Newport Manners

Very January

A ‘very January’ time of year to you too! Love you all! A special huge, huge thanks to the many well-wishers and subscribers. I missed writing to you every day and now I’m back and wondering how you’re doing so far in 2019?

How are you? What holdover from the holidays is bugging you? How are you doing on those bloody resolutions?

Holiday Leftover Peeves

What’s still ticking you off about the holidays? Did you invite a guest to your holiday party who antagonized your friends with his pro-Trump rhetoric followed by rants about Obama’s birth certificate and “fake Hillary”? And you’re still apologizing to your friends that he offended?

Did your dog attack the holiday ham just as your guests were arriving?
Do you feel you have to write thank-notes to holiday party guests who brought you a hostess gift?
Did you receive a spectacular present from a colleague you didn’t give a present to, and how did you react?
Are you annoyed at our ‘forced hugging culture’ where everyone feels they have to give-a-hug-to-get-a-hug? Or do you think it’s cozy cool?
Did your famously misanthropic brother show up for dinner with a plus one and there was no place at the already over-crowded dinner table?
Did your brother-in-law forget to bring the promised dessert?
How did you manage to get that last staggering guest to go home?
How did you handle holiday “forced hugging”?

How are those resolutions going?

Is it O.K. to drop a resolution or two? Having one resolution seems quite enough. First off, I’ve taken my daughter’s advice and now start my day with a new ritual: I drink the juice of one lemon (hopefully organic) in a cup of freshly boiled water to help balance the organs, rid toxins and neutralize any acidity.

My fav word this month is ‘tidy’.

I’m attempting to adopt tidy into my everyday life in the hope of clearing out the clutter. Not just physical clutter like a yellowing copy of the New York Times the day after Obama’s inauguration (Wow, is he handsome!), but mental clutter. Some things cannot be fixed or changed. But you can tidy-up!

2019 Resolutions

To rediscover the difference between what I want and what I need. To have all I need and want all I have.
Eat new foods.
Never forget my shopping bags or list.
Do one thing every day that scares you (me). ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Read two books a month.
Be a better listener and stop interrupting.
Don’t let anyone tuck me into a “forced hug.”
Use “Thank You” more and “Sorry” less.
Be politically more responsible.
Clean up my manners.

Past Failed Resolutions — that I’ve given up on:

Saying that I’ll cook more–I hate the cleaning up.
Saying that I’ll walk more–I hate walking in the cold.
Saying that I’ll make new friends–I don’t pay enough attention to the ones I already have.
Saying that I’ll restart a gym membership–when I hate the smell of gyms.
Saying that I’ll write every day–some days I simple cannot.
Saying that I won’t eat as much chocolate–I love chocolate.

Resolutions I’ve totally given up making:

Get more sleep.
Be a better gardener.
Be more thrifty.
Wast less time on the Internet.
Loose weight.
Entertain more.
Exercise more.
Drink less wine, but better wine.
Eat less chocolate.

Catch us up on your pet peeves and Dos + Don’ts. I bet you’ve got plenty of them, because we do.

In closing, I’ll leave you with these words of Eleanor Roosevelt, once again, “Do one thing every day that scares you!”

–Didi, Newport, RI

~Didi

HAPPY 2019!

Happy 2019!

Happy New Year’s to all our marvelous Newport Manners & Etiquette readers and subscribers. What a wonderful year 2018 was for manners and etiquette with #MeToo, and such Broadway revivals as the revered and hysterically updated MY FAIR LADY (actually at Lincoln Center), and for the many expressions of kindness we personally witnessed or viewed thanks to media around the world.

–Didi Lorillard, Newport, RI/New York, New York

We wish to share some of our favorite quotes going into the New Year: "Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one." ~ Brad Paisley "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind." ~ C.S. Lewis "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~ Oprah Winfrey "And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke "All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don't think we're the same person all our lives." ~ Steven Spielberg "We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them." ~ Hillary DePiano "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein

Thank you Getty Images for the above photo from, "People around the world celebrating New Year's Eve tonight."

~Didi

OFFICE PARTY DOS AND DON’TS

What are the current office party dos and don’t? I’m a long way from Oregon where holiday parties are called Christmas parties and everyone ends up dirty dancing under the mistletoe and not showing up at the office the next morning. Now that I’m an officer at corporate headquarters I want to act the part even at the office party. Help this country hick assimilate.

