The Elegance Edit: Issue 7

Olga’s Note
Dear Ladies,

Welcome to Issue 7 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.

We’re in peak summer season, and last week we looked at how you can channel royal energy to maintain your elegance at the summer sporting events we will attend in the coming months. This week, inspired by the upcoming Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week where the world's most accomplished models demonstrate their craft, we're discovering how to master the transformative power of purposeful movement.

Presence, Poise and Pose
Walk like a Model

When we think of walking like a model, we might imagine dramatic runway struts or exaggerated movements. But watch closely as any accomplished woman enters a boardroom, a charity gala, or even a casual dinner, and you'll witness something far more powerful: the quiet confidence that transforms ordinary movement into magnetic presence.

This isn't about fashion or fantasy, it's about mastering the language your body speaks before you ever say a word.

The Foundation of Elegant Movement

Some of you may already know that during my university years, I studied non-verbal communication. My deeper intention was to understand what true confidence looks. From 2009 to 2011, I immersed myself in the science of body language—how we express presence, emotion, and intent without saying a word.

After, I enrolled in a modeling school. That was the moment everything shifted. For the first time, I wasn’t just analyzing movement—I was embodying it. The runway and studio gave me a safe space to bring theory into practice, and to begin truly owning my presence.

Now, I have the privilege of guiding my students as they transform their knowledge into embodiment—into something they can truly own. They are not all models—many are lawyers, founders, doctors, accountants. Women from all walks of life who are discovering that how they carry themselves speaks volumes.

They’re learning that your walk should not whisper your presence—it should speak with clarity and quiet confidence, long before you ever say a word. Because when your body language aligns with your inner self, you don’t just enter a room—you own it, gracefully.

My mission is to offer a safe, intentional space where this transformation can unfold. A space where they, too, can experience what I once felt—that shift from understanding to becoming. And when they step forward, they carry a new kind of confidence. One that not only uplifts their lives, but radiates outward, changing the world for the better.

Today, let’s take the very best from the world of modeling and bring it into our everyday lives. Because these techniques are not reserved for the runway only. They are tools for presence, power, and self-expression.

The Architecture of Confidence

The moment you look down, you signal uncertainty. When your chin drops toward the floor, your entire body follows — shoulders slump, confidence fades, and the magnetic presence disappears. Instead, keep your gaze forward and slightly upward. This simple adjustment transforms not just how others perceive you, but how you feel about yourself. Looking ahead with intention communicates engagement, confidence, and authority.

Slouching doesn't just compromise your elegant appearance – it sends your brain a signal to hide. When you allow your shoulders to roll forward, you're literally shrinking your presence. But here's the secret: pull your shoulders back and down, creating space across your chest. This posture doesn't just look confident – it makes you feel confident, encouraging you to speak up and take up appropriate space.

Sometimes the simple adjustments can make the biggest difference to our posture. In last week’s Elegance Game, we asked what the secret is walking with that model-like grace. Many women make the mistake of pushing their stomach forward when they pull their shoulders back. This compromises balance and creates strain. If you chose Answer C, you guessed correctly. Engage your core gently, imagining a string pulling you upward from the crown of your head. This creates the stable foundation that allows for graceful, controlled movement.

The Mechanics of Grace

Professional models understand that beautiful walking is technical as well as artistic. Avoid the common mistakes:

Never bounce or "jump" on your heels – this creates instability and appears unprofessional. Instead, roll smoothly from heel to toe with each step. Avoid placing all your weight on your toes first, which strains your feet and compromises balance.

Your step length matters enormously. Steps that are too wide appear awkward and affect your stability. Steps that are too small create a restricted, timid appearance. Find your natural stride —usually about the length of your foot — and maintain this consistency.

Keep your feet aligned straight ahead, avoiding the tendency to turn them inward or outward, which compromises both stability and visual appeal. Your legs should move in parallel lines, creating clean, elegant movement.

Professional Presence Through Movement

In boardrooms, networking events, and social gatherings, your walk communicates long before your words do. Model-like movement ensures these messages align with your intentions — conveying competence, approachability, and quiet authority.

During presentations, your movement becomes part of your message. Professional speakers understand that deliberate, controlled steps between key ideas give weight to their words. Fidgeting, swaying, or shifting weight nervously distracts and suggests uncertainty about your expertise. Instead, plant your feet firmly, move with purpose when you do move, and use stillness as a tool for emphasis.

Even the simple act of walking to your desk each morning becomes an opportunity to establish your professional presence. Your colleagues unconsciously register whether you move with confidence or uncertainty, whether you take up appropriate space or try to make yourself invisible.

The most successful professional women I've worked with understand that presence isn't about dominance — it's about authentic confidence expressed through this intentional movement.

Ready to Transform Your Presence?

If you’ve found yourself nodding along to today’s insights about model-like confidence and purposeful movement, I must say — your walk is powerful, but it is not everything. I believe becoming your most confident self requires a well-rounded approach.

Starting in September, we are rolling out a new educational program, organized in cohorts — groups of students with whom I will work weekly on various topics of elegance. It is 80% live Zoom interaction — I call it the Elegance Refinement Mentorship. I’ve developed this program to ensure I can offer the same thoughtful, detailed approach you’ve experienced in our newsletter — but more in-depth, across distinct areas of elegance, tailored to the modern elegant woman.

Book your consultation through the link below to speak with my Elegance team and discover how we can elevate your natural grace together.

https://calendly.com/leleganceny-info/eleganceconversation

Upcoming Events
MIAMI EXCLUSIVE MASTERMIND

BECOME THE STAR OF YOUR SOCIAL AND ROMANTIC LIFE
PRIVATE MASTERMIND WITH OLGA
JULY 11, 2025
ONLY 9 SPOTS LEFT

MIAMI HEELS CLASSES

HEELS 1.0 - FOUNDATIONS
HEELS 2.0 - RED CARPET ELEGANCE: FEMININE WALKING AND POSING
JULY 12, 2025
MIAMI, FL

Olga’s Tips
Elegance Tip of the week

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Olga’s Recommendations
Walking in Heels, Without the Pain

How do we maintain this elegance of walking like a model, in heels, while protecting our health? True refinement should never come at the expense of our wellbeing. I'm thrilled to share my interview with Dr Monica Saliu, co-founder of Tribeca Physical Therapy and a women's health specialist, who reveals the secrets to wearing heels beautifully and safely. Her expert insights ensure that every graceful step you take supports not just your presence, but your long-term health.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX4f3r8qVSU 

Events
Fashion Week Fundamentals

Where else can you study the art of confident movement than in the intimate salons where fashion's finest showcase their craft? Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week becomes your private masterclass in purposeful presence. You'll see how true professionals transform walking into poetry — each step, each more is a quiet lesson in the confidence we've explored. Even if you can’t make it to the French capital in person, you can watch the shows streamed live, and practice your walking in real time.

7 July – 10 July 2025

https://www.fhcm.paris/fr

Game
The Elegance Game

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