All About Etiquette By Emily Post

"To make a pleasant and friendly impression is not alone good manners, but equally good business." - Emily Post

Etiquette was once the expected way of social behavior. People showed respect, politeness and good manners as they interacted with each other. Nowadays these ethical code has been slowly disappearing. 

Today instead of people showing the basics code of politeness like saying; excuse me, please and thank you. They curse, shove and are plain rude. People who behave such ways don't realize that they are not only hurting others but they are hurting themselves. Those of us though that that have a sense of etiquette and show kindness have to deal with such people on a daily basis. At times, it would just be easy to give in and throw the towel.

So what are we to do to keep from becoming rude ourselves and to hold our composure when dealing with others? Gratefully there is Emily! Emily Post was a famous and a beloved etiquette expert during the turn of the century. The following are a few points in...


How to Deal with Rude People:


Don’t take it personally. Perhaps the offender is having a bad day. We all have been there ourselves.

Size up your annoyances. Is it worth it to make a fuss over something small, or is it a waste of your emotional time?

Set a good example. Rudeness begets rudeness. If you speak sharply to the bank teller, don’t be surprised if you get the same treatment in return.

Count to ten. When someone’s behavior makes you angry, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, “Is it really worth blowing my stack over this?”

Laugh it off. If you can’t come up with a friendly joke, just chuckle and change the subject.

Let’s say someone cuts in front of you while you’re in line. Say something like "Excuse me, I was here before you." Some people just like to see how much they can get away with, so if you call them on their behavior, they're likely to retreat. You can also politely ask “Why are you cutting in line?” The person may be embarrassed enough to step away.

You want to ask a question at the doctor’s office, but the nurse keeps giving you the brush-off. We all know how hard nurses work. So sometimes they’re just swamped. You also deserve to have your questions answered. So try this: Figure out the nurse’s name. Then say, “Excuse me Joan – or Bill, or whatever their name is. I know you’re busy, but when you have a moment, I could really use some help.” People are more likely to go the extra mile for folks who call them by name because it creates a bond and makes the person feel closer to you – like you’re friends. Acknowledging the fact that they’re busy shows that you sympathize with their situation – which makes you seem friendly.

A salesclerk won’t help you. If you’ve made several attempts to flag them down, and they STILL won’t talk to you, politely say “If you can’t help me, I would like to speak to a manager.” This’ll usually motivate the clerk, because they don’t want to get the boss involved. Remember to SMILE while you’re talking to them – that lets the salesclerk know that you’re not aggressive or looking for a fight.

by Emily Post & Good Housekeeping



The Following are several of my favorites Emily's Post quotes:

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use."

"The honor of a gentleman demands the inviolability of his word, and the incorruptibility of his principles. He is the descendant of the knight, the crusader; he is the defender of the defenseless and the champion of justice--or he is not a gentleman."

This is one that I especially have to really work on: "If you are hurt, whether in mind or body, don't nurse your bruises. Get up, and light-heartedly, courageously, good-temperedly, get ready for the next encounter."


Want to develop your Etiquette and Self- Confidence?

Thankfully The Emily Post Institute website offers great courses of etiquette! Besides their awesome collection of books they also conduct training in person and online through seminars to businesses and non-profit organizations. It's so awesome that Emily Post descendants are continuing to carry her legacy in helping teaching kindness and consideration to others especially in these changing times! And they are doing it with such grace and decorum.

For more info please visit The Emily Post Institute. 

A Steampunk Dirndl Fashion Shoot!

Bonjour! It's great to be back to blogging and to post and talk about the things that I love! And while I was away in my little hiatus I still enjoyed finding and looking for inspiration which helped my creative juices keep on going. And when I would find something unique that inspired me I would stop dead on my tracks and would say "one day I would love to blog about this."

With no further ado, here is my latest stop ...

So I came across these lovely Dirndl outfits from Sportalm that had that Steampunk style. It's hard to pick a couple of things that I like from this particular ensemble because I pretty much love every single piece! To start, this Dirndl is absolutely gorgeous! The beautiful flower embroidery stand in contract with the silk black dress. I love how they added the silky green ribbon to the outfit. The purple flower choker is a lovely touch. And of course to tie everything together we can't forget the gorgeous top hat!

