Now we get to that special time of year where one imposes on strangers over and over, and must do so politely.
First, make a good impression. The difficult thing about being a houseguest is the rift between imposing on someone else and their event imposing on your vacation time. It might be your first day off in months, but that is no excuse for rolling off the plane looking like you’ve just come from lacrosse practice. As we’ve mentioned before, traveling in style – that is, in coat and tie or equivalent – not only gets you good service, but prevents you from wrinkling your nice clothes in your luggage.
The same is true for being a houseguest. It helps to start out formal as a sign of respect. Arriving in formal dress is a great way to let your hosts set the pace for your comfort. You will hear a lot of “Take your shoes off and make yourself comfortable.” Or, “We’re just going to order pizza tonight, do you want to change into something else?”
Images courtesy of the Fashion Spot forums.
