Social Graces Sunday

Your posture says so much about you!  The perfect outfit, immaculate makeup, and beautiful hairdo will not camouflage poor posture.  I remember as a little girl walking around inside my home with a book on my head to improve my posture.  Did y'all do this?

The way you stand and they way you sit can make you seem more confident and attractive.  Perfect posture not only keeps you looking youthful, it also helps to alleviate headaches, back pain, and neck pain.  Standing up straight increases your height and is the fastest diet trick ever...you will instantly appear to lose 10 pounds!

Do you have good posture?  Have someone take your full length photo from the front and the side.  Your head and neck should be centered above your torso.  Your chin should be parallel to the floor.  Your back should be straight.  Your shoulders should be pulled back, down, and relaxed with your core muscles pulled in.  Tuck your buttocks under and keep your knees relaxed and your feet forward.

This chart illustrates perfect posture on the top and types of poor posture on the bottom.

The manicurist on the left is displaying poor posture and the right illustration shows her spine aligned correctly.

It's is so easy to slouch, right?  I am constantly correcting my posture and I assure y'all that it is more difficult to maintain proper posture as you age.  I hope y'all won't follow the look of the "Runway Model Slouch" of today or the "Debutante Slouch" which was in fashion years ago!  The rounded shoulders and relaxed stomach is tres chic with some, but over time, poor posture will take a toll on your shoulders, spine, hips, and knees.

So how can you improve your posture?

• Balance a book on your head and practice walking.

• Stand as if a string were pulling you up from the top of your head.

• Sit up straight and don't work humped over at your desk.

• Consult a personal trainer who can assist you with exercises to strengthen your spine and build core strength.

So start practicing to improve your posture.  Sit up straight.  Stand up straight.  Smile and project an image of confidence!

Sitting Gracefully

I've been watching the preliminaries of the Miss Georgia and Miss Florida pageants this week.  This photo of the Miss Outstanding Teens of Florida came up on my Facebook feed this afternoon and I wanted to share it with y'all.  These ladies are all so perfectly poised and sitting so properly.

Your posture and the way you carry yourself is important and is as much a part of your image as your wardrobe. If you slump, it gives others the impression that you are lazy.

Standing gracefully:
~Stand with your feet slightly apart.
~Hold your head straight, with your chin parallel to the floor.
~Balance your body's weight evenly over both feet.
~Hold your shoulders up, back and relaxed.
~Keep your stomach pulled in and your bottom tucked under.
~Let your arms fall freely at your side.
Walking gracefully:
I learned to walk with a book on my head...Head up, shoulders back, bottom under, stomach in...and glide y'all...
Sitting Gracefully:
Sit straight down on a chair, remembering to sit up straight and lean slightly forward on the chair. Cross your legs at your ankles and move your legs to the side. {If you move your legs to the right side, then the left leg should be tucked under the right leg} Keep your knees together as if you were holding a pill between them!

Place your left hand, palm down, just above your knee and place your right hand on top of your left hand.

Carrying Yourself With Grace and Poise

This morning I headed out to Church and lunch..."HERE'S WHAT I WORE"

Skirt: Sarah Campbell
Blouse: Stein Mart
Cardi: Neiman Marcus
Shoes: Bandolino
Flower Pin: Stein Mart
Tights: Stein Mart

The Accessories:
Pocketbook: Chanel 2.55
Cologne: 'Mademoiselle' by Chanel
Lipstick: 'Talisman' by Chanel
Nail Polish: 'Natural Pink' by Chanel

Shoes: Mary Janes by Bandolino
Necklace & Earrings: Pearls
Wedding Band: 'Eternity' by Cartier
Bracelet: Chanel

After lunch, I headed to the newly opened Fresh Market. I always enjoy shopping at The Fresh Market. The prices are a bit high, so I get my favorite "special treats" there...Pimiento Cheese, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, frozen party appetizers, seasonal coffees, pastries, and I just love their seafood!

After that I stopped in at the "tacky mall" to do a little recon work in preparation for Black Friday. After hitting up a few stores, I sat down on a bench in the center of the mall to tweet for a bit and take a rest. Being the people-watcher that I am, it always amazes me when I see ladies walking like a man or slumped into their chair, with their legs crossed like a man...or worse than that, sitting with their knees apart.

Your posture and the way you carry yourself is important and is as much a part of your image as your wardrobe. If you slump, it gives others the impression that you are lazy.

Standing gracefully:
~Stand with your feet slightly apart.
~Hold your head straight, with your chin parallel to the floor.
~Balance your body's weight evenly over both feet.
~Hold your shoulders up, back and relaxed.
~Keep your stomach pulled in and your bottom tucked under.
~Let your arms fall freely at your side.

Walking gracefully:
I learned to walk with a book on my head...Head up, shoulders back, bottom under, stomach in...and glide...just glide y'all!

{spoolteacher.com}

Duchess Catherine truly carries herself with grace and poise. The perfect Princess...she has perfect posture.

Sitting Gracefully:
Sit straight down on a chair, remembering to sit up straight and lean slightly forward on the chair. Cross your legs at your ankles and move your legs to the side. {If you move your legs to the right side, then the left leg should be tucked under the right leg} Keep your knees together as if you were holding a pill between them!

Place your left hand, palm down, just above your knee and place your right hand on top of your left hand.

Of course, Jackie Kennedy knew how to sit!
These ladies know how to sit...knees together, ankles crossed, hands on knees...leaning slightly forward.
Grace Kelly...sitting just like a Princess!