I’m an expert in good taste – 12 red roses on Valentine’s Day is tacky & DON’T ever get a bear holding a heart
VALENTINE’S Day is a time for showing your significant other just how romantic you are - and perhaps just how tacky you are too.
Etiquette expert William Hanson has unveiled the ways you could show just how “common” you are as you celebrate the day of love.
Speaking to Fabulous, William said: “I don’t love Valentine’s Day because I feel you should be romantic throughout the year.
“I don’t feel there should be any specific day that you are romantic and the rest of the year you are average.
“I feel it is a good habit to get into to be romantic throughout the year but within moderation.
“Little and often instead of one, tacky, helium-filled display of romance.”
Here, William reveals the rather popular faux-pas that ensure you fall short of good taste on February 14…
Having a card larger than A4
It turns out that size does matter - even when it comes to Valentine’s Day cards.
William explained: “Generally the social class thing is that the bigger the card, the tackier the person is.”
“A normal greetings card is absolutely fine, but if it is four times the size of A3 we are in the danger zone.”
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And you need to be careful about the design on the front too.
William added: “Anything overly cutesy, so teddy bears, fluffy dogs, if we are in Care Bear territory it is to be avoided.
“Brits don’t love showing affection too openly, and of course a card could be seen by anyone visiting the house, so having this huge card on display with a gushing message inside could be seen as a bit vulgar.
“It’s much nicer to go for a comedy card, playing up to the British sense of humour, something witty on the front.”
Teddy bear holding a heart
Buying a cuddly toy for your partner is often seen as a sentimental gift, but should be avoided, according to William.
He said: “Teddy bears that you’ve had since childhood are ok, but if it was bought for you recently, we are in the danger zone when it comes to bad taste.”
And ones holding a heart are a definite no-no.
Chocolate body paint
You shouldn’t even contemplate chocolate body paint on Valentine’s Day unless you want to appear tacky, says William.
He simply advised: “It is slightly perverted and not something that we would encourage in polite society.”
Posting your ‘date night’ on social media
Many couples will be putting time aside to celebrate their love for one another, but you should steer clear of telling friends.
William said: “Having a date night and calling it ‘date night’ and telling your friends that you are doing date night is the equivalent of showing off to your friends that you do Wordle.
“There is nothing wrong with doing Wordle, it’s just telling everyone you are doing Wordle.
“So don’t announce on social media ‘date night’, it is between you and the person you are doing it with, not between you and 400 followers.
“It’s an intimate moment. It somehow devalues it to share it with everyone else.”
Rose petals on the bed
You may be planning to add a sultry touch to your bedroom in the form of flower petals - and plastic ones are definitely a bad idea.
But worse still are real petals, claims William.
He said: “It’s not something that I love - it is a lovely idea but in practice always goes wrong.
“If they are real like roses or carnations or something with colour, they can stain the bed and then you wake up in the morning and it just looks like there has been a murder.
“If you haven’t got rid of them before you got in or god forbid jumped on top of the petals and did whatever, it looks a bit like a blood bath.”
Going out for dinner for Valentine’s Day
William said that going out on February 14 for a meal should be avoided.
He said: “Don’t necessarily go out on Valentine’s day, it is overpriced and you will be out with many other couples.
“If it doesn’t go well as happens with some couples, if something puts you in an irritable mood you are there in a forced romantic atmosphere.
“It will also be cheaper as restaurants do capitalise on it.
“It is perhaps more romantic to do it on another day.”
Showing public displays of affection
Never kiss in public if you want to appear classy, says William.
The etiquette expert elaborated: “This is advice true for any time of year, not just February 14. In Britain we only traditionally show emotion to dogs or horses.
“Kissing and cuddling in the street and public isn’t considered the done thing.
“I think attitudes are changing towards holding hands in public, I don’t think it’s as bad as it used to be.
“Perhaps it is one that is now sort of allowed, but I get irritated when they are holding hands but obstruct the pavement.
“So they are so in love they are oblivious to the fact that it’s not their own exclusive pavement.
“So hold hands but only when there are few people around, lots of space, where you get to busier places, it might be the time to go single file.”
Having more than two candles
William said that like rose petals, candles are a very bad idea.
He said: “Lots of candles absolutely everywhere, it is a disaster waiting to happen.
“One or two in safe spaces is lovely, but lots of them everywhere - especially if scented - is overkill.”
So what is a safe bet?
William said roses are a good place to start.
He said: “I don’t think they are that tacky, even a single red rose is something straightforward and simple.
“I actually think it is quite smart and minimal.”
Previously, William shared the ‘common’ fashion looks including pink rinses – and it’s bad news for Gogglebox’s Ellie Warner.
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Meanwhile, William said you are common if you have these six things in your bedroom.
And from "bubbly" to "avo", the etiquette expert revealed the 10 words that make you "middle class".