–Socially Ignorant in Manhattan

We've put together guidelines for Office Party Dos and Don'ts for you, because whether you're dreading your first office party or you're a veteran party animal, office parties take on a different ambience and preparation takes a certain amount of thought and planning.

Gentlemen's Holiday Party Code

Do mange to pull yourself together with a fresh shave and haircut, and do pull up those socks.

Wear a collared long sleeve shirt, and if required, a freshly presses coat (jacket) and tie.
Shine those leather shoes.
Clip those nasty fingernails, floss those teeth and check for debris in your mustache and beard.
You think that nobody will notice the coffee stain on your shirt, but they will.

Office Parties are an observation deck for anyone hoping to climb higher on the corporate ladder.

Dress for the position in the company that you aspire to in the future. If your goal is to become management, dress the way your bosses dress.

*Don't wear white socks, unless you're a tennis coach.

*Do tuck in your shirt tails.

*Don't have sex with your boss. It very rarely leads to a raise or promotion. Or any married colleagues, because word always gets out.

Ladies' Holiday Party Code

*Do wear that red dress you bought for holiday parties, if it doesn't show too much bare skin.

After all, you don't want to be the object of a coworker's affections while auditioning for advancement in the company.

*Do be well-groomed, if you're not a rock star, cover the tattoos and go easy on the piercings, if you want to be taken seriously at your job and are planning, What's next for me?

*Don't get caught under the mistletoe giving or receiving a goodnight kiss.

Everybody's Dos and Don'ts

*Do make the office party a time for you to shine and take full advantage of the option to talk to people you don't talk to on a daily or weekly basis.*Don't bring a plus one, whether it's your sister or husband, you can see them another time, this is a chance to introduce yourself to people you want to meet or get to know better.

Bringing a plus one means you're either insecure or you aren't interested in widening your circle of associates so, circulate and socialize.

*Do be sure to snack before the party so you're not caught by your boss at the groaning board with a mouth too full to talk.

The snack will have coated your stomach if you've had too much to drink.
Pace yourself by drinking a glass of water before imbibing every alcoholic drink.

*Do keep on your feet and circumnavigate the party space. Seated and not on your feet will make you appear less approachable.

*Don't interrupt two people talking. Stand on the sidelines and wait to be recognized or encouraged to join in on the conversation.

Or find a grouping of more than two people.

*Do introduce yourself by sticking out your hand and saying, "Hi, Didi Lorillard, what's your name?" Even if think the person might know your name, make sure they do by introducing yourself. Repeat their name to them so you know you've got it straight.

*Don't shake hands longer than six seconds.

It can be annoying when someone starts pumping your hand.

*Do be sure your right hand isn't cold and wet from holding a drink, by keeping your drink in your left hand.

If your hands are naturally sweaty, brush your palms against your side to dry them.

*Don't forget good manners and introduce a loner into your group. It never costs anything to be polite.

*Do use people's names in conversation so that everyone in the group learns the names.

It's an especially polite thing to do when you're not sure who knows whom.

*Don't get stuck with a complainer. It's polite to move on and circulate after saying, "Hey, there's someone I promised to catch up with," and walk away.

*Do take the loner newcomer with you to the bar to refresh your drink and introduce him or her along the way and when you get there.

*Don't forget to thank the host or hosts for the party and remind them of your name and what you do, if you don't think they would remember you.

*Do respect the timeframe of the party. If it's over at eight o'clock, leave at least five minutes early. No one should be the last person standing at the bar.

*Don't gossip or say anything unkind about anyone as you never know who may be listening.

*Do be sure to get to work on time the morning after the party or they'll suspect that you're a drunk.

Act smart at an office party by asking your coworkers about themselves, their families, and holiday plans,
You can even use the opportunity to set up a work related conversation over lunch or on a call at another time.
Many of us simply don't enjoy talking shop at the shop while attending a social gathering, so ask for their calling card or offer yours to them. Look at theirs earnestly before making a comment and placing it on you or in your bag.

