Acting ladylike

法国第一夫人访英 展示现代淑女风采

2008-04-07

Carla Bruni

LAST week, the new French first lady, former supermodel Carla Bruni, caused a sensation during French President Nicolas Sarkozy's first state visit to Britain. Of all the leading women in the world, Bruni perhaps best captures the way the role of a lady has changed.

She has had an interesting past. She posed naked for pictures and had an affair with the Rolling Stone's lead singer Mick Jagger. Traditionally, such behavior would be viewed as most unladylike, yet now it seems perfectly acceptable, and somehow even adds to Bruni's charm.

It is a far cry from Victorian times, when a lady was expected to have manners, airs and graces that were part of a code of etiquette. These social rules acted as a clear marker between the upper and lower classes.

While class divides have become less prominent in Britain and this code is now largely defunct, it has influenced the definition of what it means to be a lady today.

The Webster's dictionary defines a lady as "a woman who is polite, refined and well-mannered". In the eyes of the British press, Bruni appears to have passed this test. The Daily Mail newspaper commented she "would have won the star prize at her old Swiss finishing school for the expert curtsey she performed [for the Queen]".

Yet a modern lady must fulfill other roles too. An article in the Guardian newspaper said: "The Italian-born heiress may have had her wild moments but she has this French first lady business sewn up. It was no surprise that she was comfortable in front of the cameras – when you've been one of the world's top 20 supermodels, that's to be expected."

Apparently, the ability to pose naturally for pictures is another quality a lady now needs. This additional skill, and the other qualities for which Bruni has been praised, is an indication of the power of the modern media. It is now just as important for a lady to woo the press, as it is the person sitting next to you at the dinner table.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said: "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." Bruni certainly no longer needs to tell people she is a lady, the British press has already done that job for her.

Becoming an all-around lady

Britain's Prince Charles kisses the hand of Carla Bruni. Old-fashioned etiquette still rules in the world of ladies and gentlemen. So don't be surprised if, someday, a handsome gentleman takes your hand and warmly plants a kiss on it. Express your appreciation and flash him a pleasant smile.

Bruni attends a state banquet in London. To be a lady today, one mustn't be camera shy. Everything from a lady's smile to her dress and body language should invite the attention of the photographers.

Ever since the Victorian period, ladies have carried classy leather bags and purses. They usually avoid being seen with the large, loud bags in vogue today. Ladies' bags are often matched with leather gloves.

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listing 名单，编目

catalogue 目录

tab 标签

category 类别

copyrighted 受版权保护的

multimedia 多媒体

access 访问、使用的权力

Bonus

Expressions

Sew up

顺利完成，解决，确保成功

The businessman had the deal all sewn up before his partner arrived.

这个商人在合伙人到来之前就顺利完成了交易。

a far cry from

与……截然不同，差别很大

This treatment is a far cry from the one we received before.

这种待遇和我们从前所受的待遇有天壤之别。

Distinguish

Lady

Used in polite reference

"Show the lady to a seat."

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Any titled woman, like a countess.

Lady of the night, a prostitute

Madam

Women with a designation of rank or office: Madam Chairman

The female head of a prostitution group

"Little madam" is a term used to refer to children with bad manners.

Miss

An unmarried woman or girl, followed with the surname: Miss Liu

To form a title for a usually young unmarried female who is representative of a place or an activity: Miss America

Used without a name as a conventional term of address to a young woman:

"Miss, what can I do for you?"

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