White after labor day?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Exactly. I'm not seeing the logic/analogy here.

If wearing white disqualifies me for a job, then I really don't want that job. This is some made up rule that an unknown person or group of people created over 100 years ago, and you're going to hold that against a 22-year-old, well-qualified candidate, because they didn't learn while earning their bachelor's degree that wearing white past early-September is "inappropriate"?

O... k.....

That is another example of old fashioned and outdated rules being applied. Some of us in the South and across the East Coast believe our clothes are one big wardrobe to be worn year round.

I'm not in the age, cultural, and career demographics HearttoHeart is typing about so I will stick with my original post. My clothes, my rules.

[LAblondeGPhi]

my vote:
Western - YES -Wear white after Labor Day as a principle piece.

It could just be me, but I grew up thinking that the no white after Labor Day rule was something from the 50's. I didn't know anyone who actually cared about it. The concept of summer and winter wardrobes didn't exist for me until I moved to DC. In Los Angeles, it's just one big wardrobe that you wear year-round.

Question: what about Presents? I know UCLA and USC have their Presents in November, and an all-white ensemble is requisite for new members.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by LAblondeGPhi

Question: what about Presents? I know UCLA and USC have their Presents in November, and an all-white ensemble is requisite for new members.

Special events like pledging and other events that traditionally have white clothing seem to be an exception like weddings, as it seems to me.

[MaryPoppins]

Here's the idea
Dressing too sexy for job

[AGDee]

Other than a white blouse, I can't imagine wearing white to a job interview. A white suit just doesn't seem like a wise choice for a job interview.

[DrPhil]

This website captures my view of fashion. A "stylish" and "creative" person is not limited by outdated standards.

http://www.puttingmetogether.com/201...asons.html?m=1

ETA: This is a good discussion: http://fakinggoodbreeding.blogspot.c...r-day.html?m=1

[snowflakemom]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

This website captures my view of fashion. A "stylish" and "creative" person is not limited by outdated standards.

http://www.puttingmetogether.com/201...asons.html?m=1

Love that post! Great ideas

[PersistentDST]

I've been reading this thread and I find it to be interesting.

I'm from the Midwest (some of you would call it North, but that's not how we label ourselves) and I am also very much into fashion. Generally, being fashion forward means evolving and sometimes breaking traditional "rules." Historically, the purpose of wearing white in the summer was based on the temperature, and it was not until around the 1950's that certain people forced it to become "law." (For more info, check this out: http://content.time.com/time/nation/...920684,00.html )

The fashion world does not condemn individuals who wear white after Labor Day. Generally, it is about the shade of white, texture and sometimes the sillouette of the garment. Around here, Lighter fabrics and purer whites tend to be the norm in the summer, whereas heavier fabrics and "winter whites" tend to be the norm in the winter. Around here, it is tough to even FIND pure white items in the winter months (and I had to do so a few years back ). But winter white is easy to find, and appropriate for our region. I own a fab, winter white turtleneck sweater, and it has remained a part of my wardrobe for years as it is a timeless piece. I've been obsesssed about this white wool trenchcoat I saw last year. Here are some more tips: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-be...ter-labor-day/

I would hate to think that such a rule would keep a qualified PNM/interest/potentional employee from receiving an opportunity, because they are being fashion forward or from another region where such rules are considered outdated. If that's how some employers or organizations want to judge me, in comparison to my merit/resume/interview, I would choose to pass. Those aren't my type of people. History also states that wealthier people were more likely to wear white as well, so that could also play into the culture. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...easons_beh.php

...and besides, myself, and my fabulous Sorors wear our cream/white all year round, and I dare someone to judge us for it.

[Low D Flat]

I think the white capris/green blazer would be a darling outfit for an Arizona/LA spring, which is to say February or March.

There's no such thing as a culturally unbiased job interview. All workplaces have a culture employees are expected to follow, and these are usually regional. All bosses with hiring power use personal judgment to evaluate someone's fit for the culture. This seems to me to be on the side of legitimately exercising the power rather than abusing it, though I personally would not ding a job applicant in a hot climate for this reason.

