Post by @kikiastorofficial

The biggest compliment for an upper class person? If you’re visiting a very elegant or upper-class home, one of the biggest etiquette mistakes is being too complimentary. “Wow, this house is absolutely gorgeous!” “It’s magnificent!” “It’s incredible!” “This is beyond beautiful!” It may be meant as a sincere compliment, but in traditional high-society etiquette, excessive enthusiasm can sometimes come across as unsophisticated, overly impressed, or as though you’re trying too hard. Some truly snobby people are offended by this because they think that you’re being insulting because why are you so surprised at their excellent taste? It should be a foregone conclusion. The more understated approach is often more elegant: “Oh, it’s rather good, isn’t it?” “What a lovely room.” “It’s beautifully done.” The idea isn’t to be cold or insincere. It’s about restraint. Old-school etiquette often places value on being composed, observant and appreciative without making someone else’s wealth or possessions the centre of attention. And there’s another subtle rule: don’t make the host feel as though you’re evaluating the value of their home. Appreciate the taste, design or atmosphere rather than gushing over how expensive or spectacular everything is. #oldmoneyetiquette #sociology #compliments