Getting wound up over wearing white

In my last column — that seems like such a long time ago — I wrote about an annual dilemma that some of us face heading into the Labour Day weekend.

The response was overwhelming and quite amusing. See for yourself:

Adéle Johnstone wrote: No! No white! I even changed my purse over to a caramel colour yesterday.

I'm not sure why. I'm 52! Just a rule my mother told me???

Strange but true.

Have a great day!

— Adèle (not the singer) This one from Kim:

I love this story!

And I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to share my "Wear white after Labour Day" story.

As a ladies' boutique owner, I'm often faced with this dilemma, to-wear-white or not-to-wear-white, after Labour Day.

Quite a few years back, I had a young woman and her mom visit our shop.

The young woman was helping her mom (who was visibly weak and reliant on a walker) find an outfit for an upcoming family event.

During their time in my shop, I came to learn that her mom was recovering from a stroke. She'd been quite ill; it was a miracle that she was able to attend this family event, and even more amazing that she could physically shop for something special to wear.

After assisting her with sizes and style options, she was thrilled to choose white Capris and a pretty top, with bling, of course!

As she was finishing her purchase, the lovely lady asked, "This outfit is for a special family event to be held the long weekend in September. Can I wear my white capris?"

I'm looking at this amazing woman, now dependant on a walker, who defied all odds and survived a near-death experience and she's asking the age-old question, "Can I wear white after Labour Day?"

This beautiful yet frail woman was concerned over whether she would be socially accepted if she wore white after Labour Day!

My answer: "Of course you can! For all you've been through, you, my dear, can wear whatever you want!" And she did!

— Kreatively Kim, Kreativedesign.net

What Janet Bray has to say:

Hello Cindy,

This morning I read your piece on wearing white after Labour Day with a smile on my face. What a dilemma! I grew up adhering to the ‘you can't' rule until the past five or six years when I allowed the weather to dictate what colour I wore.

Fall is my favourite time of year in Nova Scotia. Our temperatures after Labour Day are such that extending the wearing of white wards off the knowledge that wintry weather is around the corner.

I thoroughly enjoy reading 'weather by Day'; when my husband wants to know the forecast, as he is getting ready to play tennis or pickleball, he will invariably say to me: 'What does Cindy say?' — Janet Bray

For now, the final word and a chuckle go to Marg Mackillop:

Hi Cindy,

I think it's great to wear white after Ld-it helps us keep our 'chin up facing the end of summer! However, I'm eighty-four; some will think or say: "Poor thing, she just forgets!”

Always enjoy your column, Marg Mackillop.

WEATHER BY DAY

Cindy Day is chief meteorologist for Saltwire Network.