Do be a friendly guest but Don't publicly paw all over somebody -- no matter how well you know them or how much you like them. Most important:

Not everyone likes to be pawed over in public.
After the six second handshake, keep your hands to yourself.
Resting your hand on someone's shoulder or holding them around the waist at an Office Party could make the recipient of your affection feel extremely uncomfortable.
BroHugs should be fast -- as in the Obama hug.
Kisses are best stopped as a quick peck on the cheek.

~Didi

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS — BRINGING HOME THE GIRLFRIEND

Our son is bringing home his girlfriend of three months for Thanksgiving and I’m concerned about how to handle sleeping arrangements. She can stay in the guest room and he can be in his old room, but how do I say this without appearing stuffy? We’ve had no indication as to whether they’ve had sex or not, but we’ve met her once and liked her very much.

They’ll be with us for three nights and we don’t want them to feel that they have to sneak around. On the other hand, we don’t want them to assume that we think that they’re having sex. They are in their early thirties and he’s our only child so we haven’t come across the situation lately.

How do we discuss this with them without appearing judgmental or meddling?

–Fuddy Duddy Parents, Boston

Dear not-so Fuddy Duddy parents, your son and his friend are in their early thirties and he's bringing her home for the holidays. Assume they're having sex, but offer separate rooms -- if you happen to have a spare. Assume he'll leave his bag in his room and she'll keep her's in another room. Leave plenty of space to allow them to have privacy.

When your son comes in the door with his bag, say,"Your room and the guest room are both made up, so you can put the bags in both rooms, if you like." Acknowledging that they both can have private space during the long weekend will show your respect for their relationship. And that you're not necessarily assuming they are having sex.

Take the focus off the sleeping arrangements because they may be as apprehensive about their sleeping in your house as you are.
Don't take her to her room, let your son lead the way.
Tell her to let you know if she needs anything, such as more towels or bottled water.
Don't turn down the beds for them as a way of ordering them which beds to sleep in.
Let your son and his girlfriend choose where they sleep.
Remind them to help themselves to food and beverages.
Once they've settled in, make her comfortable by asking her if she has any food allergies and to be sure to tell you if there is anything she cannot eat.

Especially during the holidays -- when our roles as parents becomes especially stretched and stressed -- focus on making good lasting memories. Relax, light a fire, provide a leisurely breakfast.

Most importantly, be good memory makers, so that they'll wish to come home again.

Happy Holidays from,

~Didi

IS A FIST BUMP OR ELBOW BUMP GOOD ETIQUETTE?

My question is about whether or not a fist bump or elbow bump is good etiquette?

I always wonder how to react after you’ve said, “Hi,” because I must confess that I’m becoming slightly germaphobic. The holiday germ spreading season is upon us, and I’m not what you call an air kisser. I’m going to either kiss you or not, but what I don’t want to do is shake hands. No matter how much I like you.

Fisting doesn’t make sense because germs are still on the hands.

After a recent tennis game, where it is customary to shake hands after you’re through playing, I begged off shaking hands with the excuse that I had a scratchy sore throat. Without having thought it through, I said I probably caught the bug from one of my small children, and that I didn’t want to spread germs. But wouldn’t my germs be on any tennis balls I’ve touched? Probably.

My opponent quickly suggested an elbow bump and we touched elbows. We lifted our right arms and bumped elbows. Fine with me. But at a holiday gathering with a wine glass in one hand, fisting or elbowing doesn’t feel like proper manners. What’s the good etiquette alternative?

–Elizabeth, Charleston, SC

Elizabeth, a fist bump or elbow bump is good etiquette when two people agree to the bumping of those body parts. When socializing we usually don't have the option of discussion when a pair of heavily liquored lips smack you in the face at a holiday gathering. You initiate politeness by trying to dodge having that kiss land target on your lips by hoping the offering of a cheek will do. But perhaps we should be questioning: why does the other person feel they have a right to initiate that kiss in the first place? It is so controlling. Especially when they raise their eyes to see who is watching you being kissed -- an all too familiar act between near strangers -- by a friend, but not a bedfellow.

You asked about the good etiquette, which has always been that the woman extends her hand first for a handshake, or offers a kiss on the cheek by cocking her head, initiating the physical contact. Perhaps she'll be rebuffed, but it is her purgative. Unlike the elbow or fist bump, which more than likely has been agreed upon.

When a person senses that the person they've just run into is going in for a full body hug, he or she stretches out their right arm, and points to their bent elbow.

