If you have etiquette questions, please email me at patti@dazzlingmanners.com and I will answer you here!

Wondering when you should hold a door for someone?

Dear DM,

What is the etiquette on door holding? We have a million doors here at Turner from the parking garage to our building. How long should you hold the door for someone (i.e. how far behind you)? Should you hold it every time or take turns? Should the person that is having the door held for them run so the person that is holding the door doesn’t have to wait so long?

Erin

Dear Erin,

If someone is right behind you (5 ft or so), go ahead and hold the door. But don’t make yourself crazy about it. I wouldn’t wait for someone down the hall, coming your way. But for those right behind you, it’s a nice courtesy.

Warmly,
Patti

Oh dear! Your date isn’t going so well. What to do?

Dear DM,

What do you do when you end up in a first date situation with someone who has less date etiquette than you would like? how would you gracefully get yourself out of a situation where you know it isn’t right (maybe something like: we’ve had dinner, but there’s no point in going to that movie.

Tove

Dear Tove,

If a date is just not going well, I believe that honesty is always the best idea. You can say that you feel that the two of you don’t really have much in common and that you hate to waste his time (this way he feels special and you are off the hook!) And who knows? You might have a friend he would be perfect for

Warmly,
Patti

This might be fine on Mad Men, but in real life? What do you think?

Dear DM,

Is it okay to powder your nose at a table?

Gina

Dear Gina,

It is always in a lady’s best interest to refresh makeup in the powder room. If we didn’t, however would we be able to allow our menfolk to think we wake up this way?

Warmly,
Patti