ARE THESE THE MOST ELEGANT WOMEN EVER?

ELEGANT: Princess Diana won our top 10 poll

Friday August 8,2008

By Nicola McCafferty for express.co.uk

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THEY transformed before our eyes into symbols of classical elegance.

Oozing sophistication, grace and glamour, they taught women what it meant to be stylish.

With their heads held up, their shoulders back and their bottoms tucked under, these women were statues of style - mixing perfect posture, with confidence and fashion prowess that still governs the fashion world today.

And according to elegance expert and former headmistress at school for etiquette Lucie Clayton Jean Broke Smith, their old-fashioned etiquette has yet to be rivalled in today's celebrity world.

** VIDEO: WATCH JEAN BROKE SMITH GIVE HER TOP TIPS ON ELEGANCE **

The word 'elegance' to me means Audrey Hepburn

Jean Broke-Smith, English etiquette expert

She said: "The word 'elegance' to me means Audrey Hepburn - the Little Black Dress.

"I think of Princess Diana - she was so iconic because of her elegance."

Yet sadly, the former head teacher of TV school Ladette To Lady, believes elegance and manners have are deemed 'out of fashion' now.

"We have very poor role models today," she says.

"Elegance and dress sense – its terrible passé now. The fashion world is too intertwined with the music world.

"People need to remember that hotpants are not glamorous."

So as we mourn the loss of the women who first introduced style and grace, we've compiled a list of the top 10 most glamorous icons ever...

1. Princess Diana

2. Sophia Loren

3. Grace Kelly

4. Audrey Hepburn

5. Marilyn Monroe

6. Catherine Zeta Jones

7. Ava Gardner

8. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

9. Greta Garbo

10. Carla Bruni

** CLICK HERE TO SEE THE TOP TEN MOST ELEGANT WOMEN OF ALL TIME! **

* Jean Broke-Smith is supporting the Bold 2in1 White Diamond & Lotus Flower Everyday Elegance campaign. For more information go to www.indulgewithbold.com