Savoir Vivre

01/08/2018

We're changing names!! Savoir Vivre Etiquette Services will now be known as Etiquette By Samantha. It's exactly the same services.... with a slightly more personal touch. You don't need to do anything.... just keep following these posts. Thank you for your continued support and interest.

28/10/2017

We all make mistakes. Big and small. Even the famous. If you’ve messed up- it’s good etiquette and good character to:

1. Say sorry
2. Admit – It was my fault...
3. Decide: How can I make it right?

In other words: ‘own’ your mistake AND take some corrective action. If you accidentally spill a drink over someone – offer to pay for garment's cleaning expenses. If you accidentally scratch someone’s car in the carpark – own up to it and offer to repair the damage. And if, like Arnie, you ‘unexpectedly’ find you have another child… you could do like him.....a big public apology, a decent divorce for Maria, a bit of recognition and a reasonable payout for the ‘other’ family and then (wait for it….) replace Donald Trump on the The New Celebrity Apprentice.
If you, like Arnie, need to brush up on your social etiquette, please contact me via the website www.savoirvivre.net.au.

03/10/2017

Caviar has a reputation of being a 'luxury' food - primarily because it is rare and, consequentially, expensive. Caviar refers to the salt-cured fish eggs of sturgeon from specific seas. It can take up to 20 years to harvest. Do: Eat caviar with a non-metal spoon, eat only tiny amounts and show subtle appreciation for the delicacy served to you. Do not: Ask for the sauce bottle, say you can't stomach (overpriced) fish eggs; declare an ethical objection to the harvesting method (this is not the time) or play the caviar expert. Yes, it's an acquired taste. So, go grab yourself some quality 'faux' caviar this weekend (much more affordable than the real thing) and share a little with a friend or loved one. Totally savoir vivre!! For more information about dining protocols please contact me via the website: www.savoirvivre.net.au

26/09/2017

Holding a glass of wine should be simple - right? Wrong!!! If you’re keen to present yourself as a wine sophisticate, ensure you hold your glass gently by the stem, just above the base and preferably not touching the bowl. The reason for not touching the bowl of a glass are threefold: First not to influence the temperature of the wine with your heat from your hands, second, not to obscure the colour, clarity and other aspects of the wine with your fingers, and three, not to leave sticky fingerprints all over the host’s glassware. So then – I hear you – what do you do with the latest stemless glassware? For more information contact me at www.savoirvivre.net.au

09/09/2017

Surely you've heard someone say, “Never ask a woman her age!” Even in today’s modern society, asking a woman her age is considered impolite. Women rarely like to advertise their age (for reasons beyond the scope of this post). To put a woman in a position where she feels forced to disclose her age is considered unladylike or ungentlemanly. But, if a woman DOES choose to share her age with you, the polite response “but you don’t look a day over 25’ will work wonders in most situations. And – whoa!! - before you suggest that this post is sexist, demoting the interests of women or setting double standards – please remember that etiquette is about knowing how to behave in certain situations so as not to offend others. This may sometimes mean withholding your own personal social, political or ideological beliefs to be sensitive to those around you (And yes, it is equally impolite to ask a man his age 😊). www.savoirvivre.net.au

05/09/2017

The act of taking a bow seems like a quirky behaviour from the past for most of us. Relevant only on the odd occasion you might bump into the Queen (heaven forbid!!) or suchlike. However, the bow remains a popular salutation among some cultural and religious groups - and is still applied in certain Australian contexts (can you guess which ones?). Learning how to bow (while not top of the list of male behavioural must-haves) remains an art, an elegance, and a gentlemanly skill to have in the male etiquette tool-box, for use if required. For training details - please contact me via this page or through the website www.saviorvivre.net.au

27/08/2017

Most of us don’t have to worry about what to wear to red carpet events. I for one certainly never thought I would. But an upcoming function specified a dress style of ‘red carpet glamour.’ This left me wondering what exactly I should wear: Black tie floor length gown, formal long dress, semi-formal knee length dress, semi-casual lunch dress or pant-suit, cocktail style dress, tea dress or other? As it happens, for these type of events, such details really don’t really matter. This is because the function has specified a dress ‘theme’ rather than a dress ‘code’. A ‘theme’ is rather like a fancy dress: wear what you like as long as it’s in the spirit (think ‘pink’ party; ‘80’s party; ‘doctors and nurses party’ etc). You can never be over-dressed at this type of ‘do’ (and can never be under-dressed either - depending on the theme). Instead you’re required to lavish creative spirit, rather than cash, on your outfit, and any attempt to thwart this rule will usually be frowned up. So, what will I be wearing to the red-carpet glamour do? To see my outfit (as chosen by a bevy of trusted female friends) please follow this page or see the website at the end of September.

09/08/2017

Please see previous post

09/08/2017

Many of us are left perplexed when faced with how to eat ‘difficult’ foods at a formal dinner. One of these so-called ‘difficult’ foods is the banana. At an informal meal, you would simply peel the banana and eat it. Delicious. Easy. But at a formal event, you would take the banana from the fruit bowl, put it on your plate and eat it with your knife and fork in small bite sized pieces. Tricky! Eating a banana with your hands at a formal dinner would be considered ‘uncivilised’. It would serve as a reminder that we are, after all, just like other mammals (monkeys??) without our good manners and good etiquette. For amusement, see YouTube comedy clip ‘Gerald the Gorilla’ (featuring a young Rowan Atkinson in Gorilla Costume, and a young Pamela Stephenson). This is a send-up and shows the Gorilla as being far more ‘civilised’ than his human carer. He even eats a banana with a spoon! www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCYGm1vMJ0

From "The Best Of Not The Nine O'Clock News (Vol.1)"

02/08/2017

Last week I attended a health professional’s conference to learn more about the latest treatments for a common medical condition. During the break, the main topic of conversation among participants was NOT the application of this latest treatment but, rather, how to ‘properly’ eat the scones on the refreshments table. Clearly, these ladies and gentlemen were aware that there were certain ‘protocols’ to be observed when eating scones – but were unsure what they were. Even the most esteemed health ‘boffins’ were left perplexed and apologetic. Rather amused, this gave me an opportunity to put on my ‘Savoir Vivre’ hat (metaphorically) and gently nudge the confused in the right direction. Are you now wondering what you should and shouldn’t do when eating a scone? Here’s a hint – don’t dunk the scone into the pot of cream (and yes – this actually happened last week). For all other finer points, you might consider one of my workshops or personal coaching services. www.savoirvivre.net.au

25/07/2017

Have you ever been invited back to someone’s house for ‘tea’ and not quite got what you had bargained for? I for one most certainly have. An invitation to ‘tea’ can have a multitude of meanings depending on the country, culture, context, and company of the host. For example, in Japan you might find green tea offered to you as the drink of choice at business meetings. In India, you might be offered ‘chai’ or spiced tea and in Egypt you’ll likely find your tea flavoured with mint. In Australia – there probably wouldn’t be a cup of tea in sight! Instead you would likely be offered pizza, barbeque, salad, wine, and beer... Here at Savoir Vivre Etiquette we focus on the art and tradition of the British ‘afternoon’ tea. The ‘meal’ taken between breakfast and dinner that includes savoury delicacies and specialty cakes and scones. Interested in learning more about hosting or taking an afternoon tea? Please contact me via www.savoirvivre.net.au for more information.