It has always been the perennial rule that after labor day, white is no longer a viable option. But I'm sure like me you have wondered why this is the case. Who are the people responsible for making this adage permanently stick in our consciousness and also be the one surviving commandment in the bible of fashion that no one is willing to break. Well, according to an article in Time Magazine online, we can thank the beloved aristocrats for implementing the "no white" rule. Apparently, wearing white back in the early 20th century was not only a symbol of wealth but it also signified that you were part of the elite. The "Old Money" population dwelled mostly in the northern part of the country where change of seasons was imminent but they didn't have to wait for climate change to dictate their clothing of choice. They were in an enviable position to escape the miserable arctic weather for warmer posh environments - usually at resorts. And being there obviously required attire made to absorb the heat and so a lot of them sported white linen. So once the official end of summer came around it only made sense to ditch the all white ensemble once and for all and break out the new fall duds. Although this theory has been refuted by many fashion editors who express their frustration that the general consensus has always been to blame certain fashion rules and etiquette on snobbery, this particular explanation doesn't seem that far-fetched. Historically, it has always been those in a position of power who have been able to set the standards and provide the rules for those less fortunate to follow. And power equals money. Nevertheless, this is one rule that has been broken by those comfortable enough in their skin to take that dare. Even first lady Michelle Obama danced the night way during the 2008 Inaugural festivities in her willowy white ball gown. Being fashionable means being a risk taker. And sometimes that means recognizing the fact that certain rules can be or are meant to be broken.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wearing White After Labor Day - Is It Still The Ultimate Sin?
It has always been the perennial rule that after labor day, white is no longer a viable option. But I'm sure like me you have wondered why this is the case. Who are the people responsible for making this adage permanently stick in our consciousness and also be the one surviving commandment in the bible of fashion that no one is willing to break. Well, according to an article in Time Magazine online, we can thank the beloved aristocrats for implementing the "no white" rule. Apparently, wearing white back in the early 20th century was not only a symbol of wealth but it also signified that you were part of the elite. The "Old Money" population dwelled mostly in the northern part of the country where change of seasons was imminent but they didn't have to wait for climate change to dictate their clothing of choice. They were in an enviable position to escape the miserable arctic weather for warmer posh environments - usually at resorts. And being there obviously required attire made to absorb the heat and so a lot of them sported white linen. So once the official end of summer came around it only made sense to ditch the all white ensemble once and for all and break out the new fall duds. Although this theory has been refuted by many fashion editors who express their frustration that the general consensus has always been to blame certain fashion rules and etiquette on snobbery, this particular explanation doesn't seem that far-fetched. Historically, it has always been those in a position of power who have been able to set the standards and provide the rules for those less fortunate to follow. And power equals money. Nevertheless, this is one rule that has been broken by those comfortable enough in their skin to take that dare. Even first lady Michelle Obama danced the night way during the 2008 Inaugural festivities in her willowy white ball gown. Being fashionable means being a risk taker. And sometimes that means recognizing the fact that certain rules can be or are meant to be broken.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment