In the early 1900s, women were going through a lot of radical changes. They gained the right to vote. They became aware that they could do more than have babies and run a household. Their independence was leading right up to the sexual revolution of the 1960s. The montage above shows how fashion trends changed from 1900-1990. Somewhere in the latter part of the 20th century, the rule to put away all the white summer duds became obsolete.
There was a certain sleeve length that should be worn for various occasions. Different shoes for different events. Dress length also became a factor as hemlines slowly rose. Gloves and hats were part of every young debutante’s wardrobe. The rule for not wearing white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day, may have been due to the time of the year more than anything. Once Autumn made its appearance, the streets became littered with leaves and dirt which would easily attach themselves to those pretty white shoes. The whites of summer were intended to reflect the sun and keep you from sweating profusely. Usually those whites were made of cotton or linen, to further lighten the weight of the garment.
Fashion trends change and many of the old rules get swallowed up by new, but I still adhere to not wearing white shoes in the winter. However, if you live in the frozen Tundra of Minnesota, white shoes would act as the perfect camouflage during our snowy months. Add to that a pair of white pants and jacket and you could become invisible as you shovel the sidewalk and freak out your neighbors. If you needed a little time to yourself, you could easily hide from the kids. The advantages to wearing white in winter are countless.
In the cold months of winter we choose to wear darker colors, however, when you’re a young mom you have to be aware of shortcuts. For example doesn’t it make more sense to have your kids wear dark colors in summer so that all the dirt and grime from their outdoor activities wouldn’t show up quite as much? Think about it – you’re camping with your children. Grass stains and water marks from fishing in a creek along with S’mores served at the campfire definitely are not pretty. It would certainly be to mom’s advantage to dress them in dark clothes all year round.
So, as time changes, so do traditions. In fact, they become more a habit than a tradition. They don’t really accomplish much and besides, what difference does it make? Today our young women are faced with much more difficult challenges. Sometimes we just have to break the rules or at least bend them somewhat, especially when it comes to fashion. So, put away those white shoes and other summer clothes and get out the flannel.
HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!
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Happy Labor Day, Kathy! I remember that saying, “don’t wear white after labor day.” Very funny about trying to not blend into your environment and totally freak out your neighbors.
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Happy Labor Day, my funny friend. Enjoy these last few days of summer.
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My first two years of high-school, we had to wear dresses Then the last two years pants…not jeans. People look at me like I am nuts today. Love the detail in your story.
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thanks.
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This is so enjoyable, Mama K! Yes, when the boys were small I dreaded cleaning the baseball white uniforms~yet, I miss it! It made sense to hide the grass and dirt stains! I’ve never been in “fashion” tee hee. But was told by a STUDENT years ago after buying a cream colored suit, no less, about the after Labor Day rule! Gasp! I wore it to our Christmas programs! What was I thinking? I giggled about you wearing white in winter and hiding and freaking out neighbors, tee hee. There’s me, buying a new flannel~my style lol that I hope never goes out! One thing that always remains in style is you~you’re timeless and beautiful. I just said your names a couple of hours ago to our Father. Happy Labor Day and every day. I love you so much! Due to my platelets plummeting again last Friday, I’ll be getting “boosted” daily for a while. Know I wrap you in beautiful colors of Fall and our Father’s love! 💛🫶🏻🤟🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
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Thanks for your sweet words. I’m so sorry to hear your platelets are down again. I will ask God to intervene and lift them up as only He can. Paul is doing really well. Of course he doesn’t complain about pain, but he has really slowed down. He’s always been a dynamo. I could never keep up with him. Now the tables are turned. To look at him, you would think there’s nothing wrong. We see the eye doc this week and a follow up with heart doctor. Our lives go on and we continue our little road trips. We visited our son, Bob and his lady, Janet, along with their two dogs. It’s always good to get a doggie fix. Love you, sweet lady. Hope you have a great Labor Day.
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One of my favorite Red Buttons-esque, Never Got a Dinner jokes is “And then there was Adam who turned to Eve and said, ‘You’re wearing that leaf? And it’s after Labor Day!?’ … never got a dinner. He got a bite of some fruit, but he never got a dinner.
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lol
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