The person going in for the greeting hug picks up on the body language, captures the nuance ritual as his own, and bumps elbows.

Stick to the hygiene:

Elbow bump and fist bump where two people touch elbows or fists are both informal ways of greeting someone you already know or whom you know of through a mutual friend..

In 2004, it was Shaquille O'Neal who first demonstrated the derivative nature of the elbow bump in relation to the fist bump when meeting up with Kobe Bryant.

By 2009 'elbow bump' was considered for word of 'the year' by the NEW OXFORD AMERICAN DICTIONARY.
Interest in the elbow bump as an informal greeting took hold during the 2006 avian flu scare, the 2009 swine flu outbreak, and by the time of the 2014 Ebola threat, USA health officials were supporting the use to prevent the spread of germs.
By 2011, The World Health Organization and The Association for the Advancement of Science -- as well as many colleges -- had already endorsed and encouraged the elbow bump as the polite customary greeting.

Obviously at a holiday party you're probably not going to be offering an elbow bump while coddling a cocktail in your other hand. But you can use your free hand to stave off the awkwardness of an unwanted kiss by gently placing that hand on the other person's shoulder to keep your space at an arm's length distance.

Then. if you must, in the moment say, "You wouldn't want to catch my scratchy throat." Or, "You wouldn't want what I'm just getting over." And they won't.
Personally, as a greeting, I'm a big fan of the queen's wave. A slight wave of the right hand mimicking the blade on your windshield during a drizzle. It helps to keep that modicum of distance in a busy gathering, or when bumping into someone in the neighborhood.

~Didi

iPad TIPPING — Etiquette for iPad Tipping

Are we at a tipping point for the end of the tipping jar, because they’re being replaced by iPad tipping? I find it excruciatingly humiliating to be confronted with being corralled into tipping. In the past I usually tossed change into the tipping jar for my morning coffee. Now I’m being asked to choose between tipping 10%, 15%, 20% or to click No Tip – on top of the cost of my coffee.

It makes me angry to know that the person behind me in line, who by the way is breathing down my neck anxious for his coffee, is gazing over my shoulder to see which option I’m going to choose. In other words, whether I am a curmudgeon or not.

It usually depends upon my mood. If the coffee is to stay and the barista has decorated my latte with a heart, her creativity is rewarded.

On the other hand if the coffee is handed to me in a paper cup with the top not secured, I’ll skip the tip.

With a meal I’ve ordered to go, I would rather put a dollar in the tip jar and not have to decided whether or not the wrapped sandwich I’m taking back to the office is good or not, because I haven’t tasted it yet! However, if I’ve instructed no mayonnaise and lots of mustard, I’ll assume I’ve been listened to and I’ll tip according.

Served that same sandwich, or any meal, in a seated restaurant I can judge my tip on how well the food was prepared and presented. Is the sandwich bread burned black when I asked that it be lightly toasted? Is the lettuce wilted? Was yesterday’s reheated pizza for customers today?

–Mr. Curmudgeon, Chicago

Hello Mr. Curmudgeon, dispute the fact that iPad tipping for takeout is unfair when you have to pay for food and/or a beverage before you know what the product will taste like -- there is no going back.

Purchase takeout food from a place that you know well and tip accordingly.
If you don't know the place, give the counter people a token of your appreciation by way of the tip jar, opt for 10% on the iPad, or simply click on No Tip.
Upon your return, the mer fact that you're returning should be a signal to you that you liked the food well enough to try it again, and tipping on their iPad won't feel as awkward.

I must admit I used to get ticked when forced into deciding on an iPad tip. iPad tipping seems to bring out the stinginess in all of us.

Tipping should make you feel good, not manipulated. If you're feeling grouchy and you haven't sampled the food and/or beverage before, don't tip.

But when you return tip generously to make up for your stinginess.

Another way of looking at iPad tipping is: "Well, if that were me or my child or friend doing the serving, I would want customers to tip me, him or her."

The answer for germaphobes - and who isn't one? - is to pay for such services and goods in cash, so you don't have to touch the iPad. But then of course germs are on the money -- so go wash your hands.

~Didi

CHOOSING A MONOGRAM — Or Wedding Logo

How do we go about choosing a monogram or logo for our wedding stationery? One that we can use for the wedding invitation and other wedding stationery, as well as for our thank-you notes and letter paper or correspondence cards going forward.

