How to Be Classy at a Soirée
For those who have not yet learned basic French, or heard about the Anglo-sympathetic version of an evening party, a soirée may sound unfamiliar and intimidating, but really, it's just that: a party or event held in the evening. The first part of being classy at a soirée involves knowing what the word means, and by the same token, another very useful skill at a soirée is to appear cosmopolitan. From the very beginning of American history, attendees of a soirée, whether in Jamestown or California, learned to be confident in discussing international affairs with aplomb. And, with any luck, you'll be able to follow their lead at whatever dinner parties you get invited to across the diverse landscape of the 21st century world. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Keep the drinking under control. For those who don't want to end up with a blurred film reel playing in their head (think about cartoon renditions of the morning after: lampshades on heads, tables overturned), the key is moderating your alcohol intake. Making a drunken fool of yourself is distinctly uncouth and should be avoided at all costs.
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Avoid the "Big 3." Now, many of us since reading old-fashioned etiquette books have forgotten what these big three actually are (they should be politics, religion, and money, in no particular order). Now, with the advent of new technology, additions to this list of verboten conversational subjects are now in order, including: a friend's (or friend's child's) risqué MySpace page, a bad Google AdSense campaign, or a forum-flame war that goes back to one of the big 3 discussed above. Avoid discussing sensitive subjects: knowing your crowd will help you identify what topics to stay away from.
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Pay compliments, but keep them appropriate. Walking this fine line is what separates the charming country gentleman from the creepy, neurotic loser. Be sure your words are classy, and they will add class to you.
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Show up with an offering. Bringing a bottle of wine or other package with you often heightens your class-factor: being otherwise helpful to the host is also usually a plus (setting as chairs as needed, etc.)
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Play to the common tune. Another old adage, "When in Rome..." also applies. To be classy is to understand the mood of the day and embrace it. Un-classy behavior at a soirée includes being a downer, asking personal questions about "How rich" your host/hostess is, and showing up in the morning.
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