> I thought the "no white after Labor Day" rule had its roots in practical conslderations. Fall/winter = wet & cold. White shoes = harder to get clean if you step in a puddle.

See, that makes sense to me. (The jump from the practical concerns of wet days to the arbitrary "Labor Day" delimiter doesn't, but eh.) And:

> As a little girl...

This snipped anecdote relates something I don't exactly understand but don't have a problem with either. Hey, if observing seasonal changes with clothing was fun for her, good for her.

But when I first heard about that white after Labor Day rule, it was in the context of someone making a comment about what people -- all people -- "should" do. Not oneself, not even one's family, but just a general rule that people "should" follow or meet with disapproval. Which is, of course, a preposterous attitude to have.