The Elegance Edit: Issue 24

Olga’s Note
Dear Ladies,

Happy New Year, and welcome to Issue 24 of The Elegance Edit – your weekly guide to body language, elegance, and timeless style. Each edition offers thoughtful insights to help you feel more poised, confident, and graceful in every part of your life.

As we settle back into our regular rhythm after the holidays, for many of you, travel features prominently in your plans. Yet international travel presents a question that deserves thoughtful consideration: how do we navigate cultural differences with the same grace we bring to every other aspect of elegant living?

Being Elegant on your Travels
Understanding Elegance in a Global Context

When Art Basel announced its inaugural edition in Qatar for 2026, I found myself reflecting on something that fascinates me about true sophistication: elegance isn't universal. The gestures, boundaries, and behaviors that signal refinement in Paris might communicate something entirely different in Doha, Tokyo, or São Paulo.

The woman who touches cheeks with an acquaintance at a Parisian gallery opening demonstrates the same elegance as the woman who offers a respectful nod and smile at a contemporary art exhibition in Riyadh. Both gestures honor the cultural context they're operating within. The elegance lies not in the specific action, but in the thoughtfulness behind it.

The Foundation of Cultural Intelligence

Before we discuss specific customs, we need to address the mindset that allows you to navigate different cultures gracefully. Cultural intelligence isn't about memorizing an exhaustive list of do's and don'ts for every country. It's about developing the awareness and flexibility to read situations, observe local behavior, and adapt your conduct accordingly.

This requires humility. You must be willing to set aside your assumptions about "the right way" to do things and recognize that your cultural norms are simply that – yours, not universal truths. What feels natural and appropriate in your home culture might be jarring or inappropriate elsewhere.

It also requires genuine curiosity rather than judgment. When you encounter customs that differ from your own, the elegant response is interest, not superiority. The goal isn't to evaluate whether other cultures' practices are better or worse than yours, but to understand them well enough to participate respectfully.

The Geography of Personal Space

Perhaps nothing varies more dramatically across cultures than expectations around physical contact and personal space. These differences create some of the most common, and uncomfortable, cross-cultural missteps.

In many European and Latin American cultures, greetings involve physical contact that would feel intrusive in other contexts. The cheek kiss in France, Italy, or Spain signals warmth and familiarity. But the specifics matter enormously: in Paris, two kisses starting with the right cheek; in some regions of France, three or even four. In parts of Latin America, a single kiss on the right cheek. Getting this wrong doesn't make you inelegant.

Middle Eastern cultures often maintain different boundaries, particularly between genders. In conservative settings, physical contact between unrelated men and women may be inappropriate or even offensive. A handshake might be welcome in business contexts but presumptuous in social ones. A warm smile and verbal greeting often conveys the same respect and friendliness that a cheek kiss would in Paris.

In many Asian cultures, physical contact in greetings is less common across the board. A bow in Japan, a respectful nod in Korea, a prayer-like gesture called "wai" in Thailand – these non-contact greetings communicate respect and acknowledgment without the physical proximity common in Western cultures.

Conversation and Connection Across Cultures

What we talk about and how we talk about it shifts dramatically depending on cultural context. Topics considered polite small talk in one culture might be deeply inappropriate in another.

In American culture, we often jump quickly to personal topics – asking about someone's work, their family, even their income or relationship status within minutes of meeting. This directness signals interest and friendliness in U.S. contexts but can feel invasive in cultures where personal information is shared only after substantial relationship building.

Many European cultures appreciate discussion of politics, philosophy, and current events even with new acquaintances. The intellectual debate that feels stimulating in Berlin or Barcelona might feel confrontational in cultures that prioritize harmony and indirect communication.

In many Asian cultures, the concept of "saving face" – avoiding embarrassment for yourself or others – shapes conversation profoundly. Direct contradiction, obvious disagreement, or calling attention to mistakes becomes far more serious than in Western contexts where such directness might be considered honest or authentic.

Middle Eastern hospitality often includes effusive expressions of welcome and generosity that can feel overwhelming to visitors unfamiliar with these customs. Understanding that declining an offer of tea or food multiple times is expected – even polite – before accepting prevents misunderstandings on both sides.

