Being classy is not an act you only do on certain places or in front of certain people. To be truly classy, you have to show it in the way you dress, act, speak and even answer comments on Instagram. (Hint: classy people kill with kindness)

Living life the classy way, in many shapes or form, manifests a life well-lived. The good news is, you don’t have be born with a silver platter to be considered as someone with class. All you have to do is learn and develop proper manners of which you must apply in daily life.

On the other hand, is the truth that not all wealthy people are tasteful. As a matter of fact, there’s an old adage that money can’t buy you class. Acquiring money doesn’t automatically gain you manners and high-class status unless you work on refining your demeanor.

That being said, there are many ways to act as a more civilized person. It starts by dropping the bad habits and consciously making the decision to replace them with good ones. Not sure what are some of the things classy people never do?

Let’s find out.

Gossip

Why do people love gossip? Well, it’s in human’s nature to gossip because of our need for survival. It dates back to the early days as a way for our ancestors to disburse information. In relation, it can also come as a form of warning from their enemies.

Surprisingly, nothing much has changed in the modern times. Some studies found that gossip can build intimacy among those involved in the exchange of it.

But it that was the case, when is it not classy?

Gossip is not a class act when the purpose is to throw mean comments towards other people. Its unruly nature can be destructive to those who participated in the gossip as well to their targets. It also creates an environment where if you gossip, you open yourself up to other people gossiping about you.

As an example, imagine someone getting announcement of his promotion at work in front of his colleagues. Classy people know better than to make ire comments. Even if they might feel slightly jealous at that point, they won’t throw a shade. Instead, they challenge themselves to improve and work on their own promotion.

Always late

It’s never classy when a person is consistently late. Not to mention, always making up excuses for it only make them sound crass, not class.

The real classy people make it a habit to show up on time and show up well. They perceive time to be of high value which is why they take it upon them to wake up early and prepare ahead of their appointments. With the exception of emergencies, you can expect to see classy people arrive in their destination looking impeccably smooth and ready to get down to business.

Get sloppy drunk

When we think of classy people drinking, we imagine champagne, Bordeaux and single malts. While those are fine choices of drink, drinking a glass of Dom Perignon is classy until it’s not anymore.

The social etiquette of drinking is about having control of yourself under the influence. Doing bottoms-up and playing drinking games are all part of the fun when drinking in a casual setting. However, there is nothing classy with getting into misfits or throwing up because of intoxication.

Same in the case of attending work conferences and networking events, classy people know when to say no to another drink. They know their priorities at work, or that they can’t have too much wine because they still need to drive home. Which leads me to my next point.

Imprudent driving

Cutting off other motorists, beating the red light and not stopping on pedestrian lanes are big no-no for classy and refined people.

Classy people take driving as a serious task, knowing that other people’s lives are on their hands. When they’re behind the wheel, they are mindful of their surroundings especially their passengers, other vehicles on the road or people on the sidewalk.

Ethical drivers make sure that they maintain proper distance on the road, observe traffic lights and let pedestrians pass by. They follow road etiquette even if they’re on a rush or even if they’re driving a sports car.

Have mountains of debt

Having a polished appearance doesn’t have to take a big hole in your pockets. Buying a flashy car is not be a wise move if it’s going to wreak havoc in your savings. The reality is you can still look classy with what you have and afford right now.

One of the things that make people classy is their ability to handle their finances. Material possessions of smart and savvy people come from their own pockets or their investments. But don’t get me wrong. It’s not that they have no debt. They just have them for good reasons like say, a new business start-up.

A real classy person doesn’t answer to pressure of keeping up with brands if it meant maxing out his/her credit cards. Deep inside is the knowledge that his/her worth goes beyond the price tag of a French luxury purse or the latest iPhone in the market.

Dress provocatively

In most cases, you can first tell a person’s class in the way they dress up. Again, this isn’t about wearing expensive clothes. It’s about how you pick and carry the right outfit that highlights your assets in a way that doesn’t illicit disapproving nods.

Thereafter, it’s not only miniskirts and midriff tops that are considered tacky in particular as a workwear. Traditional offices still implement dress codes that many fail to comply. Such is the case, classy people are the opposite. They understand business etiquettes and make it a point to adhere and exemplify them.

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Takeaway

Remember, even the most honorable of the class slips into these types of behavior once in a while. After all, classy people are not immune to making mistakes.

But the distinction is that they are quick to recognize their unseemly act. They work on correcting themselves and see to it that they carry on with their activities in a refined manner.

All in all, it’s easy to understand the principles of how to be classy. You can keep reading blogs/books or even hire consultants, however, the fulfilment is all up to you. Start by letting go of brassy behavior then work your way to refining the little things, until you reach the status of a person who enjoys the many upsides of life.