let's put fashion nostrums to the test

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"Don't wear white after Labor Day" (i.e. after this weekend)—is this good advice? Where the hell does it come from?

Got any others you care to demolish and/or defend?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

wear brown as much as is feasible

― gareth (gareth), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

i think it is to do w.mud and splashing

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

ne'er cast a clout till may be out

― mark s (mark s), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm... I always associated that fashion faux pas with church. You know, no white shoes to sunday school after Labor Day or before Easter. God said so, I suppose.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Easter?? It's Memorial Day!!

― rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

the latest fashionable breaking of a fashion rule is to NOT match your shoes and belt (and purse if applicable).

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Hats in Church: Ladies, yes; Men, no.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

The 'no white after Labor Day' rule applies only to the wealthy, although is strictly observed by the pathetic hangers-on, has-beens and wannabes who ape the manners of the wealthy.

Rules of this sort reflect the fact that, when you are wealthy enough to be dangerous to others in your class (most especially those above your station), the ability to follow arbitrary rules and impose them on your progeny is your warrant of harmlessness and class loyalty. If you don't toe the line in this sort of prescribed public behavior, the other rich will assault you en masse. How you behave when out of sight is of far less concern.

At least, that's what mama told me the year before I came out.

― Aimless, Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm wearing all-black today, w/dark blue tie! In your FACE, Anna Wintour!

― cloddish goombah (tracerhand), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Also I find the unspoken rule against 4-dimensional tie clips something of an anachronism.

ba-doom tish?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i think that people who wear mock turtle necks should be launched from giant catapults into slligator infested swamps.

also, this new frat boy trend in the us of turned up collars on golf shirts is just silly.

i think that the white shoes rule should be extended to 12 months of the year, excepting, of course tennis shoes and sneakers.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I gotta say I'm not down with white anything at any time, incl trainers. Just me though.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

These are never to be worn ever by anyone. This is a fact.
http://www-geology.ucdavis.edu/www/picnicday/boots/tevas.jpg

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

And I will defend the abolishment of Jerusalem Cruisers for as long as I live.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i agree Chris V. and i also strongly frown upon cowboy hats. unless you are in a rodeo.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

silligators sound fun.

Hats in Church: Ladies, yes; Men, no.

I was raised to never wear hats indoors, period.

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course, I cannot defend this at all.

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"this new frat boy trend..."

It's not new! I saw an early Elvis movie and that's how he wore his collar. But since I'm talking about early Elvis and you're talking about frat Elvis you may have a point.

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

fat Elvis ~= frat Elvis??!!

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

i admit it was a long way to go for a joke

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

slligators acary and sicious. Animal House II-starring fat elvis and the cg alligator from the movie Lake Placid.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

what about boxers, tshirt and slippers for grocery runs? casual day? banking?

― kephm, Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

You can never be in so much of a hurry that you can't throw some damn pants on.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

no wearing exposed underwear in public. Blue and green should never be seen? or is it red and green? or just anything and green?

― isadora (isadora), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

no socks with sandals, i hate that. especially WHITE socks with sandals!

― fiofio (fiona), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone at work said "Red and green should never be seen without a colour inbetween" (actually I don't think they said the 'without a colour inbetween' bit) and I said "No, it's 'blue and green'" and there was an argument and everyone else in the office backed her up but they are all weird and I won on a Google count.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Fashion rules are for people who have no taste feel superior over people who are cool. No socks and sandals? i wear my birkentocks with socks - even stripey ones (or burberry checked ones in the olden days before the burberry check became a bit ubiquitous). Black with navy can be good - i think a black suit with a navy shirt can look classic and if you wanna wear socks and sandals with that too - so much the better! Break fashion rules i say.

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:21 (twenty-two years ago)

not that im saying im so bloody cool or anything - but im cooler than those that mock me!

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:22 (twenty-two years ago)

those rebelling fashion rules will be dealt with by the horrid joan rivers and her imbecile daughter,melissa, star of reality tv's "i'm a celebrity get me out of here!"

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:24 (twenty-two years ago)

blue and green should not be seen except upon an irish queen?

all colours go together, in my experience.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:28 (twenty-two years ago)

my mum says that - except she says red and green.

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

red and green together should be limited to tiny folk living at the north pole who work in toy factories.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

They got rid of it centuries ago, in favour of fur and PVC

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Haven't you heard that this season is all about BOLD PRIMARY COLOURS?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, but glowing green and silver lame is so 80's

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Freddy Kruger enjoyed red and green sweaters, i think. he also sported a jaunty hat. but the one glove look is way too michael jackson if you ask me.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew it as blue and green too - never heard "red and green" before today, which is odd. And it's a stupid rule anyhow. WTF is putting another colour in between going to fix?!

