Lucas Graham
Being classy isn’t about how much money you have in the bank.
This is what people sometimes get mixed up.
They think owning a few designer shirts or driving a flashy car instantly makes them classy and sophisticated… which is hardly the case.
Genuine class comes from deep within. It’s far more profound than simply having a few bucks.
When you’re classy, your aura isn’t typically loud, yet people still tend to notice you–especially those who count.
Sound familiar?
I’m here to provide a bit more clarity.
In this article, I’ll take you through the signs that you’re actually quite classy and sophisticated, even if you aren’t rich.
Let’s get to it!
1) You have good manners
Remember, folks: Having good manners costs nothing, and is therefore always a wise investment.
You’d be surprised how many people I’ve come across, supposedly wealthy people, who seem to lack basic manners.
At its core, having manners is about having courtesy for people, about being gracious and making others feel validated and comfortable.
Your level of class is ultimately a testament to your character as a human being.
If you’re the type of person who almost instinctively says “please” and “thank you,” who holds doors open for others, who is always considerate and welcoming of others regardless of social status or class, then you may just be a classy person.
Good manners are an increasingly rare trait, so keep going.
You’re making the world a better place in your own special way.
2) You find elegance in simplicity
People who lack class tend to know it deep down, and thus often turn to overcompensating behaviors.
This sometimes means they’ll try to buy and hoard expensive luxury goods, and status symbols, to cover up for their lack of taste in life.
The thing is, truly classy people can immediately see through this thinly veiled facade.
Classy people know that just because something has the most expensive price tag doesn’t mean it has the best value.
Classy people don’t religiously follow trends, changing their interests based on what’s popular at a given moment in time.
Classy people tend to prioritize quality far more than quantity; they’ll choose well-made items that may be fewer in number and are timeless and stylish.
In short, you’ll rarely see a classy person decked out in glitzy, overpriced designer clothes and accessories… they’re far more simple, understated, and low-key than that.
3) You communicate thoughtfully
As mentioned, class ultimately comes down to consideration for other people, it comes down to respect.
And there are fewer more obvious ways to gauge a person’s level of respect than when they communicate.
Do you listen actively to others and show respect, interest, and empathy in their perspectives?
Do you provide thoughtful feedback and ask inquisitive questions?
Do you let the other person speak without interrupting them?
Is your communication style consistent with everyone you come across, regardless of their background or status?
If you answered affirmatively to these questions, then I have news for you: you’re pretty darn classy.
4) You exhibit poise and confidence
Classy people tend to make natural leaders.
Why? Because a classy person can keep their cool in high-pressure, testy situations.
They don’t panic and freak out at the slightest appearance of stress, hurling insults and taking out their frustrations on anyone they cross paths with. (Trust me, I can name a handful of people like this.)
A truly classy person has an almost built-in capacity to be poised and confident during times of distress.
They may well be uncertain deep down, but they don’t let that feeling overwhelm them…something that reflects in their demeanor.
So if you carry yourself with grace and self-assurance, maintaining your composure in arguments or other tense situations, this points to an inherent, rare classiness and sophistication within you.
Well done.
5) You’re hygienic and well-groomed
Classiness and dignity are concepts that are deeply intertwined.
When you’re classy, you tend to want to take care of your appearance.
You tend to want to keep yourself clean, spiffy, well-groomed, and dressed appropriately for the occasion.
Wanting to carry yourself properly isn’t about vanity.
After all, classy people aren’t often excessively preoccupied with image or fashion sense.
What matters to them is that they carry themselves with dignity and pride.
Hence, you won’t run into a classy person out on the town in crusty sweats and a t-shirt with toothpaste stains.
Since they value self-respect, their grooming tendencies often reflect that mentality.
6) You have an awareness of the world
When it comes to culture, classy people are almost always ahead of the pack.
They’re not overly preoccupied with celebrity dating lives or sports highlights like everybody else.
Nor are they particularly pretentious about their interests either.
They won’t try too hard to develop and show off their knowledge of high-end wines, whiskeys, cheese, degustation menus, or even obscure films and music.
Believe me, when you try too hard to be “cultured”, those efforts will almost always backfire.
Without the right approach, people catch on and those highbrow interests can instantly be dismissed as snooty and trying hard.
Classy people are about balance. They won’t try too hard… yet still appreciate things like the arts, literature, music, politics, travel, etc.
They can engage in intellectual conversations with the best of them.
They read and have an open mind because they want to improve and learn, not show off and overcompensate.
7) You value discretion
As you may have gathered, classy people aren’t too brash and flamboyant.
Instead, they move with tactfulness, discretion, and even a hint of mystery, frequently leaving others a little bit intrigued.
Many people won’t hesitate to disclose accomplishments and other private things about themselves.
Many people will overshare, and brag, given the opportunity.
Many people simply want shallow approval. They want instant gratification and the dopamine-fueled high that comes with it.
Classy and sophisticated people move differently; they move with self-restraint, remaining mindful of what they share and with whom.
They maintain a level of humility about their accomplishments, preferring to honor others before themselves, and not requiring the external praise that many so desperately crave.
This is because their validation comes from within. Real talk.
