rules for wearing white

[SuzMate]

Jane,

 

I live in San Diego.

 

As to the subject of this thread - I never ever wear white shoes; don't know why I hate them so. I don't think I've ever worn a pair of white pants either. I don't think they are very flattering on most people. I do own a white jacket... and I might even wear it today... and I won't feel like I'm breaking a rule. We are having Santa Anna winds and yesterday it was nearly 80 and very very dry and windy.

 

San Diegans dress more by the weather and not by the rules. And I'm okay with that.

 

 

Suzanne

[Jane110]

 

Also what kids wear in high school and college is an accurate barometer of what is fashionable.

 

 

 

LOL!!! I couldn't disagree more!

[SuzMate]

Suzanne,

 

Also, since I've been a paid writer for only about a year, I do like to kind of "practice" my writing here. I sometimes write some pieces just for myself that no one sees. But I figure if I'm taking the time to write, it might as well be seen and if people like it, then so much the better.

The articles I'm paid to write I have to do alot of research for. For my posts here, I just write about what I already know.

 

I should also say, good luck with the writing - you are very interesting to read.

[Host Mama]

It seems from reading through this thread that there really is no easy answer to this question. Having traveled in various parts of the country, I have noticed that people dress very differently. I wouldnt wear white in the winter, cause if I fell down in the snow I would blend in and lay there for days before someone found me. Having said that.if I lived where the grass is always green, well maybe white would be ok.

Who made these rules way back when? Was it Miss Manners or was it 'they'? We could go back to when it was appropriate to wear gloves and when it was not. Or the times when you didnt dare walk out the door with out your seams being straight on your nylons. :-) :-)

All I am really saying is that we all come from different perspectives on this and many other topics on the fashion boards. And all we ask is that everyone talk about the subject at hand, and not the person who posted it.

You all are a great group of gals, and we all learn daily from each other, and that is what this board is really all about.

[derf5585]

Who made these rules way back when? Was it Miss Manners or was it 'they'?

 

It was me

[Jane110]

Jane,

 

I live in San Diego.

 

As to the subject of this thread - I never ever wear white shoes; don't know why I hate them so. I don't think I've ever worn a pair of white pants either. I don't think they are very flattering on most people. I do own a white jacket... and I might even wear it today... and I won't feel like I'm breaking a rule. We are having Santa Anna winds and yesterday it was nearly 80 and very very dry and windy.

 

San Diegans dress more by the weather and not by the rules. And I'm okay with that.

 

Suzanne

 

I'm not a fan of white either. I own one pair of white sandals which I hardly ever wear (I got talked into them) and one pair of white linen pants (which are dressy and I've worn twice) and of course, a few white shirts.

 

I agree with you. San Diego is alot different than NYC and other northern climates and a pair of white shoes in 80 degree weather wouldn't look odd. But here in the north we're in our winter coats, scarves and gloves and a pair of pure white pumps would look ridiculous.

[BlueHerons]

Excellent posts as usual Jane.

 

Maybe CC should pay you? LOL.

[Jane110]

Excellent posts as usual Jane.

 

Maybe CC should pay you? LOL.

 

 

Thanks pal....for BOTH comments! :) :) :)

[derf5585]

Thanks pal....for BOTH comments! :) :) :)

 

I noticed your comments were about womans wear. Any advice for the people of the male persuasion.

[Jane110]

I noticed your comments were about womans wear. Any advice for the people of the male persuasion.

 

 

So few mean wear white shoes I didn't think it was worth mentioning.

 

My experience with men and white shoes is that they're generally worn by by extremely fashionable and stylish men OR they're worn by the totally fashion clueless.

So, in the first case, they'll know when to wear and when not to wear and in the case of the second group, they simply don't care.

 

As far as clothing, the same rules apply. White linen or white cotton pants are not appropiate in the winter in northern climates. They're fine in Florida, the carribbean and other hot weather climates.

White wool is fine, though I have yet to see a man in a pair of winter white pants yet, other than Tom Wolfe.

[FinelyRetired]

Sometimes I think we're making such a lovely effort to tell everyone they're "ok" to wear whatever they want, I think we may miss the point and their real request for honest, current advice. They don't just want to know what is okay........they want to know what the "fashionable" (if they still exist) ladies are REALLY wearing. What's fashion right now.

 

The last poster said that: "White linen or white cotton pants are not appropriate in the winter in northern climates. They're fine in Florida, the carribean and other hot climates."

 

I'm not going to disagree with that concept.........but let's be honest, it's not truly happening for the women we would call "fashionable" in Fla and other hot climates. And no one really helped the posters by making them think that "just okay" was fashionable "okay."

 

I'd like to hear an honest answer from some of the women here the others look up to for fashion advice to one question: When was the last time YOU went to lunch on Worth Ave in PB or in Old Naples in JANUARY wearing white linen pants and white sandals? According to you it'd be "okay" but I don't think YOU would and I don't see a single problem telling people that you personally wouldn't. They want to hear what YOU'D wear.

