How to Be a Lady: As Shown by Jessica Alba

Where, oh where have the good ole days gone? The days when ladies, well, dressed like a lady instead of heading out of the door in pajamas, slouchy tees, and outfits that leave little to the imagination. Yes, I know what you’re thinking right now: “Wow, this girl sounds like my 80-year-old grandmother, but a lot less cool.” And it’s true; I do have a classic-leaning (some may call it "old school") style and very traditional tastes — at least when it comes to fashion.

But as great as Rihanna looks in her slinky nightgown outfits, as awesome as Cara Delevingne is in her rocker-chic T-shirts, and as sexy as Kendall Jenner appears in her hip-bone bearing gowns, I think there’s a lot to be said about stars who like to dress in ensembles that veer toward the conservative, elegant, and sophisticated end of the spectrum.

Just take Jessica Alba, for example. This superhot actress/model/businesswoman can turn up the sex appeal in a snap with a simple curve-hugging dress (like the corseted David Koma number she wore to the 2014 Guys Choice Awards). But the gorgeous star can just as easily nail a ladylike style without effort, which she did on Tuesday for her appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Sporting a printed, fit-and-flare Antonio Berardi dress — complete with a feminine pink hue, a voluminous midi skirt, and a tasteful (but still sexy) plunging neckline — with her open-toed metallic pumps, a patterned pouch, and a sleek high ponytail, the actress gave us a short-and-sweet lesson on what it really means to dress like a lady in the modern world.

The big takeaway: Classic silhouettes in a bright hue or fun pattern can take any traditional ensemble from stuffy to chic in about two seconds flat. So if you're ready to make old styles new again, just shop some of these pieces for an amazing and instantly Jessica Alba–inspired look:

Alfred Sung satin fit-and-flare dress, $188, nordstrom.com

ASOS midi dress, $114, asos.com

Jessica Simpson peep-toe pumps, $40, dillards.com

Badgley Mischka open-toe pumps, $200, nordstrom.com

Dune printed pouch, $109, houseoffraser.co.uk

Marc by Marc Jacobs fur clutch, $319, barneyswarehouse.com

Image: voguemecca/Instagram