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Styled by Mo

Posted September 17, 2012 - 7:32pm by Monique

White Out

I have to start out by admitting that I have something against the color white. The only white items in my wardrobe are t-shirts, tank tops, tennis shoes, linen pants and button downs. In other words: basics. Outside of this, I stay away from white. With that being said, I don’t consider myself to be overly fashion forward so I believe in the “no white after Labor Day” rule (especially when it comes to shoes). Consider this my disclaimer before we even begin.

I recently saw a list of 10 items you shouldn’t wear after Labor Day. Items included the obvious (straw totes, beach cover ups as dresses) and the not so obvious (tropical nail polish, espadrille wedges – cork or wedge). There are some fabrics/textures and prints that do feel too summery to wear after Labor Day. I feel this may be because we are fortunate (or unfortunate depending upon your opinion) to live in an area where we experience all the seasons. In my mind, fall begins once Labor Day occurs because school starts and football season begins. When these events commence, I begin the wardrobe transition from summer to fall (I have to confess, I did wear cork wedges this past weekend. I’m such a rebel!)

Of the so-called Labor Day rules, the infamous one is of course regarding the color white. I’ve already let you know my feelings on the color so it’s safe to say you will not see me rocking white jeans come December (nor will you see me sporting white heels – ever!) I was curious as to the origin of the rule and looked into the history of white that you can read about here (who knew it had roots in social status and class structure). Today, many within the fashion industry feel the rule is outdated and doesn’t reflect modern fashion. Denim designers such as Citizens of Humanity and J Brand will both have white jeans in their winter line-ups. White jeans are also spotted in Michael Kors’ fall advertising campaign where they are paired with a fur vest. If fur isn’t your style, other suggestions to pair with white denim include sweaters and blazers. Tucking slim jeans into boots is always a classic look as well (and I would assume a necessity in the winter with all the snow/salt/slush present in the city). When it comes to pairing colors with white denim, there are mixed opinions in the fashion world, so I would suggest you go with what you feel looks best on you if you’re looking to rock this look.

If you’re a stickler for the rules like me, here’s another one to keep in mind that has to do with fabric: no velvet before Thanksgiving or after Valentine’s Day. And if you’re looking for back up as a strict enforcer of the rules, check out this site (which is where I learned about the velvet rule).

If you want to learn more about style and achieving a classic look, join me this weekend at Stix and Roses for the grand finale of Swedish Covenant Hospital’s Wise Woman Week for a Style, Fashion, and Wellness Brunch. I will be joined by Sararose Krenger, voted Best Chicago Designer 2012 by the Chicago Reader as well as owner of Stix and Roses, and Dr. Rusalina Mincu, a Swedish Covenant Hospital physician and fashionista. We’ll be walking you through classic looks for each age group from your 30s to 60s and talking about while retail therapy is the real deal. I hope to see you there (and in case you're wondering, I will not be wearing white denim!)

 

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