How to kiss, 1940s-style: Stand close together, hold each other lightly and don’t sprawl all over a chair


The art of kissing has been around for centuries - so why not learn how to do it the old-fashioned way?



According to these romantic pictures from a 1942 edition of Life magazine, there are some vital basic steps to follow to achieve the perfect clinch.



First, the how-to guide recommends that kissers should not stand too far apart - pointing out that actors doing this on stage look 'juvenile if they are so stand-offish'.

WRONG: Actors kissing on-stage look too juvenile if they are so stand-offish

RIGHT: Boy and girl should stand close together and not hold each other too tightly



Indeed, many may be able to attest to this fact from hazy memories of schools discos.



Lovers are instead advised to stand close together to show their passion, but not hold each other too tightly.

The next thing to remember is not to 'sprawl all over the chair' in a moment of heated passion. This is apparently considered ungraceful and is 'bad technique.'

Instead, the girl should avoid all danger of her sensible skirt riding up by sitting on the arm of a chair while the boy holds her.

WRONG: Sprawling all over the chair is considered ungraceful

RIGHT: Girl should sit on arm of the chair and boy should hold her firmly but lightly



He should do so 'firmly but lightly', the etiquette guide continues.



While some of the strict advice may seem quaint, the instructions from a back issue of Life magazine have provoked fierce debate over points of style.



One user of Retronaut.com commented: 'In #3 is he trying to kiss or strangle her… it’s hard to decide', while another compared it to the Heimlich manoeuvre.

