Shhhhh….Let me tell you a little secret: true elegance is more than a well-cut dress or a perfectly poised handbag (though, my dears, those certainly help). It’s a way of moving through this world with a quiet confidence, a gentle grace. You see, charm lingers far longer than fashion trends. So, shall we talk about the seven little etiquette rules I keep tucked in my handbag?

 

Manners Above Moods

Sweetheart, we’ve all had those days. The kind where the world seems determined to test our patience. But here’s what I’ve learned, clutching my grape-leather handbag through the busiest Milan streets: moods pass, but how you treat people stays with them. I once smiled at a barista after the longest day, and years later, she still remembers me. That, my dear, is power.

 

Thank You Notes Still Dazzle

A handwritten note, love? Oh, it’s like perfume on silk, delicate but unforgettable. After a wonderful lunch in Florence, I sent a note to my host. Months later, she called it the most charming gesture she had received in years. Emails work, too, but that slip of paper? It whispers, “I thought of you.”

 

Kindness is the Ultimate Grace

Once, in Rome, I watched a woman hold the door for someone who barely noticed. She simply smiled and continued on her way. That elegance stayed with me longer than any runway show. Grace, my dear, is not loud. It’s in the quiet gestures, holding doors, complimenting a stranger, pausing before you speak.

 

Phones in Handbags, Please

There I was, sitting across from a friend in Paris, ready to share secrets over coffee. And then, her phone appeared. It was as though a third guest had joined us, uninvited. Your attention is the most precious gift. Tuck that phone into your handbag; give someone your eyes, your heart.

 

Silence is the Sharpest Response

Oh, the temptation to reply to that comment online! I’ve felt it. But, darling, dignity is in restraint. Once, someone criticised my handbag on social media. I simply left it. The result? Their words vanished into the void. Mine? Unsullied, still carrying the scent of quiet strength.

 

Sip, Don’t Spill

I adore a crisp glass of wine under Venetian skies. But I sip. I once watched a colleague turn crimson after too many glasses, revealing far more than intended. I sipped my wine and kept my secrets. Trust me, mornings are gentler that way.

 

Less is Always More (Yes, Even Online)

One evening, after a charming dinner, I scrolled through social media. There it was, someone’s entire heartbreak, spilled out for all. Darling, some things belong to you alone. Curate your life as you would your handbag, only the essentials, nothing unnecessary.

So, my lovely, what do you think? Will you carry these little rules in your heart? Perhaps tuck them beside your lipstick in your favourite handbag?

Remember, elegance is not about perfection. It is about presence, kindness, and knowing when to simply smile and glide away.

Stay fabulous!