Evening star., 1961-11-26


gone, and it has alerted us
all to the fact that Christ
mas is only weeks away. Dur
ing this wonderful time Of
the year when we wish to
be with our families, see our
friends and renew old rela-
tionships, we all start plan
ming ways to entertain.
I have a suggestion to Of
fer. Stop and think before
issuing invitations to those
to whom you wish to extend
hospitality during the COM
ing weeks. Be kind and make
your invitation specific. Tell
your prospective guests what
they may expect, and then
they can act accordingly.
For example. don't say
cocktails, six to eight" in
dicating drinks and some
thing to nibble on. nothing
more, when you plan to serve
a sumptuous buffet with ev-
erything from hors d'oeuvreS
to turkey.
This isn't fair to those you
invite. Expecting just cock
tails, the recipients of your
invitation will undoubtedly
make plans for dinner after
attending your party. Com
pletely superfluous if they
had but known. The thought
full hostess will take the time
and trouble to clarity just
what form her entertainment
is to take. This applies not
only to meal planning, but
to the old bugaboo of what
to wear, when"
AS the great majority Of
these parties are on the in
formal side, the following ex-
ample of such an invitation
may prove helpful. The fold
ed-over informal card is an
excellent medium. In the CEN
ter of the outside of the card.
the name may be engraved.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Frances
Proper" and the address
placed in the lower right
hand corner.
Plain white cards may also
be used, and the name and
address handwritten instead
of engraved. On the inside
of the card, facing you as
you open it, may be written,
Cocktail Buffet, Tuesday.
November l4th, 6 to g." In
the lower left-hand corner,
please respond" or the in
itials "RSVP" will indicate
that you would appreciate
an answer to your invitation.
BY using the words cock
tail buffet" you have made
it clear what kind Of party
it is to be. There is no need
here to wonder whether one
should plan to eat dinner
after attending. Obviously, a
buffet supper is to be served
along with the cocktails. The
word cocktails" alone should
indicate that only beverages
and hors d'oeuvres are to be
served.
1t isn't necessary to specify
what type of clothes should
be worn for any party that
is supposed to end at 8
O'Clock, or before. A street.
length afternoon dress, or a
not too mannishly tailored
suit with hat and accesso-
ries), for the women and a
dark suit with white shirt
and four-ln-hand tie for the
men is the correct attire for
any afternoon function.
If however. you plan an
evening party, one starting
at eight o'clock, for example,
specify on your invitation
whether it's to be a dress-up
affair or not. By using the
word informal" you indi-
cate that pretty much the
same clothes that would be
worn at an afternoon func-
ton are in order. Note: 1t
is prefectly permissible in
this case for the woman not
to wear a hat.
For the more formal eve
ming entertaining, placing
the words "black tie" on an
invitation indicates that din
ner gowns for the women and
tuxedoS for the men are eX-
pected. white tie" of course,
means full evening dress for
both.
One parting suggestion!
Never, under any circum-
stances, typewrite an invita-
ton. No matter how in
formal it may be, always
hand-Write your desire to ex-