By Staff
Today is the day that many Southern women have been waiting for since Labor Day. Easter Sunday, regardless of the date, is the official day that allows the wearing of white in any shape, form or fashion.
I can remember a time when Easter attire required the purchase of a nice pastel colored dress for that special Sunday church service. The outfit came complete with white patent-leather shoes, white lace-trimmed socks, a white purse, a white hat and, if your dreams came true, a pair of white gloves.
Imagine those items on any little girl today. I've discovered from other mothers and from watching little girls, that unless that new Easter frock has images of Hannah Montana on it, it probably won't be worn to the family egg hunt.
Getting back to today's fashion revival, I realize that there aren't that many of us women who actually pay attention to the calendar when it comes to clothes and what is or isn't allowed.
Even women older than myself have taken the tact that “I'm grown, I'll wear what I want when I want” and that distresses me. These are the same women that took the trouble to teach me never to wear white before Easter or after Labor Day. How can they do that now? For more than 40 years, that's all they taught me and now they are reneging on their rules. It's just not fair.
I've taken some ribbing over the years for my stance on the proper time to wear white. People, mostly women, have told me that because of our geographical location, the ancient rules on wearing white have become outdated. I realize that we do live in the South and we only have two seasons: summer and Christmas. Since white usually helps keep a body cool, it's perfectly acceptable to wear white anytime the temperatures exceed 60 degrees. I'm not buying it.
Even though I'm not particularly fond of white shoes, I do own a pair of sandals. The design of the shoe, of course, would dictate that I not wear them in the dead of winter. However, even if they were closed-toe, closed-heel shoes, you still wouldn't see me wearing them after Labor Day. Only white boots are to be worn by majorettes in the local high school marching band. Period.
I also don't have a lot of white clothing in my closet. You will probably never, ever find a pair of white pants in my closet. With all of the running around I do, you can bet I'd be dirty before I could get to the office. White shirts and blouses are scarce in my closet as well. Unless I'm going to church or some formal affair, I tend to stay away from white blouses. I like coffee and Coca-cola. Because of that, I avoid white (or any pastel) tops. Just as surely as I put one on, you can bet I'll spill or dribble my drink. There's nothing more embarrassing than having a brown spot on a perfectly white blouse.
I will most likely be wearing some form or shade of white today, but will limit the use of white in my wardrobe for the rest of the season. You can rest assured that I won't be wearing any white after the first Monday in September.
I know there won't be many folks who'll follow the same rules that I do when it comes to wearing white. But because today is Easter, you can wear white all you want and I promise not to give out any angry looks.
Happy Easter to you all!
Lisa Tindell is news editor for The Brewton Stanard. She can be reached by email at lisa.tindell@brewtonstandard.com.