Bowler hats until after Goodwood Week? White Shoes after Labor Day?
Isabelle Cecchini
"... he observed certain immature taboos of dress, such as wearing a
bowler hat in London until after Goodwood Week; ..."
As I had no idea about Goodwood Week --me being French, and a woman, and
all that-- I googled and learnt that Goodwood is connected with
horse-racing, and that Goodwood Week takes place at the end of July,
beginning of August.
Were gentlemen at the time that Waugh is writing about --just before
WWII-- subject to that "taboo[s] of dress"? Why does Waugh call it
"immature"? What did gentlemen wear after Goodwood Week was over? One
daren't imagine they might have gone bare-headed. And when did they
start wearing their bowler hats again?
Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
Labor Day? That's a serious question, by the way: how many of you were
aware of that sartorial taboo before "Serial Mom" appeared?
--
Isabelle Cecchini
irwell
Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
Isabelle Cecchini
[...]
>
> Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
That's a no-no as well in France, where brown shoes are scornfully
called --or used to be, since the times, they are a-changing, and the
standards, they are a-diminishing-- "yellow shoes", "des chaussures
jaunes"! The Horror! The Horror!
--
Isabelle Cecchini
the Omrud
> Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
I don't think I possess either, so I should be safe.
--
David
=====
replace usenet with the
Tony Cooper
>Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
Cordovan shoes, though, are quite acceptable with a dark blue suit. I
have no idea what might wear with an electric blue suit.
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL
nancy13g
> Connected question, for American women:
> do you wear white shoes after
> Labor Day? That's a serious question,
> by the way: how many of you were
> aware of that sartorial taboo before
>"Serial Mom" appeared?
I don't know what "Serial Mom" is -- a movie, I assume? In any event, I
don't need a movie to explain fashion rules to me -- and wearing white
shoes after Labor Day is one of the hardest and fastest such rules I
know. I was brought up on that taboo, as were most of the women I know.
Nowadays, I might possibly wear white shoes after Labor Day, but I
don't think I could do it without feeling slightly guilty, and I
definitely wouldn't do it if I were going to a social event where there
would be mostly older, nicely dressed women.
dimestore
What did gentlemen wear after Goodwood Week was over? One
> daren't imagine they might have gone bare-headed. And when did they start
> wearing their bowler hats again?
From the late 1800's to the 1930's it was customary for men to wear straw
hats in the summer. Straw boaters
were especially popular up to the '30's, but were quickly surpassed by the
Panama.
Mike Lyle
[...]
> Were gentlemen at the time that Waugh is writing about --just
before
> WWII-- subject to that "taboo[s] of dress"?
Yes, they were. But I think it had peaked under Ed VII, who was a
stickler for that kind of thing, having during his formative years
had little else to occupy his mind. He did once try to start a
fashion for trousers pressed sideways instead of fore-and-aft, but
didn't pursue it.
> Why does Waugh call it
> "immature"?
Because it's, well...ben, heu...a bit immature. I mean, who cares? I
think a lot of the dress-code stuff was predicated on an assumption
that one wanted to look as though one might be about to meet the
King.
> What did gentlemen wear after Goodwood Week was > over? One
> daren't imagine they might have gone bare-headed. And when did they
> start wearing their bowler hats again?
I don't know, but I suspect that a Panama was permissible until
September, even in Town.
The wisest attitude was that of the late Duke of Norfolk, who said
that it didn't matter how he dressed at home, because everybody knew
he was the Duke, and it didn't matter how he dressed in Town, because
nobody knew he was the Duke. The British upper classes and clothes is
a mildly interesting mini-subject: being smartly dressed has never
been smart, but one had to get it right without effort.
Me, I'm frightfully smart: I'm scruffy nearly all the time. You've
got to have balls to wear a tattered old Barbour in London or
Melbourne (forget bloody Adelaide: they'd throw me out).
--
Mike.
John Dean
'Why, 'e looks more like a bookmaker's clerk - in brahn boots!'
That's why we 'ad to be so rude to 'im,
That's why we never said 'Ow do!' to 'im.
We didn't know - he didn't say
He'd give 'is other boots away.
But brahn boots! I ask yer - brahn boots!
While all the rest
Wore decent black, and mourning suits!
--
John Dean
Oxford
Sara Lorimer
> Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
> Labor Day?
No. Nor do I wear them before Labor Day, nor on Labor Day itself.
> That's a serious question, by the way: how many of you were
> aware of that sartorial taboo before "Serial Mom" appeared?
I don't know what "Serial Mom" is, but the fashion of not wearing white
shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day (or at least saying that other
peoplee shouldn't) is nothing new.
--
SML
Skitt
> irwell wrote:
>> Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
>
> Cordovan shoes, though, are quite acceptable with a dark blue suit. I
> have no idea what might wear with an electric blue suit.
