We didn’t say anything, not wanting to embarrass him, but in retrospect, is there any action we could or should have taken?
Did you bring ballet gala sewing supplies? If not, how would reporting it help? And would the gentleman even want such help?
Miss Manners once refrained from telling a young celebrity that her backless dress revealed the back of her bra because it would not have been fixable at the time. Shortly after, a fashion magazine published a photo of the dress, bra showing and all, describing it as the bold creation of a famous designer.
So she decided not to make fashion assumptions in the era of ripped jeans.
Dear Miss Manners: I frequent thrift stores and recently found a set of beautiful ceramic plates: they are solid in color with an intricate raised pattern. They were at a very good price and I immediately bought them.
When I got home and researched them I found they were sold as “charging plates”. I don’t know what to do with these.
I’m familiar with the large metal plates that served as cutlery for the fancy dinner parties of my youth, but I felt like they had to be taken off the table before being served. When researching how to use these chargers, I see people saying they should be left on the table because the top dish is replaced after each dish. I want to do justice to these beautiful plates.
Chargers, also known as place plates, serve as under layers for soup or another first course, after which the two plates are removed from the right as the plate is placed from the left. This is a tricky maneuver, as the server has to go back and forth without leaning on the diner.
These plates can be both ceramic and metal. But Miss Manners hopes the design isn’t too spiky to cause the soup plate to wobble.
Dear Miss Manners: My boyfriend wants to take me on a date where you have to dress up. He’d like to see me in a super fluffy prom dress, which is a request I’m willing to meet if I can find the right dress.
The problem is, every time I go through this style, all I see is “teenage prom,” and I’m twice that age. Is there a way to wear a prom dress in your thirties without looking like you’re trying to relive my teenage years?
Could it be floating instead of fluffy? Do you like chiffon or organza?
It’s not really Miss Manners’ department. But she may suggest something tactical: a joint shopping expedition with your beau. That way he can step in – or agree to anything because he’s exhausted.
New Miss Manners columns are published Monday to Saturday at washingtonpost.com/board. You can send questions to Miss Manners on her website, missmanners.com. You can also follow her @RealMissManners.
