White after Labor Day?

Putting an end to the age-old question

I remember begging my mom for white Keds for school every year. She'd say, "No! You can only wear them for a few weeks, until Labor Day, and then it's tacky." I suspect most of our mothers engrained this point in us. (Side note: today, my mom is approaching 60 and is infinitely more fashionable than I. )

For some reason, in 2011, we still see fiercely stylish people pause, post-Labor Day, and ask a friend if it's okay to wear white shorts on a 100-degree day in September. I thought the question had been resolved, but it hasn't, so I'm putting it to rest, once and for all.

Notice the friendly poster to the left. Guess what? We're not kids begging for Keds at Stride Rite anymore; we're adults! That means we decide what we wear (though, don't take this to heart and wear your club gear to work, please. PLEASE).

If you can no longer stomach the site of your summer wardrobe after that first week of September, then, by all means, feel free to forget your white until spring, and bring on the fall jewel tones. But, if you're like me, and aren't ready to part with your pretty white pieces, particularly when the weather hasn't changed, Labor Day or no Labor Day, then keep sporting them until you're sick of them. I can assure you I'll be wearing my favorite white skinny jeans on football Saturdays–through November–if the weather's nice enough.