Subscribe Today
Features > Columnists > Dianne Isbell

Dianne Isbell   RSS

Dianne Isbell
About Dianne
Dianne Isbell is the president of Etiquette Plus, which provides classes and workshops on etiquette, protocol and image consulting for businesses, organizations and individuals (adults and children). Her clients include colleges, department stores, colleges and large and small companies. She was director of protocol for a U.S. Air Force command from 1977 to 1991. Her Etiquette column runs every Monday in the News-Democrat's Lifestyle section.

MOST RECENT COLUMN

Synthetic placemats are proper for lunch

Q. I have some very beautiful placemats and napkins that were a birthday present. The placemats are not cloth, but some kind of synthetic material. They are very, very nice. I was telling my aunt that I was planning to use them for a lunch for one of my girlfriends who is retiring. My aunt stuttered a bit and finally told me I should be using cloth placemats, or really an actual tablecloth. It's a glass-top table and I really wouldn't want to cover it altogether. Your opinion, please.

ARCHIVE OF COLUMNS

  • Wife of 'junior' finds writing cards can be confusing

    Q. I married a Junior. I get confused on how I should sign/address cards, invitations, etc., jointly. I know it would be "Mr. & Mrs. Todd Jones Jr." but what if I wanted to use my name as well? Would it be "Mr. & Mrs. Todd and Mary Jones Jr."?

  • No shame in wearing same dress to two proms

    Q. Our daughter will be going to two proms this year -- hers and her boyfriend's since he attends another nearby high school. Her father and I assumed she would wear the same dress. She said she "wouldn't be caught dead wearing the same dress!"

  • Uses of napkins evolved out of historical needs

    Q. As a little guy visiting my elderly grandma, I remember a fancy tablecloth and pretty dishes and always some kind of fresh flowers in the center. We had "real" napkins, too, or cloth. My dad always tried to stick it in my shirt around my neck and my mom would put it on my lap, maybe sticking a corner under my belt.





Belleville Top Jobs