No White Before Memorial Day and After Labor Day?

This month’s Fashion Forecast was initially intended to focus on fashion history. More specifically, a query regarding a long-standing fashion guideline: the wearing of white after Memorial Day. Word of mouth dictates that this fashion formality has been abandoned. Cindy Crawford says so on a commercial. However, that is just not enough for me. So, I’ve started searching for the holy grail of fashion that will enlighten us on this topic.

My search began with the typical search engines. My first stop: Style.com. I just knew that the fashions mavens lurking behind this monumental website would and could enlighten me. A search of the site filled me with optimistic enthusiasm. I found a forum!!! A place where the knowledgeable would exchange wisdom and fashion trends would be explored. With a single click, I entered the forum.

If you have nothing better to do with your life, visit this mecca of mediocrity. Amid the lively conversations regarding fishnets in the workplace, a tirade of Tiffany bashing, a giddy anticipation of Miss Universe, and a new poll regarding pornography choices; I posted my “White after Memorial Day” inquiry. And to my chagrin, Cole Hann shoes got more responses.

Now, not being one to be easily thrown off the trail, I expanded my search to a Texas college that houses a fashion museum. The site was informative, and if I were writing this column about the history of a specific red bathing suit, I could have been successful (and I even pondered ways to apply the red bathing suit expose to yarn trends!). They do, however, have contact information, so I sent them my inquiry. (Update: Late this afternoon I received a response from this wonderful school and they have forwarded this question to a fashion editor of a Texas paper.)

So, as I await the responses from these and several other resources, I will convey to you the many wonderful ways I’ve seen white worn this season. White appears in clothing and cosmetics for the summer. White is used as a backdrop for a re-emerging popularity in sun bronzed skin. White sweaters have appeared on almost every runway in almost every designer’s line. White peasant shirts make a comeback and look as clean and fresh as they did decades ago.

Sweaters can reflect this delightful peasant resurgence. The simplest way to incorporate this mood into your knitting or crochet projects is to create a sweater with a wide boat neck. Finish the broad neckline with a 2x2 rib using needles at least 2 sizes LARGER than the needles used for the body of the garment. Attach bias seam tape to the wrong side of the ribbing, thus creating a casing along the upper edge of the neck. Run a drawstring through the casing and pull it out either through a buttonhole placed in the center of the neckline, or just pull it through the stitches. Pull to adjust the fullness and you have recreated the peasant blouse look. Add a ruffle at the sleeve edge instead of a ribbing and you’ve added more whimsy to the look.

Hopefully, next month I will be able to skillfully explain to you what happened to “White after Memorial Day”. However, I suspect it may simply become one of the funniest columns I’ve ever written. If you have some suggestions (real or imagined) as to why this fashion guideline existed or ceased to exist, please feel free to send your input!

Knit, crochet, or weave something in a summery white yarn!

Sue@yarnxpress.com