The sophisticated approach involves asking more questions than you make statements, especially early in cross-cultural interactions. Questions demonstrate interest while giving you information about what topics are welcome and how direct or indirect communication should be.

Dining Across Borders

Few situations reveal cultural differences more clearly than shared meals. The customs around food – how it's served, eaten, discussed, and declined – vary enormously and carry significant social weight.

In some cultures, finishing everything on your plate signals satisfaction and respect for your host. In others, leaving a small amount indicates you've been generously fed. Knowing which applies prevents unintentional offense.

The timing and pace of meals shifts dramatically. Mediterranean and Latin American cultures often embrace leisurely, multi-hour dinners where conversation matters as much as food. Some Asian cultures involve multiple courses arriving simultaneously with different eating rhythms. American dining tends toward efficiency that can feel rushed in other contexts.

Alcohol presents particular complexity. In some European cultures, declining wine might seem odd or even slightly rude. In Muslim-majority countries, offering or requesting alcohol could cause serious offense. Understanding these expectations and navigating them gracefully – whether you drink or not – requires awareness and tact.

Watch what your host and other guests do. When offered unfamiliar food, approach it with genuine curiosity rather than visible reluctance. If dietary restrictions prevent you from eating what's served, decline with appreciation rather than detailed explanation about why you can't eat it.

The Art of Graceful Mistakes

Here's the reality of cross-cultural travel: you will make mistakes. You'll inadvertently use the wrong greeting, discuss an inappropriate topic, or commit some cultural faux pas despite your best intentions and preparation. The measure of your elegance lies not in never making mistakes, but in how you handle them when they occur.

The appropriate response to realizing you've committed a cultural misstep is straightforward acknowledgment without excessive apology. "I apologize – I'm still learning your customs" shows respect and humility without making the situation more awkward through elaborate self-flagellation.

Most people in most cultures extend considerable grace to foreign visitors who are clearly making genuine effort to understand and respect local customs. What causes lasting offense isn't imperfect execution of unfamiliar customs – it's refusal to adapt.

Upcoming Events
NYC IN-PERSON TRAINING

FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 2026

17:30PM - 19:30PM Social Etiquette
20:00PM - 22:00PM Romantic Body Language

SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY, 2026

15:00PM - 17:00PM Heels Class Foundational
20:00PM - 22:00PM Romantic Body Language

Olga’s Tips
Elegance Tip of the week

Olga’s Recommendations
Full Steam Ahead

I want to address something deeply practical that separates confident travelers from anxious ones: how you pack. Yes, booking flights and researching destinations matters, but none of that ensures you'll feel polished when you arrive. 

The most elegant approach to travel is a system that means when you open your suitcase in a hotel room, you're prepared rather than panicked. Invest in a compact travel steamer (the Steamery Cirrus 3 is remarkably effective and fits easily in carry-on luggage). 

Pack versatile pieces that work across multiple contexts: a silk scarf that elevates casual outfits and covers shoulders at religious sites, a lightweight cardigan for unpredictable air conditioning, shoes that transition from day to evening. Roll softer fabrics to minimize creasing, and always pack one complete outfit in your carry-on in case checked luggage goes astray.

Art Basel Qatar
Where Cultures Converge

Art Basel makes its historic debut in Qatar in 2026, marking the fair's first expansion into the Middle East and creating a remarkable intersection of global contemporary art and regional cultural traditions.

This inaugural edition presents a unique opportunity to witness cultural intelligence in practice – where the international art world meets Qatari hospitality and Islamic values. Watch how these well-traveled collectors and gallerists navigate this new context: they've researched appropriate dress codes for the conservative Gulf region, they understand that handshakes may be offered selectively based on gender and relationship, and they approach conversations with awareness that directness varies across cultures.

 Whether you're planning to attend this groundbreaking event in Doha or simply preparing for your own international travel, remember that true refinement lies in honoring the cultural context you're entering while remaining authentically yourself.

5 – 7 February 2026

artbasel.com/doha

Game
The Elegance Game

In the following week, we will share the answer to this question. Click the answer that you think is right.