 

I do NOT understand the reluctance to share what YOU wear and the fact that some clothes, while we want to be PC and say okay, may be in the minority in a certain venue.

[Host Star]

from a palm beacher>>>>>>>>> hope this helps on white on worth avenue in jan/feb/ winter months.. I live very close to worth avenue and shop there often, lunching at Taboo...white pants and long white cotten skirts and anything beige have been staples in the winter months. if we happen to get a little chill for a few days, you'll see some black polo type sweaters, or cashmere worn or a light weight leather jacket, mostly black or white... shades of beige and brown seem to be popular pairing with white so far this year in the palm beach area for casual clothes..including skinny jeans and stiletto heels.(jimmy choo, blahnik ).or wedgie type sandals.. this is all daytime wear.. nitetime its black, browns and jeans in the restaurants.along with the same type of shoes . black tie affairs are formal attirebut there are still some 'older' dowager type in their Lilly Pulitzers ..(the old florida shades of aqua, white and pinks for the winter) you can see them getting out of their chauffered cars in the afternoons on worth avenue.. the younger set drive their own Porscshes, (lots of Cayennes) and range rovers and BMWs.. fortunately i'm not in the Lilly Pulitzer era but I do have a hard time walking in Jimmy Choos.. :)

[Jane110]

Thanks for the Palm Beach report Star.

 

Coincidently, I was in Hermes yesterday with MrsMoose and we struck up a conversation with a women who's visiting from Palm Beach. She said that most restaurants in PB require men to wear a tie. I thought that was interesting and suprised me a bit. She wasn't a dowager either. She was about 40 and very hip looking in her expensive jeans and Hermes flats.

 

My Mom lives in Ft. Lauderdale and is extremely fashionable. She wears summer clothes when it's hot but can't wait for a few cool days so she can wear some of her leather pieces. However, I think she puts her white pants and skirts away for the "winter" just to feel like she has a small change of seasons, even though she wears light colored cottons all year long in the daytime. But for evening, she definitely likes to wear darker colors in the winter months and lighter, brighter colors in the summer months.

[Host Star]

Thanks for the Palm Beach report Star.

 

Coincidently, I was in Hermes yesterday with MrsMoose and we struck up a conversation with a women who's visiting from Palm Beach. She said that most restaurants in PB require men to wear a tie. I thought that was interesting and suprised me a bit. She wasn't a dowager either. She was about 40 and very hip looking in her expensive jeans and Hermes flats.

 

My Mom lives in Ft. Lauderdale and is extremely fashionable. She wears summer clothes when it's hot but can't wait for a few cool days so she can wear some of her leather pieces. However, I think she puts her white pants and skirts away for the "winter" just to feel like she has a small change of seasons, even though she wears light colored cottons all year long in the daytime. But for evening, she definitely likes to wear darker colors in the winter months and lighter, brighter colors in the summer months.

 

jane,, I don't think there are any more 'rules'.. the few restaurants in palm beach that require ties still let women in with their skinny tight jeans.. of course the men are 100 and the women are 30 and gorgeous.. lol....like chesterfields off worth ave :) funny how in fl. things vary from city to city.. ft. lauderdale is funky casual, boca is black black and more black, palm beach is resort casual whites (croquet is big there now.. lol) and nite time black.. a little note about new york.. my son went to a reception at the UN last week which was 'black tie'.. he wore a tux but said a lot of men were in suits , some even sport jackets but all wore ties.. (i had to ask , you know.. lol)

[derf5585]

She wasn't a dowager either. She was about 40 and very hip looking in her expensive jeans and Hermes flats.

 

A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or Dower

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowager

[Host Star]

A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property, or Dower

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowager

derf, you forgot to read the second sentence in your source..

 

 

 

In loose popular usage, dowager as a stand-alone noun may refer to any elderly woman, especially one who is wealthy or behaves with dignity

[happysinglemom]

. Also what kids wear in high school and college is an accurate barometer of what is fashionable.

 

Oh my. You are joking of course??

[happysinglemom]

...of course the men are 100 and the women are 30...

 

Ugh. Doesn't sound like anywhere I'd like to be. Never been attracted to older men!!

[SuzMate]

Never been attracted to older men!!

 

Neither are they - it's their bank account they are interested in. ;)

[tcocktail]

This is a "hot button" question so you might get varied opinions. I'm in the fashion industry so I'll give you the concensus of the professionals - editors, designers, stylists - who are in the business and deal with these things on a daily basis.

After that, you're on your own to make your own decisions as there are no fashion police who will arrest you for breaking rules. (though I have seen people show up in "Fashion Don't" columns with their faces obscured):D

 

The No White after Labor Day really refers to summer weight clothing and pure white shoes in northern climates. A white cotton or linen skirt/pants/jacket is not appropriate for fall or winter. However, white wool is perfectly acceptable. A long sleeved white cotton shirt, is an exception and is fine for winter, but a white short sleeved linen blouse would look "off".

