As the summer is coming to a close and the horrible months of sweating like an animal are being put behind us, so comes the time to start slowly putting away all those clothes bought in May that were intended to make us look cute while trying to camoflauge pit stains. There is one color though hangs in summer/fall balance, daring to be taken seriously as an all year hue, white.
September 4th is the dreaded day when it's time to pack up all the white from this year and put it in the closet until next May, or until winter and it can be called "snow white" or some other variation. Many ideas for this strange rule has been passed around for decades. Miss Manners columnist, Judith Martin, gave Time magazine a bit of back history. Apaprently, in the past, because of it's reflective properties, white clothing was thought of as an easier way to keep cool during the summer months. "Not only was there no air-conditioning, but people did not go around in T shirts and halter tops. They wore what we would now consider fairly formal clothes," says Martin. So we've got one answer, but that still doesn't answer it's imminent D-list status by the end of summer.
Digging a little deeper, there's been the one theory centered around class and etiquette, that the wealthy typically wore white, thus, the color became synonymous with affluency, another good way to get snubbed. Though these answers make the most sense, it doesn't answer the big question, who really cares? Fashion creates rules all the time that eventually get praised for the blatant disobidience. Why should this one be exempt or more importantly be met with citizens citations by your neighborhood fashion police?
Yesterday, Venus Williams revealed a limited-edition US Open tennis dress, designed by her in partnership with Ralph Lauren.
As the Open gets ready to start next week, I can't help but wonder if players will be adhering to the "no white" rule when they're out to play. My best guess is placed on the answer being "no." Either way, when it's time to hit the court, I know what I'll be wearing so fashion police be damned.