As with many customs and etiquette dictums, it's difficult to pin down the reason behind the prohibition against white after Labor Day. The only logical reasoning we could find cited temperature, suggesting that because white reflects light and heat, wearing white would make you cooler in winter, and thus should be avoided. But others suggest the rule stems from a class issue. One expert said that in the 1950s, more people were entering the middle classes. These nouveau-riche folks were often unaware of the standards of high society, so they were given specific codified rules to follow in order to fit in.

Several other sources refer to a charming refrain about G.R.I.T.S -- "Girls Raised In The South". This bit of folklore states, "Southern girls know bad manners when they see them," and a clear sign of bad manners is wearing white before Easter or after Labor Day. Because fashions in the American South can be a little more formal than elsewhere, perhaps the no white rule came from south of the Mason-Dixon Line?

Being a Yankee myself I love to bring up old Civil War grudges, I blame this bad fashion rule on the Rebels of the Deep South. Damn them, wanting to keep slaves and get hot chicks out of tight white pants for over half the year!  What the hell where you thinking Jefferson Davis, all Honest Abe wanted was to free some slaves and keep hot chicks in tight white pants!

Here is one last look, can't wait for Easter!

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