As much as Sammy seems to disapprove of them, he knows the rules in the A&P. After describing at length how much skin Queenie is showing above the top of her bathing suit and how white her naked shoulders are, he finally describes her hair, face, and how she holds her head. Her hair is in a bun, which, although "unravelling," is still a more conservative hairstyle. Her face, he says, is "kind of prim." Thus, Queenie's hairstyle and expression look proper. She also "held her head so high her neck ... looked kind of stretched, " which suggests to him she is elegant and self-contained, and which only enhances her beauty to Sammy. Since the rest of her is at odds with A&P propriety, Queenie's proper hairstyle,"prim face," and confident posture may act as a shield against the shocked looks of other customers. The contrast also suggests that looking at Queenie as either proper or improper may be simplistic, when he has never seen her before she entered the store.
