1963’s New Etiquette for Teens

Advertisement for teen girls in 1960’s Seventeen Magazine

A teen-age girl doesn't HAVE to wait for her date to open the car door…

She MAY apply powder or lipstick at a restaurant table ...

There are times when ANYONE may put his elbow on the table!

These are some of the new standard-setting etiquette hints designed with today's teen-agers in mind by Enid A. Haupt, author of “The Seventeen Book of Etiquette and Entertaining,” just released by the David McKay Co. Writing with strong personal conviction and a deep understanding of young people, Mrs. Haupt, who is editor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine, explores all areas where teen-age girls and boys may feel unsure and answers questions before they arise on subjects ranging from eating to dating, from meetings to skating.

For the first time ever in an etiquette book, complete chapters are devoted to “The Art of Saying No Nicely,” a “16-Point Plan for Making Good on College or Prep-School Weekends” and “When You Eat or Entertain in Restaurants.” Subjects including beauty parlor etiquette, school, sports and spectator manners, job manners, dating, telephone talk, hotel and bus travel, and the formalities of life are handled.

Don't wait and wait for your date to open the car door. “This is one of those agonizing customs. It's good manners for him to open the car door for you so it's good manners for you to wait until he can get around the car to do it ... If, however, he gets out of his door and then just waits for you to join him, hop out by yourself. If he’s one that does (open the door), appreciate him.”

“You may touch up your lipstick or powder the tip of your nose” at a restaurant table. “But .. the place for major reconstruction is the ladies' room.”

Elbows “are fine on the table - occasionally - except when you have food or eating implements in hand.” –San Bernardino Sun, 1963

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia