Have you ever watched the movie Serial Mom with Kathleen Turner? If so, do you recall what happened to Patty Hearst's character immediately following the conclusion of the court trial (when she was on the payphone)? Well, the same thing is liable to happen to you!

I wouldn't wear white during November on a dare!

Wow, I looked at Diana's list and realized I do all of those at times. Of course, I rarely wear make-up, fixing my hair consists of brushing it after it air dries, bite my nails so that there's nothing to look "chippy," etc. I guess I don't check the mail without my shoes/belt/purse matching since I don't really wear belts or use purses. I do have one purse, it's about 10 years old, but only take it grocery shopping - otherwise I just grab my little wallet. Since I've moved to Tampa in August, the only closed-toe shoe I've worn has been my running shoes. Period. I do not plan on wearing anything but sandals to work ever. (I work at a university so the atmosphere is more relaxed, but my place of work is a deliberate choice - I would never work in a law office or bank because I despise excessive formality.)

birder,

birder, it was supposed to be a heart...lol

cigale, that was still good since birder lives in Florida LOL
Birder, very funny

OK, but wait a minute all of you with the rules. Are you saying that you would NEVER wear open-toed shoes or white pants after Labor Day no matter where you were? A Caribbean cruise at Christmas? Thailand in November? Australia in December (which is the height of summer)? Seems to me as ridiculous as saying you wouldn't wear a bathing suit in the winter.

My point was that in a hot climate or a resort area, certain clothes are appropriate no matter the time of year. lasjas didn't say she was going on a business trip to Tampa, so (perhaps erroneously), I assume she is going on vacation.

Dear Diana
Today....yes, I admit it....with no regard to anyone, anywhere....I wore open toed shoes. Take a deep breath dear.... Ready?.....It was in BOSTON! New England.....home of the brahmin.... Granted they weren't white, but my white linen shirt and beige slacks, and white undershirt were......WHITE! EEEEEEKKKSSS I'm a fashion blunder....damn proud of it. As long as there is indian summer there will be rebels wearing white and open toed shoes, and white shoes to boot...heeeehheeeee!!! Anyone ever dare to wear white to a wedding.....only the bride can wear white???????......guilty.
Signed
gypielou white trash
embrace the season as it unfolds!!!!
yeah right

I tend to follow seasonal colors, even while vacationing in the carribean; so a pure white dress or whole white outfit I would not wear in fall or winter anywhere.
I have a lot of linen clothing in black and some dark beiges so I bring that with me.

Marilyn,

Valid question. I do as mitchdesj outlined when I am in the Caribbean also (which I am at least twice a year between Labor Day and Memorial Day).

I don't wear an outfit that is white or white shoes during those months, but I will wear open toed shoes.

Gyppie,

As I said in my first post, it's certainly up to the wearer to make their own fashion selections. I would never say anything to someone wearing Bermuda shorts, a fanny pack and socks and sandals, but it is not a choice I would make for myself.

mms,

You get special dispensation for socks with Tevas because of where you live

KS452, I could relate a lot to the main character in that movie (Serial Mom), but I have never gotten to the point of actually contemplating killing someone who wore white after Labor Day. (Although I felt the woman I saw getting married on the beach in Jamaica in a white bikini, white pumps and a full-length veil would have been first on my list should I decide to become "fashion-homicidal.")

i never thought this would turn into such a huge thread !
the trip is not business, I would never even contemplate the white dress if it were. i will be in orlando on vacation, at a resort... i am guessing the answer lies within my own comforts..... lol,
thanks so much everyone!

If I loved the dress and felt comfortable in it I would. By the way,
today is October 3rd and I am still wearing flip flops...white ones

yeah!! gyppielou..am with you all the way. My workplace is casual - jeans and sandals (no socks though). I just walked in and am still wearing my white capris and flip flops..gak!!

White after labor day is an outdated rule. It no longer applies. These days you can wear about anything.
Do you know it is now acceptable for women to wear white or black to a wedding. It used to be if the bride wore white, no one else could. ALL OLD RULES!

Florida is soooo different than anywhere else. Nobody really cares here about rules except to break them, that is the main rule. I wore a white top last night, and I wore white sandals. And no one said a thing, not even the hells angels-dressed alikes who were all in black.

Be forewarned though if you wear white in Florida after Labor Day you could be mistaken for a headlight and you will have love bugs chasing you when you go outside. This is not a problem until they splat their little bodies against you in a fit of insect passion.