You could have asked Johnny Cochran, but now it's too late.
--
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
Charles Riggs
>>Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
>>Labor Day? That's a serious question, by the way: how many of you were
>>aware of that sartorial taboo before "Serial Mom" appeared?
>
>Never wear brown shoes with a blue suit.
Not a law of dress, even if it is often said.
What you can't do is wear a stripped tie with a checkered shirt, a
green tie with a blue jacket, or white socks with long trousers.
--
Charles Riggs
Charles Riggs
<mike_l...@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>The British upper classes and clothes is
>a mildly interesting mini-subject: being smartly dressed has never
>been smart, but one had to get it right without effort.
The same holds for the upper class in America. One sees well-polished
black shoes on the feet and spiffy blue suits on the backs of the
lower class, not the elite. The well-to-do have no need to impress.
--
Charles Riggs
the Omrud
For what values of "men"? Like, was it customary in Coventry? I
doubt either of my grandfathers ever owned any straw hats.
Frances Kemmish
> Isabelle Cecchini wrote:
>
>
>>Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
>>Labor Day?
>
>
> No. Nor do I wear them before Labor Day, nor on Labor Day itself.
>
>
My mother advised me never to white shoes, as they make your feet look
bigger.
>>That's a serious question, by the way: how many of you were
>>aware of that sartorial taboo before "Serial Mom" appeared?
>
>
> I don't know what "Serial Mom" is, but the fashion of not wearing white
> shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day (or at least saying that other
> peoplee shouldn't) is nothing new.
>
"Serial Mom" was a Kathleen Turner movie.
Fran
irwell
wrote:
Depends on what has been stripped from the tie, egg yolk
and spaghetti sauce should definitely go.
Donna Richoux
> Isabelle Cecchini wrote:
>
> > Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
> > Labor Day?
>
> No. Nor do I wear them before Labor Day, nor on Labor Day itself.
Same.
>
> > That's a serious question, by the way: how many of you were
> > aware of that sartorial taboo before "Serial Mom" appeared?
I think I watched the opening scene, or maybe that was something else.
Not an influence.
>
> I don't know what "Serial Mom" is, but the fashion of not wearing white
> shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day (or at least saying that other
> peoplee shouldn't) is nothing new.
I never paid any attention to that, but surely you meant that between
Memorial Day and Labor Day is the period you *are* supposedly permitted
to wear them? I.e., summer?
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
Sara Lorimer
> Sara Lorimer <que.sara....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I don't know what "Serial Mom" is, but the fashion of not wearing white
> > shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day (or at least saying that other
> > peoplee shouldn't) is nothing new.
>
> I never paid any attention to that, but surely you meant that between
> Memorial Day and Labor Day is the period you *are* supposedly permitted
> to wear them? I.e., summer?
Whoops! You're right, of course. Quel faux pas.
--
SML
R H Draney
>>green tie with a blue jacket, or white socks with long trousers.
That first one is a special instance of "two plains and a fancy", referring to
shirt, tie and jacket....r
the Omrud
Apart from shoes intended for sport (or purportedly intended for
sport), I don't think I am familiar with any widespread wearing of
white shoes in these parts. For there to be a seasonal "rule", they
must have been very popular. I'm sure Wife doesn't possess any white
shoes (except for Dunlop Green Flash, as I say). For the record, nor
do I.
When I was at summer camp in Pennsylvania, we used to hold a
sweepstake on parents' visiting day, about what time the first father
would appear wearing a blue blazer with badge, yachting cap and white
shoes. I have a feeling that those are the only white shoes I've
ever been consciously aware of.
Maria Conlon
> Isabelle Cecchini wrote:
>
>> Connected question, for American women: do you wear white shoes after
>> Labor Day?
>
> No. Nor do I wear them before Labor Day, nor on Labor Day itself.
There is one pair of white pumps (high heels) in my closet, but I
haven't worn them for a long time. When I did, it was only in the
Memorial-Day-to-Labor-Day time frame, and it was only once or twice.
White shoes are sort of out-of-style, and they get scuffed/dirty too
easily.
Plus: There's an old pair of white nurse-type (or waitress-type) shoes
that I wear when doing a lot of walking[1], but not in the off-season; I
have black ones for then. :-) I also have a couple of pairs of
"tennies," (athletic shoes) but they are so heavy that I don't like to
wear them.
Not that anyone asked, but my favorite shoes are dainty-looking sandals
(no big clunky straps) or toe-less sling-back pumps. My feet are
probably my best feature, and I tend to show them off shamelessly.
[1] Think going to the mall to shop. Malls are too big, you know.
--
Maria Conlon
Django Cat
=== shudder! ===
Django Cat
I still own my grandfather's fedora. Pure Bogart, *damn* cool.
DC