The Labor Day Rule

[JimInSoCalif]

When I was in the Army for three years rather a long time ago, they turned on the heat in the barracks according to the calendar instead of the temperature. Since then I have made it a point to ignore any clothing rule that relates to the calendar.

Cheers, Jim.

 

[Bourbon Guy]

Cheers to you as well. Army doesn't count. Go by the calendar rules and you can't go wrong.

 

[olive bleu]

I know technically you "can" wear white shoes after labour day and all that summer stuff, i mean , i don't think anything horrific will happen to you or anything, but i just couldn't.My Grandmother would never let me hear the end of it Besides, i really enjoy that twice-a-year ceremony of packing up clothes and taking out the things i haven't seen in months.

 

[LondonLuke]

Interesting! Who'd've thought the Navy would be this fashion conscious?


Lee

Most clothing rules have military origins.

Here's another one I found somewhere about watches-wristwatches only became acceptable for men after WW1, Officers found them to be far more practical than pocket watches. Before they were seen as effeminate.

 

[Mid-fogey]

Well...

...Mrs. Mid-Fogey won't let me wear straws, or seersucker after Labor Day. In southern Virginia it would be nice.

I remember reading a story about the Colonial Williamsburg Restoration (in the 1930s) where Mr. Rockefeller insisted on wearing his dark, three piece suits in meetings in the sultry parts of the summer -- even when the other men in the room were in shirtsleeves.

I guess if he could take it, I can take it in my air conditioned comfort.

 

[patrick1987]

Glad to hear. I was secretly making plans to break the Labor Day white shoe rule at a wedding next weekend

Let's hope Serial Mom isn't one of the guests, KittyT. We would hate to lose you.

 

[TraderRic]

I wore a boater to church yesterday for the last time this year. All my straws will go back in their boxes and be relegated to the top shelf as will the saddle shoes. My suites will take on darker tones, but the fabrics will still be light. I grew up in New England so, even in southern Virginia I can't seem to break the old habbits.

I do agree, though, about location. I would probably not change the wardrobe much if I lived in the more "tropical" parts of the country. I spent most of last year in the Mediterranian, Middle East and Africa, so I wore linen ans straw through the fall and winter.

Anyone know the "rule" with spectators?

 

[Edward]

My understanding was that spectators are subject to this 'rule' also, given the amount of wjite on them, plus of course those which have canvas or nubuck or suede etc panels - not exactly appropriate for Autumn rain.

I don't go by the Labour Day rule exactly myself, that not being a Holiday over here. I tend more to go by the prevailing weather. White and suede etc shoes aren't best suited to Autumn / Winter wear here in the UK, especially not in my native Northern Ireland, where the climtate is (even) wet(ter) at that time of year. I'll wear straw on my head when it is too warm for felt (Panama hasn't seen much wear at all this last month as it's been the wettest August on record), so usually by mid September that's gone for the season. These all normally come out of the wardrobe again somewhere between mid-March and Easter.

Course, what I'm really looking forward to now is weather cold enough for my new B-3...

 

[olive bleu]

living in a climate with such defined seasonal changes, i certainly don't need to rely on a date on the calender to tell me when to change my wardrobe.I am already feeling that familiar autumnal chill in the air, and got dressed this morning longing for a wool skirt and a sweater, but just a tad too soon, i know by noon I would be melting.The transisition is not always easy

 

[Mike K.]

My philosophy is:

• North of the Mason-Dixon Line - white shoes, seersucker, etc. only between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• South of the Mason-Dixon Line - time frame for such attire expands to between Easter and first autumn frost
• In the subtropics & tropics - year 'round is okay

 

[Edward]

My philosophy is:

• North of the Mason-Dixon Line - white shoes, seersucker, etc. only between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
• South of the Mason-Dixon Line - time frame for such attire expands to between Easter and first autumn frost
• In the subtropics & tropics - year 'round is okay

:eusa_clap That would work for me.

I'm about to head out in black tie tomorrow night, which will be the first night back in the black jacket, it being now time to return the ivory to the wardrobe for the winter.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

The most important two that come to my mind are:
1. no seersucker suits
2. no shorts (at least not as part of a business casual dress)

Should shorts EVER be part of business attire, casual or not? That is, outside of kids running a lemonade stand?

 

[dhermann1]

It's gonna be 90 friggin' degrees in New York tomorrow. I'm sticking to full tropical dress code until further notice.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

White should not be worn if it's likely to get dirty. This is a simple housekeeping/ease of clothing care common sense. It is stupid to wear white in summer if it's raining, no?

Otherwise, wear white whenever you want. Christmas is cold but sunny and dry - wear white shoes if you want to!

Rules be damned.

bk

 

[Feraud]

It's gonna be 90 friggin' degrees in New York tomorrow. I'm sticking to full tropical dress code until further notice.

Right. And if anyone tries to destroy my straw hat, they are gonna get a butt kicking.