1960’s Party Attire Etiquette

“Many men know how to dress, but do not know how to coordinate their suit to the degree of formality of their wife's dress. As usual, on New Year's Eve, I saw nice white dinner jackets popping up among the crowd. Messieurs, they were out of place. They are appropriate after March 21st and are never worn with anything other than tuxedo pants. As for you, madames, New Year's Eve in most places in America is supposed to a dressy affair.”

In Tete-a-Tete: The Improper Male at a Party

Recently I warned Star News readers: “Beware of New Year's Eve parties." Well, last week I went to such a party and, in addition to seeing all the people over-drinking and using the mistletoe as an excuse to get in a little last-of-the-year flirting, I was amazed at the variety of costumes I saw.

The American male and female have at their finger-tips the largest supply of wonderful and inexpensive ready-to-wear apparel in the world. But they certainly do not know how to use it. Some of the husband-and-wife combinations at this party not only offended fashion, but common sense.

THIS IS NOT the first time I have been baffled by American dress. It seems to me that the gentleman should always dress up to the equivalent of his female companion. But in America, messieurs, your women may dress up in her best cocktail dress, while you disgrace her by putting on your tweed sport coat.

When she goes to the trouble of wearing a long formal gown, which is indeed a rare occasion in these parts, please, messieurs, have the good taste to wear formal attire yourself. Don't take the easy way out by committing the sacrilege of wearing a business suit and a striped tie.

MANY MEN know how to dress, but do not know how to coordinate their suit to the degree of formality of their wife's dress. As usual, on New Year's Eve, I saw nice white dinner jackets popping up among the crowd. Messieurs, they were out of place. They are appropriate after March 21st and are never worn with anything other than tuxedo pants. As for you, madames, New Year's Eve in most places in America is supposed to a dressy affair. I can understand why you may not want to buy a special long formal, although I really think you are losing out.

BUT WHAT I can't understand is why some of you refuse to wear even cocktail dresses and consider yourselves dressed for the occasion in skirts and blouses and black patent leather shoes. I don't think this represents lack of desire to dress correctly. I think it merely demonstrates ignorance- lack of understanding of what is right and what is wrong in dressing for the occasion. For your own good, It's about time you leafed through your etiquette books and glamour magazines and found out.— by Colette Michelle, National City Star News, 1964

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

1960’s Teen Etiquette and Dating

    

Does Your Dating Need Inflating?

Check Your Etiquette

Etiquette is a leading topic in the letters we get from teen- agers all over the country. So we've come up with an etiquette quiz one you can't flunk! If your answers are far afield or if you can't come to a decision despite nail-biting and hand-wringing, let the answers clue you in. Even if you don't rate an "A" (4 out of 5) the first time around, your new knowledge and improved self-confidence will surely boost your date rating in the future. See everybody's a winner!

1. The party is great and it's still going strong, even though it's after 12 and you promised your folks you'd be home by 12:30. You-

a. Pay no attention. You can always say your watch stopped.

B. Rush out without so much as a farewell.

C. Remind your date of the time; thank the host and explain that you don't want to abuse your curfew.

ANSWER: (C) If you've been told to be home by a certain time, let your date know this early in the evening. Then it's up to you to remind him. Most boys and friends will respect a girl who keeps a curfew. If they ridicule you, you wouldn't want to go around with them anyway.

2. You've been counting on going to the prom with Jane or Jim. Nothing materializes, so you ask Joan or Jack asks you and plans are all firmed up. Then your No. 1 choice lets you know he or she is available. You

A. Immediately break your previous date to be with your first choice.

B. Don't decide yet maybe one of them will come down with the measles.

C. Explain that you've already got a date, smile and say, "maybe next time."

ANSWER: (C) Date breaking is a rating breaker. You your self wouldn't want someone to beg off at the last minute would you?

3. You're at a party and you taste the punch. You realize it's spiked. You don't want to drink.

A. You pretend you don't notice

B. Quietly ask the host or hostess for a soft drink

C. Loudly call attention to the fact saying "What creep could have done this?"

ANSWER: (B) Odds are, before you reach the legal age for drinking, someone will offer you a cocktail or you'll encounter a situation like the one outlined. Best bet: ask for a soft drink, without resorting to unnecessary explanations. Making a big deal is always in bad taste. 

4. You've been invited to dinner. You're famished, the food is delicious and you want a second helping.

A. Wait for the host hostess to suggest seconds.

B. Ask for what's left.

C. Fill up on rolls. 

ANSWER (A) The hostess will always be flattered if you indicate you enjoy the food. However, unless you know more food is available better wait till the plate is passed a second time. Otherwise, the hostess may be more embarrassed than pleased.

5. He or she seemed to enjoy the date. Then he doesn't call again or you call the gal and she says she's busy. You

A. Stay home and mope.

B. Date yourself up three weekends in advance. You'll show them there are other fish in the sea.

C. Try again, then play it by ear. If you're a gal, call him and invite him to a party or the theater.

ANSWER: (C) all etiquette rules to the contrary. What have you got to lose? Staying home accomplishes nothing. Dating yourself up defeats the purpose.

RATING CHART

5-You should be writing this.

4-Still on the beam.

3-Sharpen up your technique.

2- Read up on etiquette

1-You're putting us on!

By Arleen Abrahams, in Youth Services, 1968

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

Dinner Date Etiquette for 1960’s Teens

A gentleman assists his date with her chair as they leave. He also takes care of the check, leaving a tip for the waitress equal to about 15 per cent of the bill. 

   Etiquette For Dinner Party

Teenagers who are concerned over the etiquette of eating out on their first dinner date will be heartened to learn that only a few simple rules are involved.

Etiquette tips are brought out in an educational film called "Date For Dinner," produced by Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The movie stars a teen-age girl who has been invited on her first dinner date. The movie gives her these hints:

• A gentleman holds the door for the girl and lets her precede him into the restaurant. They both go to the hat check stand where it is proper, if the girl desires, to check her coat. Or, she can keep it and drape it over her chair after she is seated.
• Both wait at the entrance of the dinning room for the hostess to guide them to the table. The hostess goes first, then the girl, and the man follows. Usually the hostess will indicate to the girl the chair that provides the most desir- able view. The girl sits down slowly, giving her escort chance to hold her chair.
• The girl should carry a small purse that rests easily in her lap because she never places her purse on the table. The young man gives both orders to the waitress. A well trained waitress seldom, if ever, asks the girl a direct question,
• If an accident like dropping a fork occurs, it's not the end of the world. It can happen to anyone. The gentleman should call the waitress to pick up the fork and replace it. In any case, the situation should be handled without fuss or undue embarrassment and quickly dropped from the conversation.
• When the meal is finished place the napkin, unfolded, beside the plate. 
• Most boys prefer that girls confine their face fixing to the powder room.
• A gentleman assists his date with her chair as they leave. He also takes care of the check, leaving a tip for the waitress equal to about 15 per cent of the bill. – From the “Date for Dinner” film, 1964

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