I recently picked up this little tome for a buck or two. Official Preppy Handbook be damned, the youth need to read this one here.
A simply written etiquette book for teenagers dating from the late 1960s. How many adult men do you know who still dress correctly for parties, hold a ladies coat, or walk on the curbside of the sidewalk when out on a date? Forty years ago, someone was telling this stuff to the 14 year old soda-pop-and-45-rpm set.
Aesthetically speaking, the graphics really won me over. This image, from the title page, is now my new screensaver.
Then there's the actual advice, nearly all of which rings true today...
...doesn't it?
Some choice quotes:
Who needs manners? You do. We all do. Manners make life easier for everybody.
You look better when your body is clean and your clothes are clean. Dirty clothes make you look and feel sloppy. Clean clothes show that you care about yourself and the way you look.
A dress or skirt is always right for a girl, but slacks or shorts could be wrong.
A white shirt is always right for a boy (and you could put a tie in your pocket, just in case), but a sport shirt or T-shirt could be wrong.
You can borrow not only books but all kinds of records at most public libraries.
All big cities-and many towns- have "thrift shops" where alomost new clothing can be bought at a very small cost. Many people, even with a good deal of money to spend, buy clothes this way.
Good quality clothes, even if they cost a little more, are really cheaper than false"bargains". They will wear better, look better, launder better, and last much longer than cheap things. If you plan ahead and wait for a sale, you can usually get a good dress or suit for the price of one not so good.
Amen. And here I thought I made all this stuff up myslef.
p.s. The shop has been a bit neglected lately, but a slew of new items went up today. See you there.
