10 special personality traits of a classy and sophisticated woman

Growing up, I looked up to the classy and sophisticated women around me, marveling at their elegance.

They had charm and charisma I never could have imagined for myself – after all, how could a clumsy and jittery ball of energy like me ever look so put-together? 

Now that I’m in my twenties, I’m slowly but surely discovering that classiness isn’t something women are just born with. It’s something you can learn – as long as you know the right tricks and embrace the right traits.

Want to come along on the journey?

Let’s look at the 10 special personality traits of a classy and sophisticated woman!

1) She has an elegant sense of style

When I was a teenager, I had so many pieces of clothing I could bathe in it. And no, I didn’t grow up wealthy – I just loved thrifting and buying one-dollar dresses in the local second-hand shop.

The issue was that I had no sense of fashion. My friends often made fun of me for wearing five different patterns at once and throwing together four bright colors to top it all off.

Looking back, I know that the way I used to dress was exactly what I needed. It’s what gave me joy, what made me feel comfortable, and what helped me build my individuality.

But it definitely wasn’t classy (and that’s okay).

Women who dress in a sophisticated manner are all about harmonious simplicity. And now that my wardrobe is classier than ever before, I can tell you some of the basic rules:

• Quality over quantity – it’s better to have three high-quality turtlenecks than a whole color wheel of fabric that’s going to fall apart in two months
• Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize
• Trousers over jeans
• Combine a few colors that are soft and elegant in nature, such as white and lavender, white and black, or beige and white (can you tell I love white?)

Build a capsule wardrobe for every season and ta-da! Just like that, you’ll always look classy.

2) She is independent – to a point

A classy woman ought to be independent. In other words, she shouldn’t feel the need to rely on a man to live her life and go after her dreams.

I completely agree with that.

But independence is actually much more nuanced than that. If women wanted to be 100% independent and self-sufficient, they could – but that would also mean men would kind of… not have a purpose anymore.

A classy woman knows how to walk that fine line between her own self-sufficiency and the desire to rely on someone else.

Sure, she *could* open that jar by herself. But it would take five minutes of struggling, so why shouldn’t she ask her man for a favor? He’ll feel useful and manly, and she’ll save herself five minutes of time.

Of course, she *could* move all her stuff on her own. But does she really want to exert herself when her friends can help her out and make the moving process easier?

It’s all about having the grace to step back and let someone else do the work for you while also knowing that you are fully capable of doing it yourself if need be.

3) She is highly opinionated

One of the main rules of sophistication is that you know yourself and what you stand for. This gives you the basis from which to grow and navigate the world around you without losing your face.

If you ask a classy woman what she thinks about a certain political, philosophical, or spiritual issue, she’ll give you an eloquent answer that summarizes her worldview.

What she *won’t* say is, “Uh-uh, uhm, dunno” or “Boring, don’t care”.

This is because a sophisticated woman is well-read and well-cultured. She knows her stuff. You’ll rarely catch her off-guard.

4) She doesn’t lose her cool

Once you start a discussion about something she’s interested in, she’ll argue her point but won’t let you rattle her – no matter how controversial or infuriating your words are.

This is one of the traits I find most inspiring about classy women. They simply don’t lose their cool. They know that once you lose your self-composure and let your anger get the best of you, you’re done for. You’ve lost the upper hand.

What’s more, a classy woman understands that other people’s opinions aren’t worth her inner peace. She is so comfortable in her own skin that she feels no need to seek validation from others, which also means that one argument won’t get to her in the same way it would to other people.

She values her peace of mind too much for that.

5) She exudes graceful energy

As someone who always used to emanate jittery and nervous energy, I’ve always found classy women supernaturally calm and graceful.

As it turns out, that graceful energy isn’t some magic trick or natural talent – it simply reflects one’s own state of mind.

If you’re often anxious, you’ll bite your nails (guilty), tap your feet (guilty again), and walk as if you’re always rushing somewhere (do I need to say it?).

If you have a sense of inner calm and confidence, though, you’ll move through the world with the grace of a cat.

Luckily, elegance is a skill that can be taught. For example, try to slow down your movements and your speech. It’ll help you show others that you’re not in a rush and that you feel comfortable in the situation at hand.

6) She is very eloquent

Speaking in a slow voice is one thing. But the content of what you say matters a great deal, too.

Look, I grew up with a regional accent. I get it. It’s not easy to shed that slang – often, it feels like an important part of your identity.

But the point remains that saying “innit” will simply always sound less classy than “my thoughts exactly”.

Look at your vocabulary and think over some of the phrases you use on a regular basis. If you want to sound more sophisticated, you might need to ditch a few.

Soz.

(Uhm, I mean sorry.)

7) She knows her standards

Or, in other words, she knows her worth – and she won’t let people treat her like rubbish.

There’s a quote by Stephen Chbosky that says, “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

A classy woman knows what she deserves – and it sure as hell isn’t Chuck who never calls and would rather watch TV with a pint of beer than take her out on a date.

Sophistication is about standards. Set them high, and if someone doesn’t reach the level at which you want to meet them, then it’s probably a no.

You only have so much time in a day. Don’t waste it on people who don’t deserve you.

8) She embraces her femininity with ease

The next trait I absolutely adore about sophisticated women is that they’re in touch with their femininity. And they’re not afraid to show it.

Many early 2000s movies have taught us to see femininity as something that’s either weak or cruel. However, that’s a very misguided view – after all, femininity is so much more complex than the difference between “a good girl” and “a mean girl”.

Femininity is about nurturing. It’s about creation. Attraction. Intuition. Subtlety. Passion.

A classy woman is in sync with that energy and channels it freely, which helps her carry herself with confidence and purpose.

9) She uplifts other women

Here’s a question for you: “What’s the least classy thing a woman could do?”

How about this: tearing other women down just to come out on top. Yeah… pick-me-girl behavior isn’t going to get you very far.

You haven’t put on that dress just to impress men and put other women down, after all. You’ve put it on because you want to feel confident and comfortable in the clothes you’re wearing.

And if another woman asks you for advice, the most sophisticated course of action is to respond with joy, warmth, and kindness.

10) She prioritizes self-care

The last special personality trait on our list is self-compassion. You can’t walk around looking sophisticated if you don’t show yourself some kindness and love on a regular basis, and self-care is precisely what rejuvenates you, helps you feel cared for, and fills you with energy.

One of my friends is very classy – you can tell just from looking at her, it’s kind of amazing – and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from her, it’s the importance of self-care.

She follows a good skincare routine. Looks after her hair. Keeps her nails clean. Uses high-quality makeup with SPF included.

Every day, she shows her body and mind love. And as a result, her appearance is classy, sophisticated, and absolutely beautiful. She’s glowing.

You can glow, too.