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 28 August 2003 00:13 (twenty-two years ago)

"Never wear pink and red together" is what I learned from schoolmates - I didn't understand that then, and I don't understand it now. Also: "No blue eyeshadow under any circumstances."

― Poppy (poppy), Thursday, 28 August 2003 01:53 (twenty-two years ago)

The blue eyeshadow one is amusing, because I can remember fashion mags in the 80s and 90s saying how much of a faux pas bright green and blue eyeshadow was, and now the selfsame style hounds are championing revolting blue eyeshadow, hideous 70s fringed hairdos and white dresses with wide belts - all the stuff they cried "what WERE we thinking!" about 5-10 years ago, and will again in 5 years, I bet anything.

― Trayce (trayce), Thursday, 28 August 2003 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

what if you dont like to wear pants? /summer

― kephm, Thursday, 28 August 2003 12:37 (twenty-two years ago)

White and beige ain't great together. Or yellow-beige + brown-beige.

― Mark C (Mark C), Thursday, 28 August 2003 12:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Leggings.

No.

I don't think I need to say any more.

― Anna (Anna), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

of course red and green go together! what about christmas for the love of jesus?

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:13 (twenty-two years ago)

literally.

suit jacket and jeans. white and yellow.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

i dont wear red and green novelty christmas jumpers

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Another lie is that redheads shouldn't wear pink.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

you can't wear mussels if there's an r in the month

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I read that as "redNECKS shouldn't wear pink." I was thinking, hey, maybe their would be a little more understanding in this world if they did.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I wear pink and suit jackets with jeans. Bah. Actually double breasted jackets with jeans make you look like Jeremy Clarkson, but the other kinds are fine.

― Anna (Anna), Thursday, 28 August 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I have quite a large collection of robes, I wear them around the house.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

what on earth could be wrong with looking like jeremy clarkson? he has chatted up many a fine car in his time.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Hm, I was just about to wear red and green together today, am now reconsidering (was thinking it was dubious in the first place, but felt obliged to wear something rather silly since I have to deal w/test-taking college freshman and their pushy parents all afternoon). Maybe I should wear my Skinny Puppy shirt, that would look particularly unprofessional..

― daria g (daria g), Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Curly perm time for Ronan...

― Anna (Anna), Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

luckily its late night shopping in Dublin so I can make the hairdressers

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Forget golf, it's all about Mike Brady Raver style.

― Larcole (Nicole), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Today I followed a man up an escalator. He was wearing brown dress shoes, cream socks and blue trousers.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I say you CAN wear a jacket with jeans. However, Ronan did use the qualifier 'suit' jacket, so in that case I'd say this look only works if you're going to a bar or something, i.e. vintage suit jacket, tshirt, black jeans. A tweedy blazer works with blue jeans.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Man, I saw the coolest on Sunday in Central Park. Tawny jacket, hawaiian shirt, off-white cargo shorts, sockless sneakers. It only works if you're wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, moustache, and have a beer in your hand and nice dark skin.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

suit jacket and jeans is the basis of my entire look!

― jed_e_3 (jed_e_3), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I would like to wear classic white and beige with white shoes and sunglasses. Maybe a thin gold bracelet. I would also like to look like Audrey Hepburn. since I don't, I don't.

― isadora (isadora), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with you Sean.

― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

my new spring 04 colors = frosted pink + beige + powder blue = sanrio camoflage wildness @_@

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 28 August 2003 20:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Serial Mom to thread.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 29 August 2003 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

jeans with a denim jacket of the same colour or denim shirt of the same colour.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 29 August 2003 08:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Can I just say "nostra"?

― Mark C (Mark C), Friday, 29 August 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, I hate me, too.

― Mark C (Mark C), Friday, 29 August 2003 08:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I think nostrums is by now the plural in English. It's not Latin, so we don't have to follow Latin's rules.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 29 August 2003 11:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Ignore the bald Latin cunt.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 29 August 2003 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Cunt off, cunt.

― Mark C (Mark C), Friday, 29 August 2003 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

nostrum in latin is an adjective meaning "our own" (when the thing which is "our own" is singular and not masculine or feminine acc.the slightly weird gender-rules of latin) (in which farmers are female eg): anyway how did it come to mean what it means in english?

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 29 August 2003 11:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Never wear a tie unless you're wearing a suit

― MikeB, Friday, 29 August 2003 11:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I think women can break this rule. In fact, they don't even need to wear a shirt.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 29 August 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, I meant men only.

Also can I second Ronan's double denim - it shows a lack of imagination.

― MikeB, Friday, 29 August 2003 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Eric Hobsbawm: I decided "never to wear this gear, and I have never done so."

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 29 August 2003 12:20 (twenty-two years ago)

(Speaking about denim in his new book.)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Friday, 29 August 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

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