Over dinner the other night, I got talking with a male friend of mine on the topic of shaking hands when you meet. He was quite insistent that a firm handshake was essential in making an overall first impression when you meet someone.
Perhaps this is more true for a man than a woman(any males care to share?) because I tend to subscribe to ‘The Penguin Book of Etiquette’ by Marion Von Adlerstein when it comes to the handshake:
‘According to tradition, a man should wait until a woman extends her hand before he does. That is obsolete now. It is courteous for either, or both, to hold out a hand unless a woman is introduced to a man whose religious faith prohibits him from touching a women.’
According to tradition, I suppose it puts me in a position where I can choose whether or not I want to shake a persons hand, where as I feel with men it is obligatory.
What we did agree on however, is that a weak, insipid handshake is a definite no-no.
Air kisses anyone?
Dress: eBay