soignéadj.

1821 M. Edgeworth Let. 27 Nov. (1971) 281 Which would become me best..to pin or not to pin it. I think rather not to pin. It looks less soignée but then I may lose the frill.

1900 G. Arthur Let. 25 July in Some Lett. from Man of No Importance (1928) 123 The Boers may not be particularly soigné in their habits, but the Japanese who are, use very little soap, and swear by vapour baths.

1907 E. Glyn Three Weeks xii. 137 This lady was so intensely soignée.

1921 Spectator 28 May 683/1 Candida was, above all, a splendid housewife and would have made the room not only comfortable, but beautiful. It would have had a soigné air.

1925 E. P. Oppenheim Wrath to Come xxi She was herself again, soignée, as perfect in the small details of her toilet as [etc.].

1927 A. E. W. Mason No Other Tiger xi. 98 As she stood there in that flood of radiance, soignée, polished from head to foot.

1936 Punch 24 June 710/2 William Powell is of course William Powell—suave and soigné and perfectly poised.

1959 Good Food Guide 35 The prices remain fairly high but the cooking is genuinely soigné.

1978 J. Gardner Dancing Dodo xxxv. 276 The soignée women and immaculate men..who could afford places like the Hilton.