Break Out the White Shoes

Memorial Day is the official start of the summer season. That means is one respects old social mores it is the time to break out your white shoes, belts and if one is a lady hand bags. It is the time for white suits and if you are fair skinned a wide brimmed white hat. Why is this the case. Etiquette experts claim that it is done because it is done. Historians say that in the day before air conditioning white was the one way to stay cool in the summer heat. White linen works best.
There are other sociologists that claim that it was a way for the elite to show their superiority and prove they did not need to work and therefore could wear white. This seems to be the clearest answer to the question. Social mores and dictates often come from the elite and then are repeated by those who strive to be considered the elite. In the years after World War II the rising middle class and flight to the suburbs drove the developement of middle class elitism. Rules became steadfast keeping this new society in line.
The swinging 60's and the desire to break rules by baby boomers was the first chink in societies armor. Then there was the fashion world's decree of winter white. All the rules had then gone to hell. White was acceptable after labour day. Don Johnson may have been the last nail in the coffin of the white after Memorial day rule when he wore his Miami Vice suits all year round accentuating his whiter tan. Now there seems to be no rules. Wear white when you want, wear black in the summer. Only Beverly Sutphin from Serial Mom now knows the old rules and inforces them.