1. White's OK in winter (sometimes). In big Northern cities, the fashion police are likely to issue a citation to anyone wearing white shoes (or jacket, jeans, belt or handbag) after Labor Day and before Memorial Day. In Florida the clothing cops are more lenient. They may frown on white accessories teamed with dark business or evening wear. But they give the nod to white when it is confined to casual, resort-type settings - and provided the weather is reasonably warm.
The real problem with white is the way it shows dirt. Scuffed white shoes, grubby white handbags, ring-around-the-collar white shirts - there's nothing tackier.
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If we must have a rule about white, how about this: Wear white only if it's pristine.
2. Sandals make sense (usually). Sandals are cool and casual, making them the ideal Florida footwear year-round. But wear them up North in winter, and you run a good risk of frostbite.
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As with any rule, there are exceptions. In this case, the exception is sandals worn in a business setting. The two just don't mix - unless (another exception) the sandals are so-called "city sandals" with wide straps, and are worn with stockings (sheer, sandalfoot styles, please).
3. Skip the pantyhose (but not in the board- room). There's nothing women hate more in hot weather than pantyhose. Elsewhere, some women dare to bare their legs during the hottest days of July and August - even if it means braving disapproving glances from conservative dressers. In Florida bare legs are widely acceptable pretty much anywhere, any time. The exception is in the workplace - unless it happens to be the kind of place where casual dress is the order of the day.
"In terms of fashion, it's been very fashionable for the past several years to have that bare-legged look. But in terms of business, there is no way you can look powerful and well-groomed without stockings," said Lisa Maile, owner of Lisa Maile Image, Modeling & Acting in Winter Park.
"The equivalent would be a man going without socks in a business setting. It just doesn't work."
4. Wear short sleeves (but not with a tie). You would be hard-pressed to find one of these garments in a Northern store except in the heat of summer. But in Florida, they're widely available. Some men consider them ideal for work; they're cool but can be dressed up with a tie.
But to most style mavens, the short-sleeve dress shirt is an anathema - neither flesh nor fowl, nor good red herring, as the saying goes.
"I've never gotten that look. I'm not one for rules, but a tie needs a long-sleeve shirt," said Devinder Singh, owner of Originals boutique in Winter Park. "Why men have to wear ties in summer is another issue. It's time we got over that in Florida."
For a cool, comfortable shirt that can also be dressed up with nice slacks and a blazer, try a polo or henley style, Singh suggested.
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5. Sleeveless is cool (but not always compatible). Outside Florida, sleeveless or strappy dresses and blouses are generally a no-no in the office. In Florida they're more acceptable, especially for women whose work takes them outdoors. In offices with a conservative dress code, sleeveless styles are likely to be layered under a jacket or cardigan.
6 Linen is fine after Labor Day (especially in darker colors). Linen garments, like white shoes, are put away during the fall and winter months outside Florida. Here in the sunniest part of the South, however, lightweight fabrics such as linen, silk, rayon and cotton are acceptable year-round. In the cooler months, as a nod to the season and for a change of pace, these fabrics usually come in darker colors and more covered-up styles.
7. Straw hats are fine (any time). Sun, wrinkles, skin cancer - need we say more? Smart Floridians wear hats to shade their faces, not to keep their heads warm - so straw makes more sense than wool. Northerners observe the "no straw until Easter" rule.
8. Seersucker suits say "summer" (especially in winter). Seersucker is the quintessential summer-suit fabric. It's a favorite in New England during July and August. In Florida seersucker can be stretched from June until September. After that, it looks out of place - and you risk looking like a fashion rube.
