Feature Submission Article

Where art thou white?
White, vanishing in closets all around the world…but only after Labor Day and before Easter

Some, and many, often ponder the question “is it appropriate to wear white in the winter?” Over time there have been reasons and speculations of why white should only be worn before Labor Day, it seems everyone has made it a fashion faux pas. Some don’t even know why they don’t cross this line, but they go by this rule anyway.
One of the factual reasons has to do with temperature. Dark colors attract heat, and trap it into the skin, thus, some avoid wearing black throughout the day during the summer. White reflects light and heat, which means that it would make you cooler in the winter, so logically this seems like a great reason to avoid white during those chilly days.
Another reason dates back to the 1950’s, more and more people were entering being middle class society “nouveau-riche folks.” These people were unaware of the guidelines to follow for fitting in with the high end fashion looks, so there were rules made up to follow so that it would make it much easier to fit in, on of the rules happened to be no white during the winter.
G.R.I.T.S-“Girls raised in the South” have been tagged as refraining from using bad manners, fashion is said to be more formal, and it is rude to wear white before Easter, and after Labor Day. Star Jones is a home-grown girl, and has quoted white shoes, “are for Easter Sunday and not the dead of winter.”
To some, accepting the rule of this white category was descent, but to exempt some of this rule, white tennis shoes and off-white boots have been the exception. Crème colored shirts have sometimes been under the wind, but some don’t even want to touch the subject of white pants, that is absolutely niche’ kit for some.
Have we forgotten about L.A., Florida, and all of those hot cities that get a massive amount of heat during our winter, some that barely require wearing a coat during December. What rules do they follow? Tampa’s Kim McGanty says “I ignore those rules and wear white all year long,” but furthermore she quotes, “but in my native Virginia, I would have died before wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. It just isn’t done.” Spoken like a true Southern Belle. So, I guess it is remotely decided that it depends on where you’re from, or where you live.
As it seems, each year this rule gets smaller and further away. People are now sports long white coats, knitted soft white sweaters, nicely done white stilettos, although pants aren’t yet worked into the mix.
As for men, a man pondered the question on askmen.com “I’m debating the questions whether or not I should be wearing light beige and white pants during the winter.” Askmen.com responds, “I’m personally strict on this, unless you’re lucky enough to travel to a tropical paradise where the weather is always sunny and warm. If you’re a really stylish fellow, then wearing white pants in winter might not be completely out of place. Some guys can get away with wearing things as silly as aluminum foil pants and still end up looking great. Alas, for the rest of us, darker colored pants are considered the proper choice for winter.” Therefore, it goes to show not only do us girls have our own little rule book of fashion, apparently men keep an agenda on the whether and faux pas as well.
There has been a definite increase in breaking this rule. There has never been a rule more focused on by society than a color, white being deemed unacceptable and being so widely embraced. In The Hilltop, 2002 newspaper article, it claims that designers such as Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Channel, and Versace, are on there way to break and make a new rule, having crisp white staples in their fall/winter collection. They call people who “dare” wear white after Labor Day innovative, creative and bold.
I found a list of new rules on a website called Downy.com, referring to this old school white rule, they believe that this white rule has been long gone, as long as you follow a new list of rules on how to wear it right, such as, “Take a classic white t-shirt and pair it under an oversized chunky grey or black sweater with a black pencil skirt or skinny jeans for weekends,” or another example, “It’s a cinch! Try on a waist defining belt to create an hourglass curve. Show off your shape and draw attention with a wide white leather belt.” Then again, why can’t we just wear white, with white?
When will it be socially acceptable to trash this rule, maybe it will go on for centuries more. All I know is that those crazy fashion designers will sometimes ignore, and go by there own book of rules, which in some cases, includes white apparel for winter wear, black jumpsuits for summer, and neon green leg warmers.
As shocking as this sounds, some people have never been aware of this rule, some don’t even know it ever existed. I wonder, is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Everyone has there own opinion on fashion faux pas, and yes’s, but sometimes the average Joe doesn’t care. In a way this is wonderful, some people just rock whatever, and others are out to make a statement, I’m sure some people used to wear white just for the oh so shocking effect on people, and some could possibly have not been aware. Don’t always accuse someone of wearing white wrong, they might possibly be from that hot city, and woops, forgot. As much research as I did, the wires still aren’t touching, I am clueless as to whether we have agreed on making a new white rule, it seems everyone’s opinion is totally opposite.