A male here and I wear white shorts and sandals on x-mas day.... xmas day we have 85 degrees outside, winter clothes give me a rash......it is MIAMI.....never white shoes, never, so tacky

amt1242...

"White after labor day is an outdated rule. It no longer applies. These days you can wear about anything."

Where can I pick up your latest book? I did not realize that The Authority on Fashion Rules was a contributor on fodors.com

"Do you know it is now acceptable for women to wear white or black to a wedding. It used to be if the bride wore white, no one else could. ALL OLD RULES!"

Wow! No I did not know that it was acceptable after 50 to 100 years of its not being. Gee, thanks for clearing that up for me.

Is it any surprise to anyone that the avaerage American is the laughing stock of the fashion world with the ridiculous clothing we outfit ourselves in when we travel? (If you think that's not the case, check out some of the posts on that subject on the European board.)

We say things like, "rules are meant to be broken" or "that's an old outdated rule - it no longer applies," or (my personal favorite - "I'm gonna wear this beacuse I'm comfortable in it."

SO? Go right ahead and wear whatever you want to. If you look like a total idiot, it really doesn't matter if you don't care now does it? If it matters not to you how you look when you go out, then feel free to wear whatever you want to.

If you go to a wedding at 10 am and want to wear a white suit or a black dress, do you really care that some people will think you are a fashion imbecile? NO? Then by all means, be my guest.

I am not going to tell anyone that what they are wearing is wrong unless they ask my opinion, and in return, I don't expect someone to give me grief because I choose to observe rules that some may call outdated, and others may call standard.

Now. Off to continue migrating any tops or dresses with sleeves shorter than 3/4 length, open toed shoes, predominantly white ensembles, colored florals and patterns and spring or summer linen wear to the "out of season" closets.

(Then I'll spend the rest of the day deciding what to wear tomorrow.)

Fashion imbecile? Don't you think that's a bit strong? I mean, when you put it that way, I can't imagine spending so much time worrying about my chipped nails and matching my shoes to my belt and what the date is so heaven forbid I don't cross the line and inappropriately wear two-toned shoes. I despise codes and morés that are devised purely to set up those who don't follow them as "fashion imbeciles." I pity women who spend so much of their time and energy on such pettines when they could be applying their intelligence to greater things.

I was raised with "the rules" and I guess I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Although I live in California, my white pants get put away after Labor Day. On the other hand, when it is still in the 80's, sandals remain part of my wardrobe.

And when I go to the tropics mid-winter, my summer clothes come out. I can't imagine, for example, wearing strictly dark colors in Hawaii at any time of year. It is so contrary to the spirit and ambience of the place!

Diana, the intriguing question still remains: What about Australia? Or anywhere in the southern hemisphere where the seasons are reversed?
I never thought about it until this thread, but now I'm truly curious if they have a sort of reverse rule Down Under. Anybody know?

cher, 90% of what I posted was tongue in cheek.

I also posted throughout the thread that what to wear is a personal choice, and I would not say a word to anyone who chose to dress differently from the choices I would make...

It's very simple - if you do not wish to make the effort, don't.

Really, who cares what I think about it anyway? Not many (if any) people, I can assure you.

Whether it's bad manners or bad clothing, (not saying that one necessitates the other) outward appearances create an impression.

To me, if you're not the bride, bad clothing and bad manners have been achieved simultaneously if white clothing is worn to a wedding.

To each his own...

Now, I'm off to work on that intelligence thingy you posted about. Do I have READ something, or can I just look at the pictures?

"Is it any surprise to anyone that the avaerage American is the laughing stock of the fashion world with the ridiculous clothing we outfit ourselves in when we travel? (If you think that's not the case, check out some of the posts on that subject on the European board.)"

Gosh, I thought this 'rule' was something handed down or something (or maybe even something religious) - I hadn't associated it with FASHION!

I haven't looked at anything on this subject on the Europe board - but perhaps whoever wrote whatever was pulling your leg? Only for things like Ascot or the Milan opera house (ie snobby, high-class things) would anybody much care a hoot what they wore!! We don't have Labor Day here, don't forget - and we wear what we want, regardless of the date! Yes, comfortable rules if it's casual wear - and if we need to be smart, we can do that too - but I've never, ever come across colour prohibitions before!

Americans are certainly not a laughing stock here by what they wear - they wear much the same as any European would. I'm sure that nobody much cares a jot about whether belts and shoes match! I doubt anybody has the time or inclination to even notice - there are far more important things to worry about - and far more interesting things to do!