Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Lakita:

People joke about the wearing of white after Labor Day, but what are they really talking about? Traditionally, white clothing was not worn after Labor Day (early September) or before Memorial Day (late May). White was exclusively a summer color, unless you were visiting a resort or a tropical climate. As soon as Labor Day came around, the fall plaids and wool tweeds came out. The exception was"winter white,"which are white wools and heavier white fabrics made for colder weather.

That was Old School. These days, however, people break all the rules, and this one has taken more than its share of blows. I think the appropriateness of defying it depends on what climate you're in -- in Miami or Southern California, for example, white makes some sense when it's 80 degrees outside, no matter what it says on the calendar. In a colder climate or when it's raining, white looks a bit more out of place on the streets. This is definitely true for white shoes.

It's up to you whether you want to follow this letter of the unwritten fashion law or not. To all the New School footwear fashionistas out there, whether you keep the white shoes in the closet until spring is a style choice only you can make.

Sincerely, Fashion Girl