Dear Etiquetteer:
In your article, you didn’t really address the issue [of wearing white after Labor Day] other than tradition. Would you agree that the rule applies to more northern locales, e.g. New England vs. Southern California? For instance, it’s still 100 degrees where I live. I believe it’s just a reminder to shift your dress as the weather changes. I usually have to wait almost until Halloween to shed my summer clothes! Dreadful.
Dear California Girl:
You’re right, the No White After Labor Day rule really functions best as a seasonal marker to rotate one’s wardrobe. It’s really just Etiquetteer and Miss Manners Herself holding out for the traditional Retiring of the White on Labor Day. Almost every other etiquette expert (or menswear influencer) will tell you it’s a silly rule that no longer applies — but Etiquetteer still considers it a Charming Anachronism. But climate change is beginning to trump the quaintness of that rule; as you note, triple digit temperatures at Halloween are not Sweater Weather! Etiquetteer was quite surprised to discover that seersucker is not bound by the change of seasons but by local temperature. For practical purposes, summer whites should follow that guideline, too. Whether North or South, let local weather direct your use of summer whites. (Etiquetteer will still say that white shoes should be put away on Labor Day.)
You may wish to incorporate more seersucker into your wardrobe instead; it comes in a galaxy of pastels now, not just white or blue. Or adopt the Carol Channing All-White Wardrobe and just wear all white all the time all year long. (It would certainly make an impression, especially on your dry cleaner.)
Etiquetteer wishes you temperate days for comfortable and Perfectly Proper clothes.