May we please have a t-shirt with this pronouncement of the Manolo:
“Yes, yes, the thousand times yes, the white shoes they may be worn after the Day of Labor.”?

The cybermick she is so devastated, Manolo, but her sainted mother strictly taught her that the white shoes, they may not be worn anytime in Nueva York, San Francisco, or the District of Columbia, before OR after the Day of Labor. The white shoes, they are so tacky, unless they are worn with the wedding dress. They are also difficult to keep from being marred with the scuffs. However, to the cybermick, the faux pas is nothing, if the wearer of the white shoes she is nice.

Zippys’ Southern grandmother spoke the same words as Megaeras’ mother, “Tacky, tacky, tacky.” Even today zippy applies ‘tacky’ to behaviors that merit it. The apple does not fall far from the tree…

Re-posted from the other thread:

I am not in the agreement with the Superfantastic One. I believe the Commandment of the White Shoe is one of those “lines in the sand” rules that is most important. While it is indeed meaningless and petty, if we do not respect these rules of the petty, then what is next? Flip flops at the White House? Elbows on the table? Checkered prints with stripes? It will never stop!

It will someday lead to the horrific sight of the maids of the brides in white.

Update:

LaBellaDonna has advised that there have been maids of the bride in white as far back as the 17th century.

Regardless of my faux pas of the history, the allowing of the white shoes after Labor Day is a foul thing. Such behavior should require one’s face to be blocked with an ugly rectangle of black such as I have seen in Mrs. Uncle Fester’s magazines for the womens.

The Diva Leigh, she must agree with the Moira and the Beth. The shoe featured above by the fabulous Manolo is indeed lovely to behold, but is undoubtedly more attractive without a foot in it than it will be with a foot in it. As a general rule, the white shoe is not an attractive look, either before or after the day of labor. Of course, the blushing (or not) bride and the registered nurse may properly wear the white shoes at any time.

Holy cow! Like many of the commentators above, for once I must dissent from the Manolo’s usually impeccable judgment in matters of taste.

As my beloved mama–and also the redoubtable Miss Manners–have always insisted, white shoes are unacceptable in the Northern Hemisphere between Labor Day and the advent of spring (exceptions: brides, athletes, nurses). Unless you want to look like a hick, of course. Indeed, as Cybermick points out, white shoes should never be worn in any season during daytime business hours in any “real” city (such as New York, Paris, D.C., etc.)–and the same rule applies to summery pastels. These rules may seem “petty,” as the Manolo puts it, but they’re the rules that ensure that city gals look smart and sophisticated.

Furthermore, I share the Diva Leigh’s reservations about white shoes in general. Like white clothes, they look crisp, cool, and fabulous on people with dark skin (like my mama), but on fair-skinned ladies like me, they make you look as though you’ve been wrapped in your winding sheet, with matching footwear. Those very pretty Nicole Kidmans also come in “hazelnut,” a color that’s most flattering to the fair and freckled and is also quite appropriate for After Labor Day in still-warm climes.

Another who agrees with the wisdom of previous posters. White shoes very rarely look good, they look especially awful on drab wet days when the shoes are scuffed and scarred and flecked with mud or damp. Additionally, we do need rules.

That said, having a rule that no one can wear white shoes after Labor Day has a bonus side: we can all have that much more respect for the super-fantastic woman (or drag queen) who pulls off a bright white dress and white shoes for a New Year’s Eve party.

With much respect, I must agree with that traditional posters and not the Manolo on this issue.

I have always felt the big love for the Manolo. To know that he sees the wisdom of abandoning the archaic white shoes rule makes me love him even more!

Add me to those who want a T-shirt adorned with this magnificent pronouncement.

I don’t see that we are all in such disagreement. Even those who do not approve of white shoes after Labor Day have acknowledged that there are exceptions (even if said exceptions are for brides and nurses, or for the ultra-super-fantastic who can pull it off under other circumstances). So, as Manolo said, appropriateness is the real rule. Perhaps there is disagreement on precisely where to draw the line, but we are not really debating whether or not such a line exists at all.

Personally, I think the real problem is white shoes. White shoes just tend to not be as flattering, and also show wear and tear more, and are therefore more likely to not look very nice.

I won’t do it. I will not wear white shoes after Labor Day. Not because I was raised in the South (although I indeed was), but because I think there are certain colors and fabrics that belong to certain seasons. For example, I also would not wear corduroy in the summer, nor a straw hat in winter. That’s part of my standard of dressing well; however I do not demand or expect that others agree with me just as I do not expect others to demand or expect me to agree with them.

I do hope that woodcock reconsiders the decision to boycott the Manolo’s blog, for diversity of thought in this group of people is a strength, not a weakness.

Well, now, the Annalucia she is in a quandary. Tomorrow morning she is going to the Art Institute of Chicago to visit the show of the Toulouse-Lautrec, and she is going to wear her white silk shirt and a skirt of bright red. But the Annalucia has only two pair of dress shoes: the white heeled sandal (for summer) and the plain black pump (for the rest of the year). And the weather here, it is still quite summery. What say the readers of the Manolo blog?

Annalucia, I say go with the white. It is still close to summer on the calendar, the weather still feels like summer, and the sandals sound like a better match than the black pumps. Logic must prevail over “rules.” And besides, the Manolo has already given his blessing on wearing white shoes after Labor Day.

To the Annalucia, I must concur with the Scarlett and suggest the black pump with the red and white ensemble. Not only is the artistic color combination perfect for the visit to the Art Institute, the Toulouse-Lautrec produced some magnificant work with those very colors of the palette.

Annalucia, I hope it’s not too late–but do wear the black pumps. White shoes after Labor Day look especially out of place in downtown-y cities such as Chicago. This isn’t an arbitrary rule. It’s the way things are.

(Annalucia, I’d go with the white, and red-and-white accessories. If you wear the black, have a black necklace, bangle, or belt to match. And a white bag and red lippie!)

Sulee, you have said it so well.
I wish I’d thought of the following sooner, but for the Annalucia (did you have a nice time, and which shoes did you wear?) and for anyone faced with a fashoin choice or dilemna…listen to what others have to say, then try on both or all the viable options, and then, according to your own taste and style and judgment, wear what you like best. Come to think of it, that might work well for life choices in general…
(I still won’t wear white shoes between Labor Day and Easter if I have the choice, but I’m stubborn like that. Winter white, oui. White, non.)

Why thank you Mimi, I had an excellent time, and thank you also to the kind readers of the Manolo who offered their advice. In the end I went with “practicality” – the weather was brutally hot (the temperature reached 90 degrees early and stayed there) and I preferred to wear sandals (barelegged under the skrit) rather than pumps (which would have required stockings, and let us not think about stockings in 90-degree humid weather). And I carried my white handbag, since my black one would have overpowered my white silk shirt.

Another Liz, what is a “lippie”?

A handbag of the white AND shoes of the white? After the Day of Labor? The Beth, she feels faint.

Even white – I love the beads on these shoes. Thanks for showing them – jewelry for the feet!

It’s Labor Day Weekend. Have a nice day!!