Let me start off by saying, I get it. Smoking is bad for you. It causes all sorts of terrible things. My father, a smoker, died from lung cancer.  I get it.  (Ok.  Now that I hopefully knocked a few anti-smoking preachers off their soap boxes, let me address the situation).

If you are a woman who smokes (and I applaud your right to do as you choose) I would like to offer a few tips on how to do it with just a little more elegance and sophistication.  After years of watching women shivering outside bars in mini dresses and heels looking like low-end hookers caught in a snow storm I feel it at least my duty to share some smoking tips. These tips used to be listed in beauty books and magazines, but have fallen by the wayside in hopes, I assume, that it will not encourage the habit and, well, anyone writing such an article would likely get some adverse reaction. 

Well, I like adverse reaction.  And if she's going to smoke,  I'm going to at least let her know there are actual ways to smoke...like a lady.  

If you smoke, and you want to look a little less, well, white trash, listen up. 

• Never hold a cigarette in your mouth without your fingers assisting.  Dangling cigarettes should be reserved for the lawn chair outside a trailer. 
• Never talk with a cigarette between your lips.
• Unless you are a dragon, smoke should not come out of your nostrils.
• Hold the cigarette between your index and middle fingers when you strike a match then place it between you lips to light.
• Hold the cigarette as close to the ends of your fingers as possible.  The further out out the more feminine, the further in the more masculine. 
• Hold the lighted end of the cigarette pointed upward so the smoke floats up, not through your fingers.  Fanned fingers are more flattering. 
• Do not flick the ashes from your cigarette with your thumb.  Lightly tap with your straightened index finger straightened and pinky extended or better yet, gently roll the ashes off in an ash tray.  

My mother insisted that a lady never walk while smoking.  It is tacky.  No way around it.  Its up there with chewing a wad of gum.  (Worse:  Chewing gum AND smoking AND walking.  Try attending a hairdresser convention.  Add the frozen hair and cheap heels and you get the picture). 

Standing and smoking isn’t ideal but, with more an more smoking bans, sometimes you just have to stand there to smoke. If so, here are a few accouterments that ease the visual burden of standing outside and smoking.

1. Have on hand a pocket ash tray.  This way there is not flicking of the cigarette butt  no dropping on the ground and twisting out with your foot.  You just simply, and elegantly, dispose of the cigarette in your pocket ashtray and discard the butt later.  Like in the restroom. 
2.  Consider a cigarette case.  If you're going to do it, why not do it with your own signature sense of style? 
3.  Pour some Febreeze in a travel sized spray bottle and freshen your hair and clothes afterwards.  
4.  Wash your hands or have a travel size hand sanitizer like Purelle in your purse. 

Personally I still think smoking and the seduction of it has been erased by loud mouthed haters who feel justified in judgment.  A gentleman still can light a woman's cigarette, and she should still know how to accept it. 


Accepting a light

If someone offers to light your cigarette gently lean toward the light and accept.  Thank him.

But, for added punch (and to use the moment for all its worth) try this:

When a gentleman offers to light your cigarette, with your free hand guide his hand gently toward you and lean forward to accept the light.  While still holding his hand look up into his eyes (bam) then nod graciously as you gently release his hand.