorize that as classy and I agree.
Classy never goes out of style!