What is a Dirndl? Dirndl is German for a feminine traditional dress worn in Austria, South Tyrol, and Bavaria. The velvet flowery pink and green gloves are amazing! And the wool gray jacket with the green trim will keep any girl warm during the winter. According to Wikipedia, the winter style Dirndl has heavy, warm skirts and aprons made of thick cotton, linen, velvet or wool, and long sleeves. The colors are usually rich and dark.

Here is the same above outfit but without the jacket. You can appreciate the top laced corset with the purple ribbon. The green silky apron works so well with the gray dotted dress. The velvet flowery scarf with fringes particularly caught my attention. I thought for a minute that the fringes were the girls hair. My eyes tricked me! I truly haven't seen anything like it!

Did you know that the Dirndl had a humble beginning? Yes, the Dirndlgewand meaning maid's dress were worn in Austria by domestic workers during the 19th Century. Austrian upper classes adopted the dirndl as high fashion in the 1870's, making it a highly fashionable and popular must-have item to own.

The checkered top wool hat with the feather is pretty daring! Interestingly Dirndl also comes with checkered pattern designs. In this instance the checkered pattern was used part of an accessory. Who said you can't wear a jacket with elbow patches while wearing a pretty dress? I truthfully think it was a unique touch!

While looking at the detail of the outfit I noticed the opulent wooded furniture. This Steampunk inspired backdrop was perfect for this particular photo-shoot!

Here we can appreciate the gray vest with the puffs sleeve and the gray embroidery pipping, I'm not too crazy about the pink apron though. I do however love the dark wine velvety bottom, which at the last moment I was able to spot it. I wished we could see it better. I know I love the sharp contrast!

These two last ensemble is absolutely a work of art. The olive top hats are one of my favorites! I love the color combination: Olive, Red, Purple, and a little sprinkle of yellow here and there. Aren't the delicate puff sleeves with the flowers and green stems embroidery super cute? A perfect feminine touch I should say!

Have a fun & safe winter!


Photos used are from: https://www.sportalm.at.
Information of the history of the Dirndl: Wikipedia.

The Dollar Princess of The Gilded Age and Downton Abbey

Who were the Dollar Princess of the Gilded Age? They were young rich American girls that had been rejected by the old-money society families and that eventually sought status elsewhere by traveling abroad and marrying British aristocrats men.

At that time in Britain such marriage arrangements were well received. The reason being was because many of these dukes and earls were at that time struggling with debt and their castles had also become badly deteriorated. These men were also looking for a solution to their problems. By marrying a multi-million Dollar Princess they too had it made!

Jennie Jerome 

Jennie Jerome was one well known Dollar Princess. Like many in her shoes, instead of trying to break the code into the New York elite club she along with her mother and sister traveled to Europe in search for a title. When she married Lord Randolph Churchill, she became London's it girl.  And eventually she became mother of Britain Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

These Dollar Princess stories became an inspiration for the T.V. series Downton Abbey. Lord Grantham married the rich American Heiress Cora Crawley, who then became Countess of Grantham.

Consuelo Vanderbilt

Consuelo Vanderbilt at the age of 19 was encouraged by her mother Alva to marry Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough. But Consuelo was not interested in the duke. She had her heart set on Winthrop Rutherfurd an American whom she had been secretly engaged to.

When her mother had heard that she was going to elope, she locked her daughter in her room and threatened to kill her beau. This stubborn young lady still refused to marry the duke.

It wasn't until her mom's alleged illness and supposedly to the point of dying, which she blamed her daughter for, was when Consuelo acquiesced and went ahead and married the duke.

It was a sad wedding day for Consuelo. At the altar she wept behind her veil. The duke himself also had to give up the woman that he loved.

It's crazy how far some families were willing to go just to get a status.


The Following video is from CBS Sunday Morning Show: The American heiresses who inspired "Downton Abbey."





For more information and interesting videos about The Dollar Princess visit: http://www.smithsonianchannel.com


Research: CBS Sunday Morning, Smithsonian Channel, and Wikipedia.