–S+P, New York, New York

To S+P, when choosing a logo or monogram that reflects who you are, whether it's just for one of you or for you both as a couple, have fun with it in good taste. There are online companies to help you choose a monogram or logo, as well as those that will create one specifically for you.

This gold monogram (upper left) with the letter S entwined with a P represents the first letters of the last names of the bride and groom as they appeared on their wedding stationery and invitation.
Whether you choose to continue using the monogram or logo on letter paper or correspondence cards--or even linens and bar glasses--once you're married is something you can decide as time goes by.

Here are some of my favorite samples of monograms and logos we've recommend and used at Newport Manners & Etiquette that were created for various friends and clients.

This first monogram below with four initials represents a couple who use their own last names. The monogram forms a line of her first and last name initials followed by his (no middle initials).

As you can see, these monogram and logo designs, their shapes and colors, were created to reflect the combined personalities of the couple.

Start by going on to the websites of the various stationery greats such as Dempsey & Carroll and The Printery in Locus Valley, NY, etc. to get an idea of what speaks to you, what gives you that "It's us!" go-head feeling.
There are, also, excellent online stationers such as Paper Culture and Minted where you can choose a monogram free of charge.

For additional information, you are welcome to click on Ask Didi at the top of this Home page, and I'll give you an even more personalized response.

~Didi

Sending A Wedding Announcement — After The Fact

Our question is about how to word our wedding announcement after the fact.

We were recently married in a very small private ceremony in our friends’ garden a few weeks ago. We would like to send out an announcement to friends and family, many of whom live abroad and are my husband’s relatives. We’re certainly not asking for gifts because we’ve been together for over seven years and have everything we really need, so we won’t be mentioning a bridal registry.

My first marriage ended in divorce, but I’ve gone by my first husband’s last name professionally for twelve years.

How does one word the announcement?

–newlyweds, Newport, RI

Congratulations to the newlyweds! Thank you for coming to Newport Manners & Etiquette.

Include the basic information that you wish to have known centered on an elegant announcement card:

Bride's name

and

Groom's name

joyfully announce their marriage

which occurred on

date

location

Timeframe: There are those who mail out their wedding announcement the day after the ceremony and some who send them after a year of marriage. Let's say, you have no more than a year to mail your announcement to friends and relatives. Example:

Elizabeth Bennett Winthrop

and

William Norman Livingston

are pleased to announce

their marriage

Saturday the first of September

two thousand eighteen

Newport

What you'll need to consider when planning and designing your wedding announcement:

Will the bride be using her maiden name and/or her professional name plus her new husband's last name? Consider how she is best known.
If the bride is not changing her last name to her husband's last name, or hyphenating it to his, does she include her middle name and/or maiden name, with her professional last name? Her choice.
In printing out the names, are both middle names spelled out? Or are both middle names represented simply by an initial with a period after it? Both middle names should be represented in the same fashion: spelled out or represented with the first initial followed by a period. Elizabeth B. Livingston and William N. Livingston or Elizabeth Bennett Livingston and William Norman Livingston. Follow style.
Since some of the wedding announcements are being sent overseas, do you need to make the location Newport, Rhode Island, United States? If they know you live in Newport, Rhode Island, United States, then just the city, Newport, is perfect. Especially when Newport, Rhode Island, United States, already appears on the envelope's return address

When designing your announcement you will need to choose the size (dimensions) and the weight of the paper, the color of the card and envelope (for instance white or ecru), the type face font and ink color, as well as the printing method.

The big decision of whether to use thermography or engraving may be decided by your budget.
Embossing is no longer an option since the US Post Office now has a band on blind embossing and will not return an envelope that is mistakenly addressed when the return address is embossed.
Should the envelopes be lined? Not necessarily.
Do you need a loose sheet of tissue over the card? Perhaps, if the card is engraved. Follow formality.
Would you like to focus attention on the the weight of the card and its information by having rounded edges with colorful beveling that create a subtle frame for your announcement? It is a lovely option.
Are you planning on using an eye-catching motif in the heading, such as a family crest or a monogram that combines your first and last name initials. Or perhaps a delightful decoration?

