Speaking of change….
Do you know where I parked my horse? or my lion?
I have the fashion sense of ranchers on a three-day ride to the circus. I’m not quite sure what that means, but it conjures up some interesting images of attire.
I recently wore white to a social function AFTER LABOR DAY. Now, I don’t usually wear white at all because too many of my body parts are turning white (hair, eye brows, elbows). Zombies seem to have more color than me anymore. So the only reason I wore white to this fa-la-la affair was…all of my more colorful costumes were dirty.
The fashion police gave me the ol’ up and down look, accompanied by the knowing smirk we’ve come to recognize since junior high. And these were my friends. I shudder to think what others were saying. Well…actually I didn’t give a damn. If I had—I would’ve followed the rules. But that got me thinking….
Who Made the Stupid No Wearing White After Labor Day Rule???
No one’s sure, but they think it had to do with snobbery.
After the Civil War it was hard to tell the difference between the Old-Money Rich and those Yankee-Carpetbagger-Upstart-Vulgar Rich.
So, in the 1880s, the women of old money, and even older family name, created complex social rules for the “knowing.” If a lady showed up at the ball in a gown that had the wrong sleeve length, the other fine ladies could shun her and her new money in a seemingly gracious, but truly smirky manner.
Not wearing white for fall galas seems to be one of these rules. When Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, it became the official cut-off for summer, thus the unspoken end of white clothing. So this snooty rule trickled down to the rest of us middle class cretins, aided by women’s magazines which made it dogma.
I bet I can create a perfume that’ll be a best seller for over 90 years.
By the 2000s, the rules have thankfully relaxed, due to a woman’s best friend, Coco Chanel. She made her own rules for which we ranching/circus/fashion-challenged are thankful
She wore white year-round.
and gave us….
- The “Little Black Dress. (1926)
- Tweed Suits (1920s)
- Bell bottoms (1954)
She also felt, “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it’s not luxury.”
Now there’s a woman who knows fashion. And I bet she could smirk, too.
What fashion rules do you follow (or break) ?
Before Morning Breaks 
I love winter white, but it must be in a sturdy fabric. Guess there’s enough old rule follower in me to accept it in cordurory or wool or a thick knit, but not in a lighter cotton unless it’s just a tee shirt. You know, writing this comment, makes me feel a little foolish. I think I’ll go put on white leggings and say the hell with the rules. Rock the white.
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Wait a minute, girlfriend. I’ll join you.
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Geeez! It’s a good thing I don’t own anything white, except for my underwear. Does that count? Am I a fashion cretin?
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Please post a picture of you in your white underwear on your blog and we’ll tell you if you’re a fashion cretin or not.
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Well, then i guess nurses wearing white year round makes them subject to ridicule. But who cares what the fashion rules are. Wear what’s comfortable. Fashion police can go take a long walk off a short pier.
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Sharon, you make me realize that I haven’t seen a nurse in white in a long, long time. Mostly they’re in pastel-colored clothes. I’m going tot he hospital tommorrow. I’ll make it a quest to find someone in white.
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I work in a nursing home where the standard color is Navy Blue or White. One of the nurses I worked with would only wear white. So you will probably find someone wearing white. Let me know what you find.
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You know I always wondered what they meant on American tv shows and movies when they made jokes about wearing white after Labour Day…
To follow or break the fashion rules, you need to know what the rules are first. Which unfortunately I don’t…
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Nisha, you rowdy gal, no wonder you’re a rule breaker. You make up your own rules. Where can I get the NM Rebel Fashionwear Guide?
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I’ve never followed fashion rules mostly because I can’t keep up with them. Sweatpants are always classy, right? RIGHT?
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Sweat pants are the comfort food of clothing. That metaphor doesn’t really work, but you get the idea. I’m with you on that.
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Didn’t you see the piece on TV last week about wearing white after Labor Day? It is quite stylish, though the choice of design/fabric was being discussed. Anyway, so much for those giving you the evil eye…they obviously are out of the loop. Great picture! You look wonderful!
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Well, now I know…if one stays out of the loop long enough, then fashion catches up. I wonder when clown clothes are coming back?
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Barb, you got off lucky, just getting a smirk for your fashion faux pas. In the movie, “Serial Mom,” (1994), Kathleen Turner was a killer. One of the offenses she killed for was anyone who wore white after Labor Day. A dark and funny film.
By the way, like you, I wear white year round. 🙂
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Great, Judy. Now I’ll be looking over my shoulder when I wear white.
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I don’t break of follow the rules–I set them!
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Me too. But most of my rules have to do with faulty elastic that allows pants to ride down to my knees. Jethro of the Clampetts had a good idea tying up his pants with a rope belt.
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Oh well, I wear black in summer, so I may as well white in winter. In the PNW who can tell the difference? In the seasons, not the colors. Usually I wear purple and some permutation of green (with the black or white). There’s probably a rule about that too. Huh!
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I think we have to be over 50 to wear purple. so I guess we should buy stock in purple dye.
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I never heard of the rule and so thus must have broken it lots of times. Thank goodness the fashion police did not see me. Is there a rule about wearing red or pink???
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I follow no fashion rules that I am aware (or none that I am aware of anyway). White trousers are dangerous in this house (for me) because the psycho cat from hell likes to treat me a scratching post. White with blood splatters probably breaks many fashion rules. Probably.
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Dressing for psycho cats can really liven up your wardrobe. I wear a lot of nappy fabric so the claw pulls don’t show.
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Enjoyed seeing that photo of you, Barb. I notice that people who don’t have to give a damn, don’t. Too many think they have to! 😀
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I had no idea there was such a rule, Barb.
That’s how much fashion sense I have got.
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Now you know. I’m sorry. Now there’s you have no excuses.