Parisian Fashion at The Longchamp Racecourse

All eyes were always on Paris the fashion capital of the world. And what best way for designers to show their latest creations than at the Longchamp Racecourse, in Paris France!

Designers from different countries would sent models that would sport their latest designs. And many times the designers would even use store mannequins for their display. Back then fashion designers would use women of varying sizes to demonstrate variety in their designs. There were no such thing as measurement requirements. Wasn't that fantastic!

Vogue, June 1, 1914 / Longchamp Racecourse

The following photos are taken at the Longchamp Racecourse from 1910-1920. By then women clothes had still some Victorian elements in their design, but the less constrained Edwardian style was readily embraced by women everywhere.

I wondered how much these girls were paid to wear these fantastic clothes. I know that some celebrities now are paid hefty to wear a gown like to the Oscars. Some even around half a million of dollars. Good grief!!!

Times have really changed, well a little.

Source for all these amazing photos are provided by: Gallica Bibliothèque Numérique, and On Pins and Needles . Research information Wikipedia.

Murdoch Mysteries / Seventh Season

For all of you fans of the Murdoch Mysteries a brand new seventh season started in September 2013! Not long ago I have started watching this series through Netflix. I am around the second season now (I know I am way behind. But I truthfully didn't know about this show until I saw it on Netflix. My husband and I opted in not having cable. Our bill was getting way too expensive).Currently Netflix has up to the third season. Has anyone sent them the memo yet?

Anyhow I absolutely love this Victorian mystery show! Back in those days they didn't have all the gadgets and science that we have nowadays to solve a crime. So it's so interesting to see how they were able to solve a crime without the modern technology that we have nowadays. I totally love the chemistry between the main characters! For the hopelessly romantic gal out there there is a little of romance through the series. I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen the show yet. So you just have to tune in.

In addition to that I also love how they have incorporated within the show real characters that lived back then. For instance they had the famous Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill in the the 1st episode of the second season.

Can't wait to watch my next episode! You can visit Murdoch Mysteries official website for season listing, fun facts, games, and cast interviews. To watch full episodes you go Acorn TV and pay a monthly affordable subscription .

Here is the trailer for season seven:

Research Provided my Youtube & Wikipedia.

The Archives: Learning French

I always wanted to learn French. I think that the French language is so romantic and stylish!

Several years ago I started my goal of learning the language. I bought one of those learning French Cd's, which was pretty neat because not only they gave the basic French grammar but actually videos of people interacting with each other while speaking French. So for about a month I would practice everyday. I had difficulty reading the exact pronunciation. Though I could say that I was progressing slowly but steady.

Then one day I was running errands in a busy area of South Beach. And low and behold there were some ladies speaking French Creole standing right behind me. I was blown away! Not because they were speaking French. It was because I understood almost everything they said. And French Creole is not totally the same as French, though I still understood it well. Trust me , I am not the kind of girl that like to eaves drop, that is not proper etiquette. So I unintentionally continued listening to their conversation. And I would certainly not tell you what they were talking about, which is neither mine or your business. But it was groovy to understand what these ladies were saying.



Then I somehow stop practicing my French Cd's.

So several years ago I tried to get into it again. This time in addition to listening to the Cd's I incorporated in my learning schedule a PBS film. The film was about a guy meeting a girl in France. All of it of course was part of a French learning course, which I thought was pretty entertaining.

I wanted to really learn French. I had all the tools and equipment that I needed but I couldn't seem to progress. So I came to one painful realization. The problem was moi, ME. Yeap, I couldn't keep up with my schedule and French went avoir. Perhaps it was that I didn't really needed to learn it so badly, like if my life depended on it. I lived in South Beach were their were a variety of food, people and languages.

And mind you, there are plenty of French speaking people every where you go in South Beach. So are the rest of the English, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese speaking people that also lived and breath in South Beach. I am fortunate that I speak English, Spanish and a little Portuguese and that I had French and German friends. So in a way I felt like I could survive that International culture.

