“Like, Be a Lady”

In the college culture of crop tops and cleavage, we tend to view the idea of acting “ladylike” as hopelessly outdated.

“It means you’re conservative,” says Sophomore Arielle Ettinger. “I think of women in white gloves, pearls and parasols.”

But what many of us do not realize is that the term “ladylike” has not gone out of style; it has merely been redefined and designed to fit our culture. Ladies, we can still be “ladies” without wearing bloomers.

In Derek Blasberg’s book “Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady,” he defines a lady as someone who knows to not text and dine, and to wear underwear with a short skirt. But more importantly, he says a lady is someone who stands up for her beliefs with a gracious smile and confident attitude.  

That being said, a lady is defined by much more than pearls and parasols. What makes a modern day lady is her attitude, presence and manners.

Simple attitude adjustments, such as the way we treat others when we’ve had a bad day, can make all the difference when being defined as a lady. Being aware of the way we present ourselves is not only important to this definition, but will also come in handy when interviewing with potential employers or when meeting your boyfriend’s family…

…Which leads us to manners. When we are in a comfortable situation, the first thing to go is our manners. But the next time you’re running late and attempt to cut the Starbucks line in the HUB, think about what Audrey Hepburn would do.  Now that’s a lady.

As college-aged women, we are constantly looking to define ourselves, whether it is through clubs, Greek letters, boys or career paths. Soon enough we will grow out of these definitions  – but being defined as a lady will never go out of style.