Actually, I don't think that the "No white after Labor Day" rule is just being thrown out by the fashion industry -- it's one that is slowly being left behind. Outside of the more conservative pockets of the country, and in those under age 25-30, I you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who would bat an eyelash at the girl who wears white after Labor Day. Same with the girl who doesn't wear nylons, the girl who wears velvet in March, the girl who wears a black dress to a wedding or a green one to a funeral. In fifty years, I'll be willing to bet that in most sections of the country these rules will be seen as archaic. In many places they're already on their way out the door.
I'm not one to knock traditions that are important to other people, but these "rules" make me very uncomfortable. It seems like their only purpose is to make other people who might not know the rules feel excluded. Every time I hear somebody say something like "A lady never wears a dress without pantyhose" I'm just sitting here rolling my eyes because I was raised that a lady doesn't judge people on what they wear.
There really are BIG regional differences and personal differences, and just because you were brought up to believe that only women without class wear white after Labor Day doesn't mean that it's true. When I see women in black pantyhose, I think of Grandmas. When I see girls my age in them, I think they look frumpy. But I also know that this is completely my personal view and that many other people see it differently.
Nevertheless, I do agree that during rush it's best to err on the conservative side. That may not be the way it should be, but it's the way it is.
Sorry, but the posts on "dressing for rush" ettiquette have gotten me a little riled up lately.
