I’m no fashionista. This truth is self evident. Most of my jeans are ripped. My favorite shoes are Converse, preferably the ones that don’t require tying. So knowing this about me, why did I nearly panic this morning thinking that after today, Labor Day, I wouldn’t be able to wear my favorite white jeans for months?
Call me old school.
Or simply call me old. I realize I’m showing every single one of my southern-fried fifty-four years.
Labor Day, which became a federal holiday in 1894, marked the end of summer. Folks who summered on the shore, packed up their beach and resort wear and returned to the city.
Doesn’t summering on the shore sound delightful? (Well, maybe not when there’s a hurricane threatening to come aboard.) But really, most any time you can use “summer” as a verb, the sentence is bound to sound heavenly.
But back to wearing white jeans after Labor Day.
Here in the South, the weather may still top out in the nineties well into the beginning of fall. Even so, wearing white after Labor Day has for the most part been viewed as a fashion faux pas. If I stop and think about it, it seems a bit silly to hold such a belief when a huge section of our society seems to hold nothing sacred at all.
Last month, I saw a group of women walking around in Times Square wearing only body paint. And the Naked Cowboy wears only tight whitey briefs. I wonder if he’ll switch to black boxers for autumn?
This year I’m loosening my ironclad grip on this whole wearing white after Labor Day rule. I plan to keep wearing my white jeans for a bit longer. Maybe until Halloween. Crazy, I know.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Musical Pairing:
Jose Gonzalez, Step Out
I am wearing white jeans all year this year. Making a statement.
But you’re the BAT. The BAT can do whatever she wants.
This is so funny to me because a couple of days ago I was thinking about my white jeans and if I should be done with them for awhile. I actually put them in the bottom of the pile in my jean drawer. I did ask my fashion consultant (husband) if the rule regarding white jeans after Labor Day still applied. He said that was crazy! LOL
See, I think lots of people are pondering this. I’m going with Tom (if I can stand it).
Right! I think anything goes these days!
Talya, i think you are fibbing about your age! I have it on good authority that you are only 29! Confess!
Now Ken, flattery will get you everywhere.
When I was in Jr. High School I was at a dance at a classmates house and it was about a week before Easter. I was wearing a white skirt. While I was out on the dance floor with my boyfriend, one of my girlfriends leaned over and said to me “White’s not in til after Easter.” I thought I was going to die! I wanted to hide under something. The shame stayed with me for years!!!
Flash forward about 50 years — now I’m living in New England where they wear anything at any time of the year. Boots in summer, white pants in November – they don’t care! But it was hard to break out of that stigma. Maybe I’ll go crazy and wear white pants to work tomorrow!
Words can be so hurtful! Thanks for sharing your story. I’m sure we’ve all been there and experienced something similar. Glad you are going crazy tomorrow!
I’ll break out my seersucker in your honor Sunday for church.
Perfect. I hope you’ll post a picture!
I labor under the same dictates and have had similar thoughts. I may wear mine a little longer in support of you!
I always thought it was white shoes that you couldn’t wear between Labor Day and Easter?! I say wear ’em!
Just the other day I heard some fashion guru say that wearing white after Labor Day is “perfectly fashionable and correct.” I’m no fashion plate either, but when it’s still 90+ degrees outside in October, I’ll probably still be wearing my white denims! But with pearls. Always pearls. (My Nonnie just rolled over in her grave!)
I’m still wearing white. (Well, not right this minute; I’m still in my gowntail. It’s a holiday. Right? Taking the day off!) Momma ?
I’m with you, Aunt BAT. Still in my gowntail and may be tomorrow too! And I say wear what you want anytime. I quit giving a damn about being “correctly fashionable” years ago. In fact, I haven’t even worn my white jeans this year but I will look for them tonight so I can purposely wear them till Christmas and beyond. Bette Davis got it right, getting old ain’t for sissies. ?
This was pretty ironclad when I was growing up, but I’ve given myself permission to wear my white jeans whenever I want. However, when I wear them, I will probably go through the process of remembering it’s no big deal. It would be old-fashioned to put away the white!