Now if I had moved to Paris years ago most likely I would be writing this experience in French. I think sometimes what moves people in learning a new language is of a need. And I have to admit, I fall into that category. Though their are exceptions like; "Do I really "need" another pair of shoes?." Or is it more do I just "want" a new pair of shoes. So Perhaps one day if I have to work in a bakery shop where the owner only spoke French that I might have then a real need to learn the language after all.



With all of that I still would love to learn French. My dream is to one day go to Paris and walked down it's famous streets and to walk into one of their famous café and ask for the toilette! No matter what you say in French it will always sound romantique and chic!

A friend of mine that speaks about six languages told me a great tip one day: "You have to submerge yourself into the language."

So the best thing for me to do would be to pack my things and start heading to Paris. I wish! Anyhow, in the meantime, I will still enjoy learning a little French just in case if I might need it one day.



Here is the website to watch the PBS french lessons: French in Action.
BBC has a great language learning courses on their website. The languages that they have are: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Chinese and others.The BBC Language Website:BBC Languages/




Photo: Flickr Creative Commons from FunkyFlamenca, Wallyg, Mr Mystery.



The Archives:  Post's from my old blog The RetroChic Corner. Original Post Date: 08/04/09

Victorian Pharmacy Series Documentary

Victorian Pharmacy is a historical recreation documentary of a 19th Century pharmacy dating back to the beginning reign of Queen Victoria. The film follows historian Ruth Goodman, Professor Nick Barber and PhD student Tom Quick as they uncover interesting techniques and not so conventional ingredients to making of old fashioned treatments, cures, and potions for common ailments.

Back in the Victorian times many chemist were just learning how some ingredients affected the health of the people. Since some of the ingredients of Victorian remedies are now either illegal or known to be dangerous, like for instance arsenic and opium (good grief!), the team had to come out with safer alternatives.

Will Victorian remedies be as good as modern medicine? Don't worry you don't have to be the guinea pig. Nice willing and I must say brave souls volunteered to trying these remedies out. Watch and see.

Oh I must warn you, some information and portions in this documentary are not suitable for children.

Enjoy the film!


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Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four

By the way Victorian Pharmacy was filmed at Blists Hill Victorian Town which is an opened air museum that attempts to recreate Victorian Shropshire town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Research provided by Youtube, Wikipedia, Top Documentary Films.

The Archives: Phonograph Gallery in Paris

I always wanted to have a phonograph! Playing an old record on a phonograph is like trying on a vintage dress, until you wear it you don't have the full vintage experience. Several months ago we went to a vintage shop and saw this beautifully elegant phonograph. And the best part of it was that it was a working phonograph! Now what are the odds of that? And of course because it was in mint working condition, and well persevered it was always very expensive.

I came across a website called "Phonogallery". They are located in Paris France, of course. They sell phonographs, gramophones, cylinders, and much more. They also sell phonograph parts, and they even repair them, which is great if you happened to buy one that doesn't work. And if you happened to be working on a project and need a phonograph, well they to rent them out! Now that is swell!


Here are some pictures from their gallery:





















And if you happened to know of a nice little old lady that is giving away her phonograph, just let me know, I will send my agent over. Thanks!





Photos: Photogallerie.com on Flickr Creative Commons.

The Archives: My Life As a Retro Artist!

The other day I was contacted by a Cnn reporter! I was totally excited, because I had never had another person approached me to interview me! As a Retro Reporter I do the interview and bring the stories to my viewers. Of course, I am in front of the camera most of the time and sometimes behind the scenes when I interview my guests. I don't like it to always be about me. I just love listening about other peoples lives. I am a people's person and that is part of who I am.

Though, I have to admit, that it does feels nice to once in a while receive a complement or commendation from another human like myself. So that made my day!

I knew that having the opportunity in being in national T.V. would be something big! So, I took the opportunity and made my video "My Life As a Retro Artist"! Yay, movie time! This short film is a biography of my career as a Retro Artist, Reporter, and Filmmaker. Since I was young, I have been fascinated about time traveling, history, and retro living! I always wanted to learn about how people lived in the past.

Come with me, as I share with you my life as a Retro Artist!



The Archives:  Post's from my old blog The RetroChic Corner. Original Post Date: 12/1/09