The quality of the paper of your wedding announcement card should be on par with a beautiful wedding invitation. Ideally the paper would be on fairly heavy stock that is a hundred percent cotton -- to create a rich texture for the typesetting and engraving or thermography.

A brilliant type color and/or boarder/beveling add a memorable touch.
A motif of a crest or monogram as a heading are also attractive focus point.
Or are just your names enough?

Monogram Guide for couples using the same last name and for a couple who use their own names:

Lastly,

When addressing envelopes with an engraved return address, it is lovely to have them exquisitely penned by a professional calligrapher, otherwise, computer calligraphy can look spectacular on those that were thermographed.

When addressing the envelopes yourself by hand, use a really good felt tipped pen or fountain pen instead of a ballpoint.

Photograph courtesy of Dempsey & Carroll.

~Didi

Hostess Gift — To Bring or Not To Bring A Gift

My question is about the hostess gift.

I’m joining my girlfriend at her family’s summer home in Maine this week. This is my first visit up there and I wondered whether I should bring a hostess gift for her Mom.

I’m the only non-family member attending. The roster of attendees includes her Mom, her sister and brother-in-law and their kids, and her brother and sister-in-law and their son.

I’ve known the family for decades, but haven’t ever joined them on a family trip (and certainly not in this capacity, my girlfriend and I haven’t been seeing one another for that long).

Should I bring a hostess gift? I’d be grateful to hear your thoughts.

–Brandon

Hi Brandon,

The best hostess gift would be either a beautiful box of fresh chocolates -- handmade and packaged tastefully -- that you present upon your arrival, or send flowers. Casa Blanca white lilies are a summer celebrity in many houses. A bottle of fine wine always goes down well, but would be difficult to pack, especially if you'll be taking a plane.

House Guest Don'ts

You would not send or bring a hostess gift that would be a lingering reminder of your visit, because that would seem presumptuous so early in your relationship. For instance you wouldn't bring a nicknack, a mug, vase or coasters that they would be stuck with forever as a permanent reminder that you accidentally spilled red wine on the carpet or mistakenly knocked over a favorite vase.

Whether you're sure -- or not -- about your intentions of establishing a committed relationship, do send a thank- you note on your correspondence card or a thank-you card.

When choosing a hostess gift, take into consideration the length of your visit. If you'll be with the family for more than a night or two,plan on making yourself useful by being not only a self-sustaining guest, but a considerate one.

To help your hostess with the meal planning be sure to let her know exactly when you're departing.
If you've made plans to have a meal outside the house at any point during your stay, make your plans known to her so she's not expecting you and your girlfriend for that meal.
Learn the time-frame for meals so that you're present to sit down on time.

More Dos for Fitting In As A Guest

Before making a trip into town ask your hostess if there is anything you can pick up at the store for them: milk, butter, eggs, bread, dog food, paper towels.
Offer to help with meal preparations and jump in and help with the clearing and cleaning up. My guess is that you're not there to be waited on, but to see how you fit in.
It goes without saying that you would leave your phone in your room while dining with the family.
Offer to take out the garbage, clean the grill, walk the dog.
In this situation where there are children, play ball with them. Take them for a hike, bike ride, or a swim. Join in with impromptu board and card games.
The last morning of your stay ask your girlriend if you should strip your bed and take your sheets and towels to the laundry basket. Empty your wastebasket, take any glasses or bottles to the kitchen. In other words tidy up your room.
If you've been a guest for a period of time, during your visit seek out a local florist to have flowers sent to the house after your departure.
Lastly, no matter how long your visit, simply asking, "What can I do to help?" is a terrifically considerate gift, whether you've brought a material present with you or not.

The best gifts of all is to be a self-sustaining and helpful guest. Within the first two weeks after your stay, send a thank-you note or card reminding your hosts of the most memorable moment(s) of your visit,

~Didi

Wedding Guest Dos + Don’ts — Red Dress Code

My best friend says that I cannot wear my new knockout red dress to an upcoming wedding because it is not appropriate wedding guest dress code attire to wear a bright red dress. Red is my color and the style is my lucky style!

Why does she think I shouldn’t wear a red dress to our mutual friend’s wedding? It’s a beautiful bright and happy dress!

