Did women in the 1940s keep their veil down while smoking and kissing?

September 25, 2006 8:00 PM

In the 1942 movie, Bette Davis is transformed from an old maid to a glamorous woman through pyschotherapy. In one romantic scene with Paul Henreid, she is wearing a veil, and then proceeds to, I think, smoke a cigarette and kiss him, all without lifting her veil. Was this the fashion back then--to do everything without lifting one's veil? Did this include eating?
posted by quintno to Society & Culture (2 answers total)

I think it was a cinematic conceit to play up ... those Bette Davis eyes. But of course, Miss Vale's veil wasn't exactly a shroud.
posted by rob511 at 8:36 PM on September 25, 2006

i believe that was a cinematic device. i know that emily post has a section on veils in the luncheon ettiquette part of her book. although that was the 20's not the 40's, her advice about not trying to being food or drink under the veil is as much practical as it is manners. even if it was not necessary to remove the hat, women lifted the veil above their nose or to the top of the hat in order to eat and drink.
posted by crush-onastick at 5:59 AM on September 26, 2006