How to Look Elegant and Feminine

Hats and hair accessories are an easy, inexpensive way to add a ladylike finishing touch to every outfit. Hair bows look particularly feminine and should definitely not be left to the younger generation! A delicate hair bow can elevate outfits. This bow from She's Parisian is stunning and obviously steals the show, so pair this or a similarly extravagant accessory with an otherwise minimal look. Or, if you are into less fussy accessories, go for black to downplay the 'girliness' of the bow.

Those of you who, like me, are blessed (or not so blessed, it sometimes feels like!) with a larger chest may struggle to dress elegantly. We are told to show off our cleavage to dress for our bodyshapes, but cleavage is not the first thing you think of when you think of an elegant outfit.

I find the halterneck to be a great option for us larger-busted ladies. It highlights the collarbone and therefore looks feminine, and covers up the bust without looking frumpy or making our boobs look bigger than they are.

Of course, there is nothing inelegant about showing a little cleavage! Even Kate Middleton does it on occasion. I would recommend finding your perfect bra that doesn't gape anywhere and you will find you can wear more necklines than you realise.

Speaking of royalty, everyone knows a top-handle bag is a beautifully elegant accessory! It forces you to pose in a very ladylike way. To keep it modern, go for more contemporary colours and silhouettes rather than something you'd have seen on Queen Elizabeth's arm - or go all out and aim for the old money aesthetic.

In order to look elegant on a budget and with minimal effort, I try to focus on HAIR, BODY and NAILS when I get ready in the morning. I find I don't need to worry too much about my actual outfit because I've spent many years building my capsule wardrobe and honing my personal style, so choosing a polished outfit for the day is actually pretty automatic now.

For 'hair', I'm not a huge fan of using heat every day and I've learnt that my hair doesn't look great if I just brush and go, so I like to put it up with a claw clip to keep it neat. I feel it's more sustainable for me personally to give myself the goal of making my hair presentable each morning rather than doing the full glam with curling tongs etc each day - I would just give up after day 1.

For 'body', I try to do some form of exercise each day, preferably in the morning, even if it's just a dog walk or some yoga stretches. This is negotiable though - I'm happy to wait til the evening if it means I'll have more time to focus on my workout.

What is not negotiable in the morning, though, is looking after my skin, both on my face and body! I've used a cleanser, toner and moisturiser on my face morning and night for years, but recently I've started using a body lotion whenever I get out of the shower. People always compliment me on my skin so all of this must be working.

Ah, 'nails'. This is the area of grooming that I've always struggled to build a routine around! I now use stick-on nails and they always look glam, but I understand not everyone thinks this looks elegant so you may prefer to do what I used to do:

For a long time I just tried to keep my nails clean and filed - I hated polish because I get bored putting it on and it chips so easily. If you're like me, try using clear nail polish and set aside some time at least once a week to clean your nails, file them, push back your cuticles and use handcream. Your hands will look elegant in no time!