You might not realize these things about being classy.
Classiness means something different to everyone, so we’ve rounded up the top 10 things we bet nobody’s told you about what it actually involves…
1. Anyone can be classy (if they want to be).
When we think of being classy, it often conjures up images of old money and elite exclusivity. It can feel unattainable for those with ‘normal’ lives and incomes.
But it doesn’t need to be that way!
You don’t need a wardrobe overhaul, a fancy new accent, or different friendship groups. Many people think there’s a lot of work behind being classy, but it isn’t always that hard.
While some things can expand your world and instantly help you grow as a person, like traveling or going to uni, you don’t need to do these things to become classier.
Being classy isn’t about your background, education, income, or identity—it’s about how you choose to live and conduct yourself.
2. You don’t need money.
There are so many misconceptions about what it takes to be a classy person—money being the main one.
While money can buy you nice things, it doesn’t automatically make you classy. It’s not about finances, it’s about your mindset and approach to life.
Things like caring for others, being selfless, and supporting those around you are all examples of classy behavior that will cost you nothing but your time and energy.
Looking after your loved ones is something that is done for their well-being, not to fuel your ego.
Focus on activities like this that allow you to raise others up (for free) and use your time, instead of your money, to do so.
Being classy isn’t just about your lifestyle, possessions, and appearance, after all.
3. Classiness is a state of mind.
Being a classy person has very little to do with how you look and a lot to do with how you behave.
The way you treat other people speaks volumes about you as a person, so this is the main area to focus on if you want to become more classy.
Start working on being more empathetic—consider the feelings of those around you, offer kind advice, and be more patient. These are all characteristics of someone who is classy!
Rather than simply focusing on your appearance, think about how you make others feel.
Classiness is about being polite and courteous, as well as bold and confident, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through!
Lift up those around you and strive to be the best version of yourself possible.
4. Being classy opens doors to opportunities.
You might be surprised to find out that being classy brings with it a wealth of opportunities.
While you’re probably aware that your personality plays a role in your life (like job interviews and successful dating), you might not realize how much of an impact a touch of class can bring!
Being classy is about considering other people and maintaining a confident, self-respecting air around you. These are qualities that others are drawn to—they like the fact you care and that you carry yourself well.
The more they are drawn to you, the more other people want to spend time with you and open doors for you. You might find that people are more willing to engage in conversation with you, or that they suggest opportunities to you.
It might be that they want you to join a social event or club, or even that they start suggesting jobs or collaborative opportunities to you.
Once they see you’re sophisticated and well-mannered, they’ll want to help you out even more!
5. Class and drama are mutually exclusive.
Being classy and participating in drama are two things that cannot coexist.
Gossiping is not classy—this is a fact! Talking negatively or inaccurately about other people displays poor manners, and is looked down on by the majority of people.
While it can be fun to share tidbits of info on other people, try to avoid getting involved in other people’s drama…or causing it!
Being classy is about knowing when to take a step back and focus on yourself.
Being authentic is important, however, and you need to stay true to yourself. If you can’t let go of drama, it might just mean that classiness isn’t quite for you and that you’re on a different path for now.
Just make sure you surround yourself with others who feel the same…
6 Classiness isn’t always about trends.
You might worry that classiness requires a lot of work and ongoing updates, but that’s not true at all!
Class never goes out of style, and you don’t need to be constantly evolving. Instead, you must stay focused on who you are and what matters to you.
By committing to your own growth and success, you’ll naturally deviate from behaviors like gossiping or trend-following, and will instead become satisfied simply staying in your lane and focusing on yourself.
A classy lifestyle is similar to a classy home—stay simple, focus on refining, and keep it clean!
You wouldn’t change your carpets every 3 months, so why would you change your lifestyle that often? If it’s working, enjoy it and stick with it.
There’s no pressure to follow the latest fad or trend, as classiness is always in style.
7. Subtlety is attractive.
Those of us who use social media or watch TV (which is pretty much all of us) are constantly bombarded with adult-oriented content—so much so that we often don’t even realize it’s happening.
We’re so used to seeing overly-revealing outfits or trends circulating the likes of Instagram and Netflix, that it becomes subconsciously embedded in our minds.
We start to use these standards as benchmarks for ourselves and endlessly compare real life to what we see in the media or on social platforms.
As there’s so much of this content readily available, we often forget what is genuinely classy. The answer: subtlety!
Of course, we’re not saying you need to abandon whatever makes you feel comfortable, but it’s worth considering making some small adjustments.
Elegance is key, so make sure you’re wearing appropriate outfits and not standing out for the wrong reasons.
Tone down your makeup or clothes, take off an accessory before you leave the house (Coco Chanel’s top tip!), and practice speaking more softly. These are all ways to upgrade yourself to a classier version without having to change too much!
We’re not saying you can never wear revealing clothing or have a little fun, it’s just something to bear in mind if you’re trying to elevate your lifestyle to something a little classier!
8. Self-development is classy.
Upskilling yourself is another great way to boost your classiness levels—and it can be done for free.
Sign up for free online classes about a topic that interests you, listen to podcasts on your commute, or read a book instead of watching Netflix in bed.
While we mentioned being selfless, you do also need to make time for yourself. It’s all about balance!
Knowing your value and committing your time and energy to developing your skills and experience is an amazing way to prove just how sophisticated you are.
You don’t need to be able to recite Shakespeare, but having some base knowledge of popular culture is a good place to start.
Go to some free art galleries or museums and see what jumps out at you. Borrow books from the library or start a book swap with friends.
The more you expose yourself to culture and knowledge, the more you’ll discover what interests you and the more likely you are to commit to developing your intellect.
Growing your intelligence and becoming smarter are great steps to take on your journey to becoming classier.
People don’t always talk about it because it takes longer than simply buying a new outfit, but self-work is key to being classy.
9. Old-school etiquette goes a long way.
Being gracious, being a gentleman, being chivalrous—these are all characteristics that are slowly fading in our society.
And yet, they’re some of the classiest behaviors in history!
As you look ahead to becoming a classier version of yourself, remember to look back at how people used to conduct themselves. Holding doors open, being kind, dressing modestly—these all display old-school classiness.
Turning up on time, not interrupting people when they speak, keeping your voice at a level volume, and respecting those around you are simple things that go a long way.
Being able to hold yourself in social situations, learning to become more articulate, and behaving appropriately are also great ways to become a classier version of yourself.
10. You don’t need to pretend to be someone you’re not.
While it might feel like becoming more classy means letting go of your true self, this doesn’t need to be the case.
You can find ways to incorporate some classier behaviors without letting go of who you really are.
Find a balance between going out drinking and reading books; between scrolling endlessly on your phone and upskilling yourself; between embracing your orientation and keeping some things private!
We’re not saying that change is going to happen overnight, which is why it’s important to keep bits of your truest self—you don’t want to feel like you’re sacrificing everything and not making any progress!
Instead, hold onto bits of your life that fulfill you and simply add new, classier bits in. Being classy isn’t about restriction—it’s about enhancement.
