Do you have a new dress code after today???

No more white??? No more open-toed sandals? No more sundresses?
Do you have any rules that you follow? Were these passed down from your mom? What are you passing on to your kids?

cj/


Dear Yahoo!:
Why aren't you supposed to wear white after Labor Day?
Fletch
San Francisco, California

Dear Fletch:
As with many customs and etiquette dictums, it's difficult to pin down the reason behind the prohibition against white after Labor Day. We searched on variations of "wear white after Labor Day" and sifted through the Etiquette and Fashion categories in the Yahoo! Directory. We managed to turn up a bit of information on the fashion dictate.
Originally, the rule was more along the lines of "Only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day." Furthermore, it mainly applied to white pumps or dress shoes. White tennis shoes and off-white boots seem exempt, as are any shoes worn by a winter bride. "Winter white" clothing (e.g., cream-colored wool) is acceptable between Labor Day and Memorial Day too.

The only logical reasoning we could find cited temperature. Image consultant Nancy Penn suggests that because white reflects light and heat, wearing white would make you cooler in winter, and thus should be avoided. But others suggest the rule stems from a class issue. Acting Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele notes that in the late 19th century and the 1950s, more people were entering the middle classes. These nouveau-riche folks were often unaware of the standards of high society, so they were given specific codified rules to follow in order to fit in.

Several sites quoted a charming refrain about G.R.I.T.S. -- girls raised in the South. This bit of folklore states, "Southern girls know bad manners when they see them," and a clear sign of bad manners is wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. Because fashions in the American South can be a little more formal than elsewhere, perhaps the no-white-shoes rule came from south of the Mason-Dixon Line? Even Star Jones (an otherwise fashion-forward Southern lady) admits that white shoes "are for Easter Sunday and not the dead of winter."

We can only surmise that the point of this rule is to ensure that people only wear summer fashions during the actual summer months. The opposite probably applies as well, but people generally don't need to be reminded to avoid wearing a goose-down parka in 100-degree weather. If you live in a locale with summer temperatures year-round, we can't see the harm in wearing white shoes or a head-to-toe white outfit in October. And we promise not to tell Miss Manners.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I don't even wear white shoes in the summer. I hate white shoes. As far as sundresses and open-toe sandals, I think that's for the person to decide. Even in winter around here, I've seen people wearing sandals and little strap/strapless tops (they usually wear a little jacket over them). But I've always heard the no white shoes after Labor Day, which is fine by me! I don't think the fashion police is quite as strict as it was back years ago.

ditto mom2twins2 on the white shoes -- I hate white shoes. I guess I won't wear white shorts or capris and I'll put away my linen skirts and tops -- they seem very summery to me. I know it doesn't really matter anymore but that's just what I do.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

Seriously? I mean does anyone really abide by this?

That's what I was thinking too!

I wear my white flip flops until it gets too cold to wear them, lol. I'm wearing the same clothes this week as last week.

I wear what I want!!

Yes, Im a rebel, sooooo not!!

Its Florida I wear what doesn't over heat me....and I only wear white flip flop or sneakers!!

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

I'm a rebel with you. The "rules" don't apply in Florida, too damn hot to care about rules.

I won't wear thong-revealing pants after Labor day. Oh wait, I won't wear them before Labor day either.

I like the whale tail look........wait doesn't everyone!!! LOL

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Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

My mother does. She is 68 and was a young mom right alongside June Cleaver. She has asked me to please wear a dress, no pants, to her funteral.

I follow the no white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day when in her presense, out of respect, but otherwise not.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I don't follow the "rules". I usually don't wear white since I seem to get it dirty no matter how careful I am. I tell the DH that he could put me in a sterile room with nothing in it and I'd find a way to get dirty. I wear what I'm comfortable in. I figure if people don't like it that's too tough!

No, no dress code around here. As long as it's clean and you're warm, it's good for me! DD is wearing a striped tank with some bermuda shorts tomorrow for her first day of school and she has white sandals picked out to go with it. I'll wear my white flip flops until it's just too cold anymore.


My aunt in Miami is the June Cleaver type, always has a dress on, wish I could be comfortable in a dress.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Well, considering it's still 95+ here, I will continue to wear my white pants and white capris. I usually wear them until it starts getting cool in another month, month and a half.

oy,I am so glad i do not live in france anymore!!!!where you are supposed to be born with a sense of fashion.i miss the boat on that one!!!!
and I am in the south,and fashion is really not a big deal around here!!!!
white shoes,hum white sneakers! if they were on sale,heck yeah i am wearing them!!!!

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By the time you make ends meet, they move the ends

I'm with you guys on this one. I'm in Louisiana and not only are we just as hot as all get-up, it's really humid too. I'll continue to wear any clothes that don't stick-to or suffocate me!

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~~~~~~~~~~

Kristee
Kritter0114@aol.com

"Hold on, let me check....YES! I do have a coupon for that!"

Funny!
Well, I must admit... I am usually aware of it on myself, yet don't notice it on others. What I mean is that I always think that I shouldn't wear white after labor day as that is what I was taught growing up... but probably do sometimes and think that people are thinking I am ignorant or clueless, yet I would never even notice if someone else were wearing it and wouldn't think anything bad of them even if I did notice!
I know... I'm wierd!

My in-laws are taking the entire family to Mexico in Oct. and I was wondering if it is okay to wear white!

Well, it has been over 100degrees for the last ten days here in No. California, and is still supposed to be over 100 for the next 3 or 4. After that, it will ONLY be in the 90s for the next 3 or 4 weeks, when it will become 80 or so.

White will be worn here by me until I feel like NOT wearing white.....yep, don't TELL me I CAN'T do something, cuz I will if I want to.....

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

I live in the desert so I don't think there are any rules on what to wear after Labor Day.

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Work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt, and
Dance like you do when nobody's watching.

MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

I'll from the South I moved to the valley 6 years ago My Mom she would not let us wear white after Labor Day.,when we were kids growing up, now most of my clothes is Summer items...because we have over 8 months of Summer weather Here in the Valley,I wear what every I what too,Yes!!!! it a southern thing concerning wearing white after labor Day,winter white yes....

lol.. i just wear whats comfortable...

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"Never loan your car to someone you have given birth too"

I grew up in the late 50's early 60's It was white between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I'm still stuck on your shoes, purse and belt have to be the same color. I don't do belts much anymore, but if I'm going somewhere nice my shoes and purse are still the same color.

I wear what I want and don't care what others think.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

WELL ITS 90DEGREES HERE TODAY SO I will wear what keeps me cool LOL!!! I am more a depends on the temp person I will then wear whats comfortable for that day. Sometimes is 20 below here in january other times its 85 in january so I just move with the flow

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mom of 3 greats girls

Ditto here!

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

I wear whatever I want, if I wanted to be told what to do I would have stayed and lived with my parents.