–Lucy, Newport, RI

Hi Lucy,

Red is a truly gorgeous color and since you can wear red -- and not all of us can -- it seems like a natural to you, but put the red dress aside for another special occasion. Red is the foremost attention-grabbing color.

*In many circles, it is considered poor etiquette to wear a red dress to a wedding , because it is an act of rudeness to the bride -- and might even bring you bad luck.

There are not as many dos and don'ts to wedding dress code etiquette as you might expect, but wearing a red dress is at the top of the list.

All eyes should be on the bride -- who, by the way, is the only person wearing an all-white dress at her wedding.

A red dress at any wedding is a distraction. By wearing a red dress you would be saying to those assembled, "Look at me!"

There are many beautiful less obvious reddish hues that you could wear that won't make you stick out as blatantly as bright red. Go with any shade of light or dark coral or pink, such as: blush, cherry, ruby, currant.

Going into fall and winter the colors, burgundy, wine, cranberry, blush, ruby and berry would all be more subtle shades of red. Stay away from bright red, rose, scarlet, candy red, and crimson.

In the photo below, your eyes immediately go to the women wearing red dresses first -- before they gaze at the bride.

All eyes should be on the bride on her wedding day.
It would be incredibly rude to try to upstage the bride on her special day.

~Didi

Wedding Guest Dress Code — Do I Have to Wear A Dress to My Stepson’s Wedding?

My question is about wedding guest dress code. My stepson is getting married this October, an outdoor wedding at 4:00 pm. His biological mother will also be at the wedding. What is the appropriate attire for me? I’m 70, petite and haven’t worn a dress in years.

I would consider wearing a dress, just haven’t a clue what to look for.

–Ann, Savannah, GA

Dear Ann,

How formal is your stepson's wedding? That's the first thing you'll need to find out. A four o'clock wedding starting time does not necessarily have a Black Tie wedding dress code. If the dress code is Black Tie, the women will be wearing either an evening dress, a dressy cocktail dress, or a dinner suit, all of which go with the men's tuxedo dress code.

Can you chat up the future bride, her mother, the future groom's mother, or even a mutual family friend? Start by asking them what they will be wearing. Say that you don't want to show up in the same dress but you do want to wear a outfit similar in length (knee length, mid-calf of ankle length), style (strapless, sheath with a matching coat, of an evening suit) and color, but not exactly the same color.

I'm going to stick my head out on a limb and say that since you're not into wearing dresses, you may find that a special occasion jacket with a skirt or dressy slacks is more your style.

I also think that an outdoor wedding may call for a lovely jacket.

See below the beige jacket that we like for you from the Gramercy Atelier that would be comfy and chic to wear to an October Savannah wedding beginning at four o'clock and taking place outdoors:

This Lorca Beige Charleston Jacket from Gramercy Atelier is the perfect solution.

Go to the gramercy-atelier.com website to look at all the different styles of special occasion jackets and the Testimonials, where I found, for instance, this stunning jade special occasion jacket (below) and the sage green suit (here in the group photo where the other women are wearing pink or black).

About the wedding colors: Find out what the wedding colors are so you are in the same color hue. If the wedding colors are blue and silver, for instance, you wouldn't were blue or silver, but you could wear beige or green. See more green special occasion jackets at gramercy-atelier.com.

Maria Pucci's custom made special occasion jackets can go anywhere -- day or night, indoors or out. Dress them up, dress them down, they always look graceful and elegant.

Dressy enough, but too dressy.

We're here to help, so if these suggestions don't appeal to you, you're welcome to come back to us with your size and price range, and we'll try again.

~Didi

DATING ETIQUETTE — Ghosting, Orbiting + Haunting

Dating etiquette was quite different when I was a teen. I’m trying to keep up with what’s going on with my young teenager and her friends. My daughter’s friend (let’s call her Amy) had a date for her school prom with a boy (we’ll call Johnny) from a neighboring town. At the last minute Johnny backed out.

Johnny and Amy connected through my daughter on social media. It seemed to be an amicable friendship. Even though they never actually met in person, they messaged everyday for three months. Now Amy and my daughter are wondering what went wrong? How could Johnny break the date to go to the prom with Amy without offering an excuse?

How do we teach our teenagers to navigate dating on social media in a more civilized and polite manner?

