Post # 1
Member
3788 posts
Honey bee
I know it’s sort of outdated, but do you bees do it? I recently purchased an adorable ivory dress with ruffles on the cap sleeves. It may even make a great shower dress, but that’s a story for another post. I am itching to wear it to an awards luncheon this Sunday, but obviously, that violates tradition. Also, the weather is supposed to be 75 but rainy. Would you do it?
Do you generally adhere to the standard or modify it? Is any white OK any time? Or maybe only ivory or “winter white?” Or not at all? What do you think?
Post # 3
Member
928 posts
Busy bee
I thought it was white after Easter…
Post # 4
Member
3788 posts
Honey bee
If you google “wearing white before…” all the top results are Memorial Day, though if you specifically look for Easter, a few come up as “before Easter/Memorial Day.” I had never heard of Easter being the cutoff, though I can totally understand it. That would certainly solve my predicament, but it does seem that Memorial Day is widely recognized.
Post # 5
Member
5388 posts
Bee Keeper
I thought it was that you couldn’t wear it after labor day, but you can wear it after Easter. I don’t really wear white so I don’t exactly remember the rule.
Post # 6
Member
928 posts
Busy bee
Hmm well I’ve always been taught and gone by Easter, maybe it’s a regional thing. I don’t see why you couldn’t, it’s also spring so to me that would be another good reason. I say do it!
Post # 7
Member
3788 posts
Honey bee
Maybe it’s a Southern thing? That would make sense as your weather gets nicer much sooner. It was only 50 degrees and rainy today, so it was hard to remember that it is spring!
Post # 8
Member
7771 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I never wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. I just grew up with these “rules” that my sisters taught me. But, as far as I know, it has nothing to do with Easter.
Post # 9
Member
2083 posts
Buzzing bee
One time my mom literally told me that everyone would be thinking that I looked ridiculous if I wore white at whatever wrong time. I wear it when I want though and haven’t had any odd looks 🙂
Post # 10
Member
828 posts
Busy bee
I think only old people and blue blood rich ladies still adhere to this rule.
Post # 11
Member
7771 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
No, I think the rule is important. Sorry, I gotta be honest…
Post # 12
Member
928 posts
Busy bee
I think maybe it is a Southern thing, it’s always been after Easter to wear white and then not after Labor Day. Growing up, we always looked forward to Easter to wear our new white Easter dresses with our white hats and colored ribbons and white shoes.
Easter, Memorial Day, to each their own I guess. Back to the original dilemma, @amaryllis, I think you’d be fine to wear it if you feel comfortable wearing it. The ivory sounds like it would be fine even if the “rule” is Memorial Day.
In the winter/after Labor Day, I switch to the winter white…I have nice winter white/ivory dress slacks and the winter white/ivory sweaters. I stay away from white shoes, though.
Post # 13
Member
2476 posts
Buzzing bee
I don’t really think about these rules when I dress. So if you’re getting married before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, you shouldn’t wear a white dress?? That’s kinda ridiculous to me.
Post # 14
Member
928 posts
Busy bee
Amaryllis is inquiring about a luncheon, not her wedding. I wouldnt care if it did apply to weddings, though, Id still wear my white dress! 😉
Post # 15
Member
3788 posts
Honey bee
I was thinking about how ridiculous it would be for weddings, too. And the dress in question is truly an ivory, not really white.
I was just curious how strictly people adhere to it overall. I don’t think I’d wear crisp cotton white this early, for example. I would just feel awkward, and the weather is not nice enough.
Post # 16
Member
1347 posts
Bumble bee
I think you’d be fine wearing it. Sounds cute!
Just wondering what is the reasoning behind the rule? I’ve heard it before but don’t understand it. Also, maybe a dumb question, but does it just have to do with wearing white in certain kinds of material? Like, if you live in Minnesota and want to wear a white wool sweater or white wool coat in December that wouldn’t count, right?