Whenever talk turns to fall, someone always trots out the ‘no white after Labor Day’ thing. Which got us thinking. Where do these ‘rules’ come from and are they really true? In honor of all the good little boys and girls who are heading back to school this time of year, we did a little homework of our own.
Never wear white after Labor Day
No one can agree on where the ‘No white after Labor Day’ proclamation originated. Some say it came after the Civil War when women of extraordinary means created a whole host of arbitrary fashion rules to weed out old, established money from what they saw as vulgar new money. Wearing white was for weddings and resort wear, not for a dinner party in October. Fast forward to today, when rules, especially fashion rules, are made to be broken. Especially for those of us who live in the real world and not on the runway or at a turn of the century tea party. So we’re waving the white flag and sporting our whites year round. And while we say wear it proudly, white linen pants in winter would be stretching it. It’s really more about the fabric than the color anyway. Be comfortable, dress for the weather and save the Cheez Doodles for when you wear blue jeans (or not, but we’re admittedly messy with ours).
All sunglasses are created equal
Not when it comes to protection from the sun’s harmful rays. But if you’re like us and don’t want to spend a fortune on expensive shades because you lose or break them, don’t despair. A higher price tag doesn’t buy you more eye protection. Expensive sunglasses are usually pricier because of the style and brand. Regardless of price, you need to look for shades that have a ‘UV400’ label. This means that nearly 100 percent of the harmful ultraviolet radiation never reaches your eyes. That goes for fall and winter, too, so don’t sock yours away with your flip-flops.
Stress makes it more likely you’ll catch a cold
Sadly, this is true and something we should pay attention to. One thing we like to remember is that stress is not something that’s just out there waiting to pounce, it’s found in the way we perceive and respond to things that are largely out of our control. And trying to control it all is, well, a recipe for stress. Try to roll with the punches by realizing that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Get some exercise. Do some deep breathing, even for just 30 seconds, when you find yourself getting anxious or stressed. And make sure to work in some time for yourself. You can’t take care of everyone else if you’re sick in bed.
Feed a cold, starve a fever
Oh, and that thing about ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’? Not actually true. People generally lose their appetite a bit when they’re under the weather, but there’s no reason to feel like you need to force yourself to eat like you regularly would. The key is to stay hydrated, that’s very important. And if having a cup of chicken soup sounds good (true by the way that it can help you feel better! Its anti-inflammatory properties actually help to move the virus along and shorten the length and severity of your cold), we hope you have someone special to whip some up or grab some takeout for you. There’s nothing better than a friend who makes chicken soup . . . and shows up at the door rocking her white jeans.