–Alice

Believe it or not, just when we thought etiquette was dead, we have an new dating etiquette. There is an etiquette to orbiting. In case you didn't know, orbiting is the new ghosting. The manners of dating are ever-changing. The last I heard ghosting was the new thing in dating. From my point of view ghosting is quite rude and totally impolite. I hated writing about it. Readers complained that they were hurt after being dumped or ghosted with no way back. There is no etiquette as to how to repair a gap in a relationship. Until now. Perhaps now when people are orbiting they will be more considerate of other people's feelings.

In ghosting, which predates texting, you simply dump the person you were dating, courting or had previously had a crush on by going cold turkey and not answer texts or any kind of messaging. The dumper acts as though he/she never even knew the dumpee. Leaving the dumped to lick their wounds wondering what they did wrong. Too lazy, the wuss doesn't offer an explanation.

With orbiting it's all about the exciting anticipation of a date that may not actually ever be kept. It's risk aversion behavior. Orbiting is the current dating phenomenon.

There is no fear of obligation or commitment.
The heartbreak is allegedly less devastating when the relationship peters out -- drifts out of your orbit.
You circle round and round each other (much like wagging dogs sniffing each other in the park) through social media before making a decision as to whether to actually meet for the first time in person.
Or you return to the relationship you miss a lot.
It's self-protective.

When you discover that the other person follows you on Instagram and Snapchat and Likes and Replies to your Facebook posts, you know they're keeping you in their orbit. If he or she is always showing up at the top of your Instagram posts, you're in their orbit and they are in your orbit. Keeping tabs on the "Ha Ha," "Tee, hee," or "Awesome" in response to a tweet shows you're orbiting.

A common theme in online dating is keeping an eye on your options.
In the gay community orbiting is a diplomatic way of cultivating being part of the community.
People orbit when they are not ready to commit but don't want to totally eliminate contact because they might miss out on being able to reconnect going forward.
Dming on a post is a way of getting into another person's orbit.
Orbiting lets us keep tabs on people whether it's a platonic or romantic relationship.
Not texting someone back is as rude as not returning a phone call or answering an email.
On the other hand, if s/he's a narcissist, s/he'll be back -- so block him or her.

As you can see there are many nuances to dating. With the tap of one's fingertips we're in a world where simply opening an app allows us to find out what a friend or lover is doing daily.

Orbiting is creepy. Like stalking, so watch out. Especially if you've been ghosted and s/he's orbiting you. Block him or her.

Think about orbiting as simply a game of hide-and-seek. If someone once ghosted you and they're still spying on you through social media, they are haunting you. It sounds as though your Johnny either couldn't get a ride to the dance and was too embarrassed to use that as an excuse, or he saw something on social media that changed his mind about going to the prom. It could have happened the other way around.

Us this incident as an opportunity to teach empathy.
From time to time monitor your teen's Internet behavior in the hope that you don't find that s/he is wasting time orbiting, or is being hauntingly orbited by someone else.

~Didi

WEARING WHITE BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY

About wearing white before Memorial Day. What’s with the leader of our country and the world doing wearing white before Memorial Day?

–Name Withheld

The fashion rule "No white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day" was popular in the 1930s when rich people wore luxurious white clothing in the summer while working laborers found it far more practical to wear dark colors that didn't soil as noticeably. In The South where the climate is much milder the fashion rule is claimed as a southern rule.

Nowadays, winter white is a marvelously chic color.

Dry cleaning has changed all that, but it still boils down to who can afford dry cleaning and who cannot.

~Didi

NO NECKTIE WEDDING — BUT WHAT ABOUT A JACKET?

Invited to an informal no neckwear wedding in June. Do I have to wear a jacket? I’m not part of the wedding party, just a roommate from college. The wedding is not in a church, but outside. The groom isn’t wearing a tie, but he is wearing a jacket.

–JG, Portsmouth, RI

Wear what your buddy the groom is wearing to his no necktie wedding. Which is probably a collared (but not button-down) shirt and a lightweight jacket with either matching or contrasting well-cut trousers.

By showing up in a respectable jacket you won't risk being mistaken for one of the caterer's waitstaff.

Whether the wedding is taking place on a beach, in your friend's backyard or a at favorite restaurant, out of respect for the bride on her wedding day, wear a lightweight suit or lightweight jacket or blazer with dress khakis, white or colored trousers.