YOUR LIFE >> ETIQUETTE
3 Party Etiquette Tips
Style expert Ceri Marsh offers helpful advice to keep in mind while celebrating.
I'm so shy at parties that I don't feel comfortable until I've downed two glasses of wine. Is there another way for me to warm up to the crowd?
There's nothing wrong with having a drink to help you relax, but don't let one turn into four (then you're just the shy, drunk girl). Introduce yourself to someone else not joined in a conversation. Ask how they know the host, compliment their shoes – it really doesn't matter. They'll be pleased you made an effort since they're undoubtedly feeling shy, too.
What do I do when I don't like the food being served? Should I share my dislikes with the host in advance?
Absolutely not. The only dietary information you should share is allergies. If a particular dish is unknown to you, ask about it – people love talking about the food they've spent time and energy preparing. If it's really terrible, just eat around the offending item without drawing attention to it.
Can I be fashionably late to a party? What about dinner?
If the invitation to a cocktail party says 6 to 8 pm, pop by any time during that window. For dinner, most hostesses invite people for, say, 7 pm, planning to serve dinner at 8. Don't be late. Dinner, and her nerves, will be shot.
FASHION magazine editor Ceri Marsh is co-author (with Kim Izzo) of The Fabulous Girl's Code Red: A Guide to Grace Under Pressure (Anchor Canada, 2003), $23.
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