A few days ago I got into a lengthy, meaningful discussion with some friends about the appropriateness of wearing white pants or jeans after Labor Day. We agreed that it doesn’t seem fair to have to surrender the white fashion option when it’s still 90 degrees outside and I questioned whether or not it would be okay for me to wear my white jeans when I go to Orlando next weekend. I mean, it’s Florida for goodness sake. Anyone who’s ever watched an episode of Miami Vice knows they let you wear anything down there.
We never really reached a decision that I felt good about. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to wear white jeans and risk being mocked and ridiculed in public. And then I’d have to tell my grandmother that it’s a new day for fashion and the rules from the 1940’s don’t necessarily apply.
So when I got home I decided to turn to the internet for guidance and direction because heaven knows the internet contains only factual information. Thanks to the internet I know to never adopt a stray dog on the beach because I could get it home and bathe it only to find out it’s a nutria rat. I know this really happened to someone because I read about it ON THE INTERNET.
Shockingly, the internet was filled with conflicting information about wearing white after Labor Day and the origins of the rule. It made me feel tired and confused. So I did what I always do when I feel tired and confused and went to bed.
Then yesterday I received an email from my friend Holly and she was wondering about my decision to pack away my white jeans because she’d heard that all the fashion magazines are saying it’s okay to wear white year round.
This led me to do about four and a half minutes of further research and I’ve decided that the no white after Labor Day rule applies to handbags, linen, eyelet, gauzy sundresses, and shoes.
(Honestly, I kind of think the only time anyone should wear white shoes is if she happens to be a bride or a go-go dancer or three years old)
I’ve decided that today’s fashion climate allows for white jeans and/or pants to transition into fall and winter clothing provided that the rest of your color palette has a fall feel. Think white jeans with a black jacket or a charcoal gray sweater.
Of course maybe I’m just being swayed by the fact that I really want to wear my white jeans for a little while longer.
I’d love to hear what y’all think about the no white after Labor Day rule.
Now for a few questions:
1. Rebecca asks: “How do people make belts work when the dress doesn’t have belt loops?? I’ve seen it done and I just can’t figure out how.”
I wish I could tell you that there is some secret belt formula but, as far as I know, there’s not. The key for me is to find a belt that fits properly depending on whether I want to wear it cinched around my waist or slung low across my hips.
Or you could always take the dress to a tailor and have her add some belt loops to keep your belt secure. I will say that I don’t recommend trying to use double stick tape because, while it seems like a good idea in theory, it’s a good way to end up with little wads of tape falling from your waistline.
If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them in the comments.
All of a sudden I feel like this is the Fashion Friday that will finally expose the fact that I am really not any kind of fashion expert but, rather, a girl who just likes to shop and sometimes manages to look put together.
2. Maggie asks: “What’s a girl to wear to a semi-fancy affair such as a rehearsal dinner or a night out on the town/nice dinner with the significant other or an after-hours work party?”
Considering that I put on makeup for the first time in a week yesterday, I’m not entirely sure that I remember what a girl wears for a nice evening out on the town or any kind of party. I do feel fairly certain that it doesn’t involve Nike running shorts and an Adidas t-shirt.
You can never go wrong with a basic little black dress. The right one can be a timeless piece that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. I have a black dress in my closet right now that I bought at least seven years ago and I’ve worn it to everything from funerals to weddings. At the time I felt guilty because it wasn’t cheap, but I have more than gotten my money out of that dress.
But sometimes a girl isn’t in the mood for a basic black dress. You could always wear a printed maxi dress or a cute little one-shouldered dress in a fun print.
Something like this dress from J.Crew is also a darling choice. If you’re feeling really daring then you could go with a jumpsuit. (I know that’s a frightening word, but it can be a good look)
And finally, you can go with a great pair of pants and dress them up with a pretty ruffled top.
You also may want to put on some makeup.
I just added that last part for me because, seriously, physician heal thyself.
3. MIchelle asks: “How do you wear boots? Do you tuck the jeans in and if so, what jeans work best?”
There is really no right or wrong way to wear boots, but the trend right now is to wear jeans or leggings tucked into boots. The issue is that this requires a skinny jean unless you want to spend the better half of your day trying to stuff a flared leg into a boot. It defies the natural laws of physics.
Not that I know the natural laws of physics, but I feel confident that this goes against nature and may even cause you to throw a boot against the wall of your closet. Hypothetically speaking.
But if the skinny jean isn’t for you, feel free to wear boots with your jeans over them. You can always show off a cute pair of boots by wearing a skirt with them instead of pants.
God bless America, land of the free and home of people who can wear boots however they choose.
That’s all for today because I’m exhausted from the minutes of research I did for the great white jeans debate of ’09.
Y’all have a great Friday.