If you're wearing a pair of winter white wool pants, (winter white has an ivory cast and is not pure white) then a pair of winter white shoes are fine, but pure white summer pumps are not.

 

The caribbean is tropical, therefore appropriate attire is summer clothing 12 months a year. Slight shifts in temperature and/or air conditioning might make a lightweight shawl or cardigan necessary on some evenings, but it's still summer all year long. So white clothes, shoes, sandals are just fine.

So yes, bring your white shorts and your white sandals on your carribbean cruise and leave the winter clothes made from velvet and wool at home.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Even though this is not a "white"question, being in the fashion industry I thought you might be able to assist. My sister is getting married for the second time. She decided to have the wedding in Bermuda that friends and family would sail to Bermuda and they would be married at captain John Smith bay Beach. My sister is wearing an ivory wedding dress. The groom's father is standing up for the groom and I am standing up for my sister. It is unusual that a sister would ask her brother to do this but I am still honored. The groom and I have discussed this several times and we can't decide what to wear for the May wedding around 6:30pm. The groom wants to wear a beige suit with no tie. I suggested possibly a navy blue blazer and ivory slacks. So what would you suggest. We are open to anything. Thanks

[Host Star]

as it is on the beach, in bermuda, i like the beige suit with no tie look....

[Jane110]

Neither are they - it's their bank account they are interested in. ;)

 

And the 100 year old men are interested in the 30 y.o women because of the intellectual stimuation and shared experiences? :D

 

I think it's a mutually agreeable business arrangement. ;)

[Jane110]

Even though this is not a "white"question, being in the fashion industry I thought you might be able to assist. My sister is getting married for the second time. She decided to have the wedding in Bermuda that friends and family would sail to Bermuda and they would be married at captain John Smith bay Beach. My sister is wearing an ivory wedding dress. The groom's father is standing up for the groom and I am standing up for my sister. It is unusual that a sister would ask her brother to do this but I am still honored. The groom and I have discussed this several times and we can't decide what to wear for the May wedding around 6:30pm. The groom wants to wear a beige suit with no tie. I suggested possibly a navy blue blazer and ivory slacks. So what would you suggest. We are open to anything. Thanks

 

How nice your sister asked you to stand up for her. What a lovely honor.

 

Personally, I like the idea of the navy jacket and white pants. In photo's I think the beige suits may get "lost" in the photo's and blend with the sand and blend too much with the bride's dress.

 

I think a navy blazer, (in linen, not wool) with white pants would be casually elegant and make for some wonderful photo's on the beach. No tie's needed unless you all like them.

 

Congrats to your sister.

[Jane110]

jane,, I don't think there are any more 'rules'.. the few restaurants in palm beach that require ties still let women in with their skinny tight jeans.. of course the men are 100 and the women are 30 and gorgeous.. lol....like chesterfields off worth ave :) funny how in fl. things vary from city to city.. ft. lauderdale is funky casual, boca is black black and more black, palm beach is resort casual whites (croquet is big there now.. lol) and nite time black..

 

Yes, Florida does seem to have it's niches! :)

 

a little note about new york.. my son went to a reception at the UN last week which was 'black tie'.. he wore a tux but said a lot of men were in suits , some even sport jackets but all wore ties.. (i had to ask , you know.. lol)

 

Depends on how fashionable the man is.

Thursday night I attended the FGI's annual Night of Stars held at Ciprani's. My invitation said Black Tie.

http://fgi.org/index.php?news=507

 

I saw Anna Wintour, Ann Hathway, Julianne Moore, Carolina Herrera, Iman (without David Bowey - phooey!) Gwynnth Paltrow and many other well known names. They were in gorgeous gowns and their escorts were in tuxes. (even iconoclast Simon Doonan wore one) Most of the other men - even the "everyday" non-celebs (like agents, pr directors, etc) were in tuxes too. Yes, some men were in dark suits, but I'd say about 80% were in tuxes.

 

At the UN....well, I guess it really depends on the invitee list. The UN draws a really mixed crowd because of the variety of functions. Was it a UN sponsered event or was it another organization that hired out the UN ballroom for the evening? If it's a UN sponsored event, I'm sure there were some very interesting "native" formal outfits too - I always love to see those.

[tcocktail]

How nice your sister asked you to stand up for her. What a lovely honor.

 

Personally, I like the idea of the navy jacket and white pants. In photo's I think the beige suits may get "lost" in the photo's and blend with the sand and blend too much with the bride's dress.

 

I think a navy blazer, (in linen, not wool) with white pants would be casually elegant and make for some wonderful photo's on the beach. No tie's needed unless you all like them.

 

Congrats to your sister.

 

Jane110,

 

Thank you for your kind response, I concur with your answer that was my thought too about the beige suit blending into the pictures. So next question black or brown shoes or Black and white?

 

Thanks