I’ve just returned from a conference in Orlando, where the temperatures soared to over 95 degrees each of the four days I was there. Thankfully, I packed mostly light clothes, including several white items. Nothing looks fresher and cooler than white as the temperature rises, yet the pitfalls to wearing white and still looking polished and professional are many. Let’s review:
• Many higher-end summer whites are linen or linen-blends. While linen is cool and comfortable in hot weather, linens will wrinkle if you simply look at them wrong, and can be a complete mess by lunchtime. You’ll do better to look for a light cotton blended with spandex, a forgiving stretchy combination that’s comfortable, cool and more wrinkle resistant.
• Whites clearly show quality. While we can “cheat” quality considerations in dark clothes, whites and light colored items clearly show issues of workmanship. Because poor construction and cheaper fabrics will be obvious in light shades, you may need to spend more on these items to keep a polished appearance.
• Whites show everything! Vinaigrette splatters from your lunchtime salad, a stray ink mark from your pen-wielding colleague, and a smudge from the car door — whites are hard to keep clean. A second problem is the yellowing caused from reused dry-cleaning fluid at your local cleaners. Always read the fabric labels in your professional garments to ensure you can meet the cleaning demands, but be extra cautious with whites. Washability helps! And if you must dryclean, expess your concern about yellowing and insist the cleaner uses fresh, unused fluid when cleaning your garment.
• Sheerness matters! Especially with white summer pants, we can usually see internal fabric seams, but also panty lines and cellulite bumps. Check out your backside carefully to determine the need for Spanx — I know, you’re trying to cool off and I’m recommending Spanx… just know that everyone checks out your caboose and then think about the impression your hindsight is making!
Have favorite white piece in your wardrobe? Know a great source for white this season? Let us your comments!