[AZTheta]

Tossing in the WHITE towel, I've been schooled. I'm going out to save the whales, and reverse global warming, after I find a cure for the Ebola virus, wearing WHITE by the way.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

Tossing in the WHITE towel, I've been schooled. I'm going out to save the whales, and reverse global warming, after I find a cure for the Ebola virus, wearing WHITE by the way.

None of this can be accomplished if you don't abide by seasonal rules.

This thread reminded me...I hung out with a really good friend about 10 years ago during a REALLY HOT summer. When we eventually got seated at the restaurant, the bright lights shined on his pants. What I thought were orange-brown khakis were actually orange-brown corduroys. I smiled and said "are you wearing corduroys in the summer?" We laughed and he said "yeah, they are really thin pants and I'm comfortable." I said "cool" and we moved on. If his body can handle it and he doesn't feel "out of season" then good for him. Some people wear corduroy year round (jackets, pants, shorts).

[33girl]

White in winter in the North just plain doesn't make sense, due to rain, snow, slush and the other gross things that H2O morphs into. I'm fairly sure that's how the rule started. Also, it's just basic that lighter colors reflect heat and darker colors absorb it (i.e. don't wear your black t-shirts to the amusement park, not because of fashion, but because you don't want to bake). I honestly think that's it, not a "snobbery" thing. As for that silly reference to the Queen wearing white ermine, obviously fur doesn't count. People who say things like that aren't using common sense.

P.S. White jeans are another of those things that after a certain age/poundage just don't look very good. As is evidenced by the tons of them on sale every freaking August.

[AGDee]

Visible tattoos would not fly at my current company, nor did they fly in my previous jobs in health care. There were specific dress code items stating any tattoos had to be covered at the hospitals/health care systems where I worked. In my current job, you simply don't see them at all, which tells me there is a bias against them and they aren't hiring people who have visible tattoos. Then again, it is a very business/corporate/conservative environment.

[StealthMode]

Originally Posted by Hearttoheart

Don't shoot the messenger. The point I was trying to make was that in job interviews AND sorority recruitment what you wear makes a difference. When looking at two equal applicants, the one I perceive to be better put together will get the job.

While I agree with this, it's the "dressing like the bars" thing with which I can't quite jive.

Tossing in the WHITE towel, I've been schooled. I'm going out to save the whales, and reverse global warming, after I find a cure for the Ebola virus, wearing WHITE by the way.

LOL I heart you.

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Given the prevalence of tattoos -- especially among 20 to 40 year-olds -- I have wondered how these play in a professional interview process.

No problem. I thought long and hard before deciding to get a butterfly on my wrist (which has a deeply personal meaning and I thought about for three years before I finally got it). The tipping point was meeting a girl in the cohort above me in school who also had a tattoo on her wrist and had never encountered any resistance in getting a job or school placement. Since getting mine, I have only encountered people who ignored my tattoo or loved it. It's not a popular decision but I don't regret it at all (especially because it is small enough to be covered by a watch or bracelet).

[LAblondeGPhi]

Since this has morphed into a job interview attire thread, here are my two cents on that issue:

IMO, college-aged women in general do a relatively poor job of dressing for professional interviews. Whereas men have worn suits for every major formal function since toddlerhood (weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, etc.) women don't typically wear or own suiting until they are interviewing for an internship or job.

I'm having a hard time placing the white rule in with job interview attire. The much more common issue I see is clothing that is too short, too shear or thin, generally poorly fitted, pieces that are the same color but don't match, iffy fabrics, etc.

Some classmates and I worked on a womens' suiting concept last year in business school, and conducted about 100 interviews with 20-somethings on their professional clothing choices. I was shocked how many of the 20- to 22-year-olds were purchasing their internship and job interview clothes at Zara and H&M. And this was not a strict matter of being able to afford these pieces, it was a lack of awareness of what is acceptable.