Dining Etiquette: Where do you put your purse?

Question

Hi there,

I'm attending prom soon and I understand that you are not supposed to put your clutch bag on the table when you are eating. Where is the most appropriate place to put it in terms of etiquette?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Don't want to spill on my precious evening bag, so I guess on my lap it goes or behind me on my very seat. Just logical. Don't want anybody else to spill on it either . . .

In Denmark, however, it's always been okay for a ladies' evening bag to adorn her place setting. Our highly regarded etiquette expert  Emma Gade, who authored  books on the subject,  said in 1920 that indeed it was acceptable to put a small evening bag on the table:  BUT the other night at a galla affair, was the first time ever I'd ever been reprimanded (by a guest!) not to do so. So on the floor it went. Looked around and  5 other femaile guests had their's on the table. Hm.

Later just before I left the party, several guests had to help me look for it and it had been kicked about 10 feet away under the table.

If I'd parked it next to my silverware, I would've saved us all the trouble of that silly search.

Made me think: well, if your purse has ever been on the floor then it shouldn't go on the table.

Solution, it just came to me:

carry a transparent plastic bag in it, and when you sit down demonstratively place your lovely evening bag in it (provocative, but that way you can one-up any control freaks). Kinda like a p**p bag for your evening bag!