History Main / ProperLady

* The {{shoujo}} manga ''Manga/{{Lady}}'' by Yoko Hanabusa takes the concept and makes it central to the plot.

%%* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': Princess Sarah of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' is the first in a long line of beautiful, noble princesses. She always wears gold dresses and has HairOfGoldHeartOfGold.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'': Flora/Nera is a model maiden: demure, compassionate, good with children and animals... and she is scion of an ancient aristocratic family. Unusually, for once, her type is significantly less popular among the Japanese fanbase than her romantic rival, largely due to the Guilt-Based Gaming of the original version.
%% ** In contrast, Debora mentions she refuses to become a "proper lady".

A Proper Lady is a gentle yet strong being, [[IncorruptiblePurePureness incorruptible]] and [[ChasteHero pure as the driven snow]], as unlike TheVamp as she comes, and Madonna-like in her virtues. She sacrifices herself for the good of her family, religion, and country. She is intelligent enough to smoothly run a household, and wisely spends her husband's money for the good of her family, never guilty of negligence or selfish frivolity. She possesses the wit, taste, and esprit necessary to be [[{{Socialite}} a star of Society]], and never crosses the border of good taste and civility. She is devoted and loyal, never treacherous or scheming. Her manners are never less than impeccable, and her good will and charity are a beacon to those lucky enough to live around her. She is perfectly groomed, likely [[BeautyEqualsGoodness beautiful]] or at least comely (while the female antagonist will be [[BeautyIsBad more beautiful]] and [[EvilIsSexy appealing]]). However, [[TrueBeautyIsOnTheInside more important than her personal looks is her gentle smile]]. Because small size is endearing (and allows for protective embraces from her lucky husband or fiancé), she will probably be on the shorter side. Chances are that she has [[RavenHairIvorySkin dark hair and fair skin]] or [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold blonde hair]] with [[InnocentBlueEyes blue eyes]] (but in a way that doesn't make her ''too'' attractive). ParasolOfPrettiness is a typical prop.

* The Virgin Mary is presented as the epitome of this trope, she being the perfect mother figure (indeed, the mother of Jesus Himself and [[TeamMom spiritual mother]] to all His followers) and all. She's presented as [[BeautyEqualsGoodness beautiful and graceful]], humble, chaste, wise, and altruistic. She is held up as the perfect woman, and many Christian girls (especially Catholic ones) as well as Muslim girls, are encouraged to be more like her. Many female Catholic saints also qualify, although many others are subversions. Notably, along with the Virgin Mary, they were an important part of forming this ideal.

** For the same reasons, also paragon of kindness Shoko Makinohara qualifies. She's the one who taught kindness to Sakuta from the beginning, after all, and also his first LoveInterest. Seems the huy HasAType, after all.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Rarity believes herself to be this, and certainly acts the part in high society. It's the things she does around her friends and threats to them that [[NotSoAboveItAll prevent her from really living up to this ideal]].
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': The episode "My Fair Goalie" has Candace demands to her English cousin Eliza train her in the basics of being a proper lady, to which the Englishwoman reluctantly approves. She reverts back to being her usual self at the end.

She is ''always'' [[BlueBlood upper class]] in the original concept of the trope. Female protagonists from lower class background, like peasant girls, tend to follow the ladylike ideals and they are supposed to model their behaviour after her. Princesses might need to go through a [[FallenPrincess humbling procedure]] before they can be PrincessClassic. Proper Lady is nearly always [[{{Housewife}} married, often a mother]]. She might also be a ''redundant woman'' or a [[OldMaid spinster]], in which case she will not be bitter about never getting married, and will instead direct her motherly instincts for the good of [[MaidenAunt her sister's or brother's family]]. Lower class women and maidens can have many qualities of a Proper Lady, and should, per this trope and the ideals behind it, aim to be as like her as possible.

She is ''always'' [[BlueBlood upper class]] in the original concept of the trope. Female protagonists from lower class background, like peasant girls, tend to follow the ladylike ideals and they are supposed to model their behaviour after her. Princesses might need to go through a [[FallenPrincess humbling procedure]] before they can be PrincessClassic. Proper Lady is nearly always [[{{Housewife}} married, often a mother]]. She might also be a ''redundant woman'' or a {{spinster}}, in which case she will not be bitter about never getting married, and will instead direct her motherly instincts for the good of [[MaidenAunt her sister's or brother's family]]. Lower class women and maidens can have many qualities of a Proper Lady, and should, per this trope and the ideals behind it, aim to be as like her as possible.