As we go into the holiday weekend and begin to usher in the wonder that is Fall, I've been thinking a lot about cool weather wardrobes.
I grew up amongst traditional Southern women who were committed to not wearing linen, seersucker, white shoes and pants, sandals, shorts and flip flops after Labor Day and before Easter. To take it a step further, I distinctly remember not being able to wear shorts (no matter the temperature reading) before Memorial Day.
As an adult, I've kept true to most all of these sartorial mores but there is the matter of white denim pants. I tend not to be afraid to wear them beyond September. I've sported them with a wonderful heather gray sweater and a suede boot or cheetah peep toe. I contend that gray, chocolate and black can warm up white denim. Add a scarf and nice bag and you reek sophisticated chic. I do not mind being a risk-taker in this regard. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever gotten a second glance. Someone on Twitter said it best yesterday, "When it comes to fashion, do what you want."
Oprah's Creative Director, Adam Glassman, offers a few tips on doing white jeans well beyond summer.
What are some of your seasonal wardrobe change habits? What do YOU think of white jeans during Fall?
I don't follow the no white after Labor Day rule. I think it's a very random stopping point. If it's still hot/warm outside, white is still very appropriate as are flip flops, shorts, etc. A lot of people are carrying white into the winter now as well, which I think paired with the right colors looks fine.
ReplyDeleteI wear white year round, but I wouldn't wear certain seasonal fabrics. I just think you would look ridiculous wearing white seersucker and linen if you have to wear a coat.
ReplyDeleteI'm from a traditional Southern family as well with all the same rules... making them that much more fun to break! bwa ha ha I love your ideas and think there's nothing chicer than a black cowle neck sweater and white trousers with heels or boots! Saucy!
ReplyDeleteI am also from a family that did not wear white after Labor Day. But after living in California for three years while my spouse served in tha military and year round temps of 75 degrees and higher I fell out of that routine. Wear your white and anything else that you are comfortable in. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend. Blessings-P
ReplyDeleteI find Sept/Oct and Mar/April the hardest months to know what to wear. It can be 75 or 45 degrees in any of those months. Even in the North, my Mother always told me no white after Labor Day was a rule that couldn't and should never be broken. I've pretty much adhered to the rule, but cannot and will not give up my white jeans until at least November!
ReplyDeleteOooh no! Its still a tacky move. Summer is over and that means your white outfits must be put in storage.
ReplyDeleteThe wearing of white and donning summer fabric has more to do with protecting the body during the change in the weather than aesthetics, actually! Just like eating seasonal food appropriate to your regional climate protects the body! That's why there's winter woolen white (or woolen blend fabrics-not as itchy)...which is actually eggshell or off-white, but still pretty, nevertheless!
ReplyDeleteHate to burst anyone's bubble, but just wait until you get much older...you'll note the difference for sure for going out unprotected! Our mothers, grannies, and aunts never lied! It's like Ripley's...believe it or not! -pearls
I think those notions of not wearing white after Labor Day are old fashion. Wear the white....it's still hot outside!! When the weather turns cooler....anchor the white with a few fall colored pieces!
ReplyDeleteWhen I am hot, and the activity warrants it, I am in shorts! Hey I am retired!
ReplyDeleteThis is one thing I do not have to worry about. I gave up white jeans in elementary school! Nuff Said!
ReplyDeleteI'm very strict when it comes to clothes and seasons. I love my white jeans but dangit if I wasn't sure to wear them on saturday before they would be put away after labor day! I just persuaded myself to like white jeans again this year. However, If I were traveling to some tropical locale for a vacation I would wear them. And if I saw someone else wearing them I would think anything wrong with it, its just not my preference. guess I'm old school. I will be wearing my feet out until it is really cooler. And I don't really like white shoes at all and don't own a pair. But my linen and bright colors like turquoise and lime green in light fabrics are pretty much put away until april. On days when its unseasonably warm, I'll wear a thinner fabric and sandals but the colors are still fall. Plus on those days the evenings are often still cool. On the flip side I think it looks kinda weird when people try to "winterize" outfits-just because you slapped a turtleneck under that thin blouse or dress doesn't mean its right for winter.
ReplyDeleteI think when you live in a warm climate, the rules don't matter. Here in GA, while it is still warm, I will wear shorts and sandals as long as it's hot, but I won't wear white. Not because I think it's "wrong", but because it does seem like fall...even if it is 90 degrees (except for white jeans...like you said, they are great anytime). When I go to a hot climate in the winter, I will wear warm-weather clothes and fabric.
ReplyDeleteI was in NYC last week for work and spent a lot of time shopping, mostly window shopping and scouting out the fall and winter trends. I saw many things that are considered "summer" items crossing into fall and winter, so I think we are safe on pushing the limits of these pieces. I however have a hard time making myself do it, worrying someone will see it as a faux pas. I guess old habits are hard to break!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a pair of white pants but if I did, I would rock them in the fall!
ReplyDeleteI do what I want.
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