Flare + Guess Launch, H&M Pre-MMVA Party, and YYZ Launch: not every encounter is meant to be comfortable

Hello Darlings,

There are days when the city comes alive with events. Thursday, June 16^th was one such day. Toronto was abuzz with multiple events. For me, this meant attending four soirees in 12 hours. I went from a lunch to preview Converse’s fall 2011 line, to Flare + Guess’s Launch Party, to H&M pre-MMVA party, and finally to the launch of YYZ Magazine.

During such events, a girl is bound to speak to a number of new and interesting people, as mingling and networking is one of the purposes of these events; however not every conversation is a winner, and there are times when a girl is stuck in the sticky situation of talking to a nosy stranger. Socializing is definitely a skill that one acquires over time, and I assure you that I am far from being good at it. In person, I am quite shy and reserved, and sparking a conversation and making best-friends with strangers is not my area of expertise.

While many kinds of conversations are meant to happen organically, some situations, such as gracefully accepting a compliment, talking to a rude person and avoiding an argument, can be prepared for. I found the following tips, from How To Live Like a Lady by Sarah Tomczak, to be quite useful in keeping me at my most proper in situations that could get a girl flustered. I hope they help you as well; it is better to be prepared than to be stuck in a sticky situation.

How to accept a compliment…

• Just smile and say a genuine thank you.
• Don’t be bashful or embarrassed and don’t negate the flattery by denying it or causing too much of a fuss.
• Resist the urge to divulge too much unnecessary information. Example: If someone admires your dress, don’t tell them where you bought it and exactly how much you paid.
• While accepting a compliment gracefully is appropriate, agreeing with it wholeheartedly is most certainly NOT.
• With Love… Note: Just be genuine and sincere. Always respond with a smile.

…And How to Bestow a Compliment

• Be careful to bestow compliments only when you really mean what you say
• An old-fashioned rule of thumb is that men love to be complimented on their conversation and women on their closet.
• If you do coo over a fabulous handbag, just remember that asking where it was purchased can be a delicate matter, and asking how much it cost is always inappropriate.
• With Love… Note: Mean what you say and compliment genuinely. Otherwise don’t do it at all.

How to React to Rude People…

• Diffuse the situation with a smile and say, “Oh, that’s not a very polite thing to say!”
• If asked an offensive question, try saying: “I don’t think I feel like answering that” while also smiling.
• If you cannot clear the air without becoming angrier in the process, ask if you can continue discussion at a later date.
• With Love…Note: When dealing with rude people always be pleasant and NEVER lose your sense of manners. Be respectful regardless of a situation and politely walk away.

Art of Arguing…

• Whether you are complaining to a shop assistant about a faulty pair of shoes or confronting a colleague about a work issue, keep a clear head and try to remain composed.
• Offer solutions to a problem and be accommodating as you can without compromising too much.
• Don’t use obscene language.
• Don’t make personal attacks.
• Don’t make sweeping accusations.
• Don’t raise your voice.
• With Love… Note: When stuck in such a situation, remain calm and focused. Be reasonable and polite.

Over the course of maintaining this blog, I have come to face various situations of dealing with people regarding both pleasant and intrusive topics; however socializing and meeting new people is definitely one of life’s gifts. When meeting new people it is very important to be respectful and thoughtful. I think that in our society a lot of social conduct has been blurred. In personal or professional life, being able to handle every situation with grace and respect is a lesson that every woman should practice. I thought that the pointers below would be useful in helping my lovely readers be prepared for the unexpected.

While your personal demeanor is important, the importance of a carefully- chosen wardrobe cannot be forgotten. Due to the fact that E and I attended three events in a row, outfit changes were not possible. As a result, I decided on a look that was going to carry me through the evening. I chose to pair my new Iro dress with a suede blazer and neutral pumps. The leopard clutch I added was a perfect fit for functional fashion.

Happy Long Weekend!!!

With Love…

Marta

Post proofread by Iris Braunstein