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I have a question. If we aren’t supposed to wear white after Labor Day, then all the brides-to-be must wear ivory or ecru or hey, maybe red! It is a silly rule but we Northwesterners have our own code… plaid shirts and flip flops!
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And don’t forget sweatshirts with shorts.
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This tale made me think of the church ladies in your great little book. I don’t remember them keeping the white rule, but I bet they did. As for me, I wear color–year round–because all of me, like you, is white and if I don’t wear color I fear someone–maybe fashion police–will think I’m a corpse.
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Why, of course, that micro-managing Vera keeps all the rules, it’s all those other church ladies she can’t control.
And I know what you mean about looking like a corpse. I tell myself the zombie look is IN.
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I usually wear black. You sometimes get funny looks in that colour too, Barb!
Yes, I agree. It’s a stupid rule!
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Johnny Cash called and told me, He wants you to continue his fashion statement.
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I love the picture of you! Coco and I would have gotten along famously. I am the eternal fashion plate, even when in jeans. I am always in a pair of heels (nothing shy of 4″), generally at least one silk and matching jewelry. That does not mean I do not carry a straw purse large enough to hide Jimmy Hoffa in December or wear a full length white chiffon number to holiday dances or skip the red shoes at weddings. I rarely try to upstage the bride, but that is pretty much where I draw my fashion line. Oh, and no PJ pants in public. Ever. Carpool line if I am that late, but certainly not outside the car.
xxx ❤
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Red, you’re so cool. I’d love to wear heels, but the true fact is I’m just too lazy. I thin it’s a crime that comfortable shoes are always ugly. Sigh.
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I own precisely three pairs of ugly shoes. None of them have a heel over 2″ and they are truly hideous. One my late husband called my “pilgrim shoes” because of the large buckles. Meh. Wear what you like. I walk funny in flat shoes 😉
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I can barely walk in “tall” shoes.
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My favorite color is plaid and I wear it all year. Frank Fashion-Conscious I am not.
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Plaid is the new cool.
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I just had to look up the word “fashion” in the dictionary. Does that help?
P.S.I agree with emjay. Very nice picture!
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I’m the one with hot pink galoshes and a collection of hats. The fashion police have looked askance at me most of my adult life. Everything we wear is a costume of some kind, so why not have fun with it? Anyhow, I thought it was no white SHOES after labor day because of the mud. And no white coats for mothers of children under the age of eleven, because even a ten-year-old will vomit down your back.
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Roxie, you are fun no matter what you wear. And you’re so right about mothers wearing anything else but vomit-colored clothes.
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I’ve never been a fashion plate, and never much gave a diddle what the “rlues” said about what I should and shouldn’t wear, but now that I’m (ahem) “mature”, I don’t even pretend to care anymore. Comfort over style is my motto. Right now, I’m wearing bell bottom sweat pants. Do you think I care that they may very well be the only pair left in the world, or that they may, in fact, be an endangered species? Heck, no! I also use a fanny pack for pretty much all occasions. My favorite one is red. Who SAYS it isn’t “appropriate” to wear the thing to church??? Life’s too short to care what anybody else says about your wardrobe. If ya wanta wear white, wear white! (I do.)
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Bell bottom sweat pants? I think you’d better put those on ebay. They may be worth some money now and vintage clothing.
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It is a silly rule! Not wearing white to a wedding is a stupid one, too. As if anyone is going to see this 50-yr old and her arms wearing a sleeveless white dress, and mistake her for the stunning, glamorous and radiant bride! My personal summer rule is to always carry a straw purse….the cheaper the better…fun, fashion FREEDOM!
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Hi funnysister. I love the straw purse idea. My questions is: will it hold two cans of soda pop and 2 big candy bars that I sneak into the movies.
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I wear winter white with pastels especially for the holidays. It stands out from all the other black and red outfits. Actually anything white you wear after Labor Day you can call winter white and just be done with it.
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Oh, this is a grand post! Do you think I can get away with “winter white?” I’m afraid to wear black patent leather shoes too, and straw handbags this time of year. Wonder if I should venture out in those in mid December to cause a stir around town.
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If ruby red maryjanes were good enough for Dorothy of Oz, then I say go for black patent mary janes. They’re comfortable, too.
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Mostly, I wear what’s clean. Ish. But that’s not breaking a rule, is it???
I always felt fortunate to have come of age in the late 60s — when blue jeans were the “fashion” and I didn’t really have to bother with all those rules. Dress cleanly, professionally (when appropriate) and leave it at that!
Great reminder Barb.
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Oh…Elyse…you had to make it harder, didn’t you? Clean??? How many times have I looked down and discovered I’ve dribbled something across my _______ (insert whatever body part you want). Probably because I eat with my fingers so much.
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Forks and spoons leak too. I rarely wear white …
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And let’s not even talk about Cheetos and white clothing.
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I love that top you’re wearing! btw
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Thanks, Georgette. It’s what I wear when I drink Limoncello. 🙂
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It is a stupid rule. I wore white jeans on a 75 degree October day and loved every minute of it 🙂
I don’t consider myself very fashionably brave but I do break the rules and wear lots of color whenever possible. I just can’t do the office greige … ugh.
Fun post, Barb! And … great picture 🙂
MJ
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Thanks M.J. Don’t you get tired of trying to figure out what to wear? I do. Some day I stand in front of my clothes and wish I could go naked. But….welll…..
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I do … and that’s why I cleaned my closet out with this rule in mind: If it doesn’t fit or flatter me or make me feel happy when I wear it .. it’s gone. My closet is a lot less jammed and it’s now full of my favorites – teal, purple, turquoise, black/grey/silver, pink and lime 🙂
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I’m glad you wore white – what a stupid rule anyway!
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Let’s all just kick this rule in the rear quarter and have a national wear-white-in-winter-day.
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