Etiquette: Sitting like a Lady

  Etiquette is the lost art of social mannerisms. Less than 60 years ago, the idea of a young lady tromping around in blue jean pants acting like a gentleman wouldn't dare was preposterous, but now it is common place. Unlike sitting like a proper lady.

  Now-a-days, it is common place to see young ladies slouched over in skin tight blue jeans, dark eye cosmetics, and plunging necklines on off the shoulder shirts, barely paying attention to any of their surroundings, except their phone or MP3 player. But 60 short years ago, you would have found them sitting with backs straight, elbows off the table, and alert to their surroundings, probably wearing a tea-length skirt and some sort of blouse. Her hair would have been neat and tidy, and if she were wearing cosmetics, they would have been light and natural colors like soft pinks, oranges, and beiges, not the rich blacks, blues, and greens we now see. So what has happened to this picture of serenity? Nothing short of Women's 'Liberation.' What can we do to bring it back? By returning to simple aspects young ladies used to follow, perhaps we can make a small difference in this world on social indifferences.

  One such thing you can do is simply sitting like the lady you could be! There are a two easy things to change that will command respect, even from those who don't really care about etiquette. So how do you sit like a lady?

Keep your legs together!

So many young ladies sit with their legs widely spread apart, or one ankle propped on the other knee; a very unfeminine way to sit. By simply changing how you sit from spread all over, you will command respect from those around you.

So how SHOULD you place you legs?

Always keep your legs together. Acceptable ways to sit include with your legs extended slightly in front of you, with your ankles crossed, feet flipped back towards your chair, ankles crossed, knees crossed, and feet pointed in, or knees bent at a 90 degree angle and feet together.

Keep your back straight!

There is nothing that says low-class like slouching over in your chair. And yet we see it every single day. Some young lady, or even older ladies, are completely slouched, sometimes with her head below the back of the chair! I am thinking of a young lady I saw a church last Saturday night. She had a slouchie beanie on, a very low cut, very tight tee shirt, and extremely tight skinny jeans. I honestly don't even know how she put them on. As my grandfather would say, 'They were so tight, the surely must've been painted on!' She was covered in black eye makeup, sparkly navy blue eyeshadow, blood red lipstick, and the rest of her skin looked like white paper. She was so slouched over, her bottom was sliding out of the chair, and she actually fell out! She then rolled over on her back, sat like that for a moment, to finish the text she was sending. Finally, she stood up, then sat in the exact same position!

So how can you sit properly?

Just keep your back straight! That's all there it to it! I'm not saying you have to How your back against a yard stick or something all the time, but for heavens sake, don't slouch so much. If you can feel like you are bent, you need to quite literally 'straighten up!' Keep your shoulders back. Sit like you were leaning across the back of a chair, but do it on a stool!