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Black or White

9 years ago by

Black or White

C’est si important que ça ?
 
Non, je ne vais PAS vous parler de couleur de peau mais bien de vêtements.
 
L’autre jour, j’étais au resto avec des amis, et je ne sais plus trop comment, l’un d’entre nous en est venu à parler de sa mère qui demandait toujours une serviette de table noire quand elle portait du noir. QUOI ?! Ça a été ma réaction. Je n’avais bien évidemment jamais entendu parler d’un truc pareil, mais je me suis dit C’EST SUPER CLASSE. Est-ce que c’était un traitement réservé à ceux qui avaient le privilège de dîner dans des restaurants huppés ? Est-ce qu’il fallait que je commence à me déplacer avec mon paquet de serviettes noires vu le caractère monochrome de ma garde-robe ?
 
ET LA, même pas un jour plus tard, j’aidais ma copine Julie dans sa nouvelle boutique de South Hampton, et alors que je prenais du papier de soie (noir) pour emballer un t-shirt (blanc) acheté par une cliente, une charmante dame – qui devait être sa maman – me dit : « Oh, je ne sais pas si c’est une bonne idée de l’emballer dans du papier de soie noir. » Et voilà : ce cas de figure ne m’avait jamais traversé l’esprit. Du papier de soie noir ça n’avait rien d’exceptionnel, si ? J’en avais souvent vu du bleu ou d’autres couleurs ???
 
Du coup, ça m’a interrogée : est-ce que c’est quelque chose d’inné ou de culturel, ce type de réflexe ? Et est-ce qu’il y a d’autres trucs de ce genre que je devrais savoir ?

17 comments

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  • Wouldn’t the concern about black tissue paper be more about color bleeding, which would potentially ruin a white top… Rather than chicness?

  • I think the same, I don’t find any cultural/race reason beyond.

  • It might be that the woman in the second scenario was warried about the ink from the tissue paper rubbing off on the shirt? I’ve never heard of anyone requesting a different coloured napkin, though.

  • I’ve been told that high-end restaurants give diners black napkins prevent getting white lint on their dark clothes. I can’t say I’ve ever noticed napkin lint, but I think the idea is nice.

    The tissue paper makes sense to me since it may transfer color onto the white shirt, especially if it gets wet.

  • C’est juste du bon sens, le papier de soie noir peut laisser des traces sur le tee-shirt immaculé, comme la serviette blanche peut pelucher sur un vêtement noir, je crois que ce n’est pas plus compliqué que ça ! :-)
    http://www.mode9.fr

  • I was once offered a white napkin to replace the black napkins on the table. It was explained to me that they didn’t want black lint rubbing off onto my white dress. And get this. They also offered me a shawl since it was a bit of a chilly evening. It took us a while to figure out that all the women sitting around us had been offered shawls that matched their dresses. Classy indeed!

  • Caroline 16 juin 2015, 1:27 / Répondre

    I have suffered the white napkin lint effect on my LBD at a restaurant in the past. Wish they all offered the choice of black napkins!

  • as long as I don’t stain myself I’m happy

    http://hashtagliz.com

  • Black napkin= no white lint on black dress. White tissue= doesn’t bleed onto white blouse.
    Older people (myself included) are more neurotic about these things. We bring our own toilet paper to music fests, etc. ;)

  • Oh okay! I want did what was going on until I read the comments which now make sense! Interesting observation.

  • You’re asking some weird questions… It’s not something I would question or consider about my culture or my upgrinding.

  • karacocoa 17 juin 2015, 10:49 / Répondre

    I’m extremely clumsy, so one of each please. :-)

  • I have been a victim of the lint from a white napkin ruining a great black/navy dress. Never thought about the tissue paper though. I imagine white is always safe because there’s no dyes.

  • Years ago, I had a friend who always requested a black napkin at our favorite restaurant, so as not to get fuzz on his dark jeans. I thought it was an affectation, but now, when I wear white jeans, I feel uncomfortable with black napkins. I have come to believe that a nice restaurant should have both colors of napkins and let the maitre d’ choose the proper one for each customer. Extra service to set an establishment apart from the ordinary.

  • Tellement chic… et snob… Ca me fait rêver!!
    Quoi? y a pas de mal à être un peu snob quand on l’a mérité!

    jilletlesgrandesfilles.com

  • That is my first thought…it can leave dust on your clothes. I really check…always. And ever wiped your sweat with a red paper napkin? You will do that just once!!! ;-D

  • Its just common sense. Black dies bleed. I wouldn’t put a white blouse in black tissue! It could ruin it easily. Especially if it got wet somehow. I would expect the shop owner to be careful with such things for a customer. The lint thing makes good sense, but as i almost never use the napkin really….I know, I know. But I move around too much. Talk more then I eat, swivel around, and always sit at the bar if humanly possible, it never matters. However, I think its very thoughtful to have napkins that are color safe for a customers dress, especially men, who wear jeans and wool trousers would be saved by same cold napkins.

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