I have always dreamed of being tall. Height gives you presence. Long legs. And that willowy runway silhouette that looks so good in drape-y fabrics. I am jealous of you if you look like this, and I can’t imagine trying to make you feel uncomfortable by saying, “Wow, you are so tall! Did you play basketball?” Of course…I’m not your in-law.
more about: etiquette
Bad Manners Case File: The Little Dogs Who Liked to Bark
But when I was telling the story about the yapping and the whining and the snuffling, there was one little detail I forgot to mention: my second dog. Meet Larry.
Gift Grubbing: Don’t Do It
Today’s etiquette question come from a reader named auntiekk01, who writes: My husband and I never had a wedding—just a civil ceremony and brunch with our families. We are now hosting a cocktail party to celebrate our one-year anniversary with all of our friends and families. Is it wrong…
Is It Ever OK to Forward a Chain Letter?
A conservative estimate of the number of email chain letters I have deleted over the years is 4 zillion. I hate chain letters. I would never forward one. Ever. Until…
Etiquette Dilemma: Your Perfume Stinks
Every time I ride the elevator down from my apartment, I fear it will stop at the floor where Aftershave Man lives.
Dept. of Bad Manners: My Dog on a Plane
I’d like to apologize to anyone who sat near me in Rows 16 or 17 last week. You know who you are. You are the ones who heard my little dog, Sticky, yip and moan and wheeze theatrically. For six hours. All the way from New York to California. And back.
You Asked: In Flu Season, Should I Eat My Neighbor’s Food?
A reader named mimatz wrote to describe a quandary: “After a stay in the hospital, a neighbor dropped off dinner. They recently had a bout of flu in their household. I’m wary of serving it. What do I say to my neighbor when they ask how we enjoyed it?”
Is It OK to Give One Child More?
I have three daughters. Every year around Dec. 15, I start agonizing. Did I spend more on gifts for one girl? Did I buy a lopsided number of presents? If so, do I need to buy one more for another daughter? And if the “one more” turns out to be something particularly “nice,” will that set off a terrible chain reaction, prompting me to keep buying more and more and more in an attempt to ensure every daughter enjoys perfect, equal parity on Christmas morning?
Is It Rude to Wear Fur?
My mother had a full-length mink with a big sable collar, which made her look like Anna Karenina, and it was her favorite coat.
