Daily Dose of Charm

Daily quotes from the 1967 edition of the Berkeley School Guide to Beauty, Charm, and Poise. Have a question and want me to look up the answer in The Guide? Just click "Dear Linda" and ask away!

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On Social Postures

Please don't hand someone a "wet dishrag" hand to shake. Be vital, be alive.  Let the other person know and feel that you are genuinely glad to make his acquaintance.

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On Social Postures

Pay particular attention to nodding your head.  Make sure you tilt it only once.  Don't bob up and down like a chicken eating breakfast.

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On Social Postures

The only correct thing to say when you meet someone is, "How do you do."  But if you are young and the introduction is informal, you might say, "Hi." 

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On Social Postures

The Arch is the social posture your feet assume when you meet someone.  It is gracious in that your weight is forward and you look interested and enthusiastic.

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On Social Postures

Efficiency as well as beauty depends upon your ability to get into action with the least effort.  This is the reason that the body weight is invariably placed more on one foot than on the other.  You are poised for action.

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On Personality Types

The Ingenue: If you are petite and youthful, if you are light and sweet, stay that way.  You, of all people, can indulge in ruffles and dainty materials.  You can tie little ribbons around your head and look trustingly at the world.

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On Personality Types

The Young Matron: If you are young and interesting, but a little more gentle, a little more kind than the women of the other types, if you are not too romantic or too taken up with cultural activities, or too dressy; if you are sensible, interested in your home, your husband, and your children, you are the perfect young matron.

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On Personality Types

The Intellectual Type: If you are studious and love the romance of history, if you find happiness in viewing great creations of art, if you enjoy the study of foreign culture, if you are intelligent, critical, appreciative of the creative and very individual, you want your clothes to express your intellect.

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On Personality Types

The Voluptuous Type: If you have exuberant curves, come-hither eyes, and luscious lips you can dress to this type, but you must be very careful not to appear vulgar or common.

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On Personality Types

The Athletic Type: If you are athletic "looking," if your golf swing is your pride and joy, your swimming form a miracle, remember that there is nothing more incongruous than a tanned muscular arm emerging from a lot of fluffy ruffles.

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On Personality Types

The Romantic Type: If you are slender and large-eyed, if the waltz is your favorite dance, if you are gentle and sweet and very charming, you should show this delightful femininity in every way.

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On Graciousness

You may ask a gentleman whom you have just met to share some activity with you even though he has never asked you for a date.  For instance, you might say, "We are having a group in for coffee after church next Sunday.  I'd love to have you come.  I'd like your opinion of my apple pie."

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On Graciousness

Acceptance of a weekend invitation demands acceptance of the living pattern of your hostess.  She will think you most gracious if you bring her some small, well chosen gift.

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On Graciousness

When introducing a person to a group, do so in the order in which they are sitting or standing, and for the sake of simplicity mention the newcomer's name first.  All the men will stand and shake hands as they are introduced.  The women may remain seated. Each will say "How do you do?" as his name is mentioned.

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On Graciousness

A truly well-bred person would never hesitate to break a rule of etiquette rather than hurt another.

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On Graciousness

Graciousness is the mark of the relaxed personality.  It is the quality that invites others to share in our equanimity.

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On Graciousness

Those who go through life happily, with success opening new doors for them, are persuasive.  Rather than argue with others, the persuasive man or woman leads others to his way of thinking.