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White shoes

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I thought this was funny as it came up on the same day as the white sneaker poll by Angie. (FWIW i wear white shoes all year round.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there still a certain time frame for when you can and cannot wear white? Also, do folks still wear slips under dresses?

GENTLE READER: Now! You can wear white now!

And don't waste another minute, because the time frame is Memorial Day to Labor Day, so you can only do so for two more weeks.

No, Miss Manners is not deluded enough to think that anyone waited for her permission on such a crucial manner. The truth is that she relishes seeing people work themselves into a froth over this. No rule of etiquette, no matter how strict, annoys people more than the one that reserves white shoes for the summer months.

Why it upsets them, she cannot imagine, considering how easily they all get away with ignoring it.

Still less is Miss Manners able to see, much less judge, whether folks are still wearing slips.

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Carol

Anonymous

at Miss Manners!
I'm on team slips under dresses, and on team no white shoes ever! They're fine on others, but too high contrast with my skin.

Ginger

Veteran

Hurrah for slips! I feel ancient for saying so, but it sure feels that younger generations have never heard of them. It's pretty clear with the number of thongs and other underwear I've seen clearly outlined as the dress catches and rides up.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOL

I always think of Kathleen Turner…

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LJP

Veteran

Lol - is that E Jean Carroll? I just ordered a pair of white jeans with the intent to wear them with a toast-camel sweater into Sept and October !

Indigoprint

Veteran

Gotta love Miss Manners!
Several years ago, when I was looking for a half-slip, I was educated by a clerk in our local department store "No one wears slips anymore so we no longer carry them". I was surprised; however, she spoke the truth as the store had none. I ended up asking my mom for one of hers. I wear slips all the time. I especially find them useful with a tunic sweater and leggings.
I wear my white tennies year-round, however I also have black grey, and blue that I rely on.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like slips. They add some warmth and smoothness.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wear white everything year round!

As a non-American living in the US, I am not familiar with Miss Manners. Who is she? And what is this all about? It's so very foreign to me.

Helena

Veteran

WHY DO WE AS WOMEN FEEL THE URGE TO ASK PERMISSION TO WEAR SOMETHING AS INNOCUOUS AS WHITE SHOES!?!?!?

[saying this knowing i am the biggest rule follower going]

/rantover

RobinF

Veteran

I gave up on slips a long time ago - never the right length, tended to creep up, just too annoying. I do wear slip shorts though, does that count?

Good point Helena!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Miss Manners is an American advice column that focuses on questions of behavior and etiquette, often in a tongue in cheek manner. There was once a woman who called herself Miss Manners but I think the column has been taken on by her younger relations.

<https://www.missmanners.com/uexpress-2/>

cat2

Veteran

UmmLila: Fun thread, I grew up with all the rules. Let’s see, no white shoes or patent leather shoes except in Summer, no leather shoes in evening, no brown shoes in town…. Did I miss any?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I didn't know Mss Manners was still around! She goes way back to the 80s I believe...I always found her responses funny.

On the subject of slips -- maybe they went the way of white cotton gloves in sprng/ /summer for most people. I still have some, too -- all borrowed and then inherited from my mother. But I rarely wear them.

Kate

Veteran

Re slips—I haven't worn a slip in decades, but I still have a few, and don't plan to get rid of them. You never know when you really might need one.

Joy

Veteran

I wear slips under frocks, but it is getting harder to find them. Most of mine are polyester because they are easier to find. I find most things are somewhat see thru without a slip.
I also wear white all year, including white snow boots.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, UmmLila.

Soooooo, is Miss Manners serious, or making fun of the whole thing? I don't get it

Indigoprint

Veteran

I've always thought she was good at pointing out the ridiculous things while still a good resource about what really mattered.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I think Miss Manners is largely s champion of decent and proper behavior, but not of dated rules.

So, no to white shoe rules, yes to calling people what they want to be called on formal invitations.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

. At least back in the day, Miss Manners was a champion of polite and civil behavior, often delivered with a bit of an edge. I remember enjoying her books!

Echo

Veteran

Yes to whatever shoes someone wants to wear, and YES to slips. I know I am old fashioned, but it seems indecent to be able to see the clear outline of one's body/legs through a skirt or dress and even worse to be able to see underwear. Then again, I don't understand wearing a black bra with a white shirt, either. Both would have been considered scadalous when I was growing up, and while I understand that norms change, I still can't figure out why someone would want to wear a dress or skirt that turns essentially transparent in the sunlight with no slip.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Echo, I learned in about 1980 not to do that after those famous photos of Princess Diana (when still Lady Diana Spencer) with the sun shining through her skirt! But I also read (not sure if then or since) that after all what was so terrible about that? What did it show? She had legs? So do we all?
These days I don’t buy sheer summer skirts or dresses.

Star

Veteran

I wear a short full slip with some of my dress for various reasons. Sometimes because the dress is a bit see through but often because the dress is clingy or static and this sorts it out. Mine is actually a white satin-y chemise for sleeping but it does the trick.

Echo

Veteran

Jenni, I suppose legs shouldn't be that scandalous, but by the same logic, I'd never go out in body paint without clothing, either. I mean, both technically cover the skin, so why not? Half the population has breasts, as well, and we all have bums, but we don't walk around exposing those, either.

While I hate them myself (I always add a slip that's closer to the length of the actual skirt), even those short built-in slips in midi or longer length skirts are better than nothing!

Mainelady

Veteran

Dear Miss Manners,
For decades I followed the rules and only wore white between Memorial Day and Labor Day and absolutely adhered to wearing a slip under every dress and skirt. It can be helpful to listen to opinions and it can also be important to consider options. I’m going to allow you to do you while I do me. I no longer own a slip and white has become a year round favorite.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I remember my mother about died when I read a wedding etiquette book that told me I had (three months? a year?) to send thank yous for wedding gifts. Sometimes you have to question the etiquette, and send the notes when it's decent (one month).

I am nostalgic for a world with more rules. No white shoes after labor day. Sugar in the sugar bowl. Men take hats off indoors. But I suppose there's no real reason for banning white shoes after Labor Day.