Down here on the Texas Gulf Coast, we have a practically tropical climate, so many of us believe the exceptions for tropical climates prevail. The rule as it pertains to linen is the one most commonly flouted, linen is worn whenever it is hot enough that linen would be more comfortable than even the lightest tropical worsted (worsted and humidity make for an unpleasant smell). That’s from about sometime in early-mid May all the way to late October. Though we tend to avoid very obvious summertime outfits after mid-September – like seersucker suits, white or cream linen suits, white bucks. A tan or stone poplin suit is still fair game, though.
I first don my white bucks on Easter Sunday, and put them away after Labor Day, unless I happen to be attending a daytime wedding in September when it’s hot. Some other rules:
1. Please don’t wear your white bucks with shorts. Don’t wear any dress shoes with shorts, and white bucks are cut like a dress shoe. The only shoes that look good with shorts are lowcut casual shoes like boat shoes, loafers. A derby-cut shoe with shorts gives the impression of a British schoolboy in shortpants, not a good look. And while we are at it, don’t wear a longsleeve shirt with shorts, that defies all logic – your legs need to be ventilated but your arms need to be insulated?
2. Please wear your white bucks with socks. Get some white, cream, or light tan dress socks. Wearing shoes, especially leather shoes, without socks, especially in the heat of summer, is terrible for your feet and for the leather of the shoes. And putting aside shoe care and foot health, the only shoes that really look good with bare ankles are lowcut shoes like loafers and boat shoes, and only when they are worn with shorts. When they are worn with pants, these shoes should be worn with socks. The brief gap of bare skin between trouser and leather is aesthetically jarring. Again, white bucks are a dressier cut of shoe, and should be worn only with pants, which also means they should be worn with socks.
3. In the city, white bucks shouldn’t be worn in the evening. If you’re wearing white bucks, chances are you’re at least giving a passing nod to traditional mens’ style, and such style had rules. Frank Sinatra was an icon of style in his day, and believed, as nightime was a more formal time that daytime (hence no tuxedos before 6), one should dress more formally at night. He believed a man should never wear a brown suit after dark. He was also strict on shoes: “There’s no excuse for brown shoes past sundown…. Or white shoes. Or anything gray, unless it’s deep charcoal. Or blue, unless it’s midnight blue. In fact, let’s keep it simple: after dark, men should wear black.” I don’t think we need to be quite so strict as old blue eyes, but a bright white shoe really is a daytime shoe. So unless you’re at the seashore or maybe out in the country, change out of the bucks before sundown.
4. Keep your white bucks looking nice. I know there is a whole tradition going back to the 1950s of East Coast prep school and college-age boys letting their white bucks get scuffed and stained, maybe deliberately so, but if you’re a grown man and want to look like one, put in the effort to keep your leather shoes shined, and your white bucks cleaned and chalked.
FAQs
“I prefer them without socks. But if you do wear socks, they need to be a cream color.” The shoes can work with just about any outfit—shorts, jeans, a suit, denim, khaki, gray wool. “But remember this,” Mashburn says. “There must be an edge to the outfit: rolled sleeves, some dirt on the bucks.
What is the rule about wearing white shoes? ›
For many years, fashion experts insisted that white shoes should only be worn before Labor Day. The reasoning was that white was a summer color, and wearing white shoes after the end of summer would be considered gauche. However, times have changed, and white shoes are now considered acceptable for year-round wear.
Can you wear white bucks at night? ›
The brief gap of bare skin between trouser and leather is aesthetically jarring. Again, white bucks are a dressier cut of shoe, and should be worn only with pants, which also means they should be worn with socks. 3. In the city, white bucks shouldn't be worn in the evening.
How do you take care of white bucks? ›
Steps to Clean White Bucks:
Use a suede brush to clean away any dirt or build-up that may have occurred. Use a hard, white eraser to remove any scuff marks. A chalk bag allows for quick touch-ups to keep them looking sharp and white. Simply pat the bag onto the areas that need touching up.
What are white bucks? ›
Named for their nubuck leather construction—a buffed calfskin that has the velvety texture of suede but the hardiness of standard leather—white bucks were once an Ivy League staple, favored by 1950s college kids and rocked by doo-woppers like Pat Boone (also known as “The Kid in the White Bucks”).
Can I still wear white after Labor Day? ›
You can certainly don a white 'fit' after Labor Day if it strikes your fancy. It is not a sign of disrespect, as people sometimes fear. Even Vogue, considered by some a tome of fashion wisdom, advises that white can always be in style, even putting forth a guide to seasonally appropriate pieces in ivory and cream.
Why can't you wear white after Labor Day? ›
Some historians say brighter clothing was worn by affluent groups who could afford to leave town for a warmer coast when the leaves began to change. Subsequently, it became socially accepted that those who didn't have the money to take fall and winter vacations shouldn't don white after the last summer holiday.
What socks to wear with white bucks? ›
But if you do wear socks, they need to be a cream color.” The shoes can work with just about any outfit—shorts, jeans, a suit, denim, khaki, gray wool. “But remember this,” Mashburn says. “There must be an edge to the outfit: rolled sleeves, some dirt on the bucks.
What colors not to wear when deer hunting? ›
If you're more inclined towards cool colors, avoid blue and anything that's UV brightened. And if you're a young hunter feeling overwhelmed by the advice being dispensed by clothing manufacturers and the self-appointed experts in the hunting magazines, also keep in mind the big picture here.
What not to wear when hunting deer? ›
Don't dress head-to-toe in the same color, or your human form will be easy to spot. Black and white are also colors to avoid. Reflective clothing is a big no-no, so take a look at any logos. And research has shown that ungulates like deer can see shades of blue.
Whether you dress them up with a smart casual sport coat and chinos or dress them down with a button-down shirt and jeans, they're going to serve you well for years to come.
Who made white bucks popular? ›
Suede shoes could be found in a range of other colours as well, but ultimately it was white bucks that - despite being a significant challenge to keep clean - proved most popular, no doubt in part because of the fact that they were often sported by another successful singer (and teen heart-throb) of the era, Pat Boone.
How rare are white bucks? ›
Other biologists say they are much rarer, with only one in 100,000 deer born totally white. As for the genetic variation that causes the brown-and-white piebald, biologists say that less than 1% of all whitetails born will show piebald traits.
Where do white bucks live? ›
Range. The white-tailed deer can be found in southern Canada and most of the United States, except for the Southwest, Alaska and Hawaii. A deer's home range is usually less the a square mile.
What year were white bucks popular? ›
Girls and boys both were wearing these in the late 1950's.
What is special about a white deer? ›
White deer hold a place in the traditions of many cultures. They are considered to be messengers from the otherworld in some Celtic mythology; they also played an important role in other pre-Indo-European cultures, especially in the north.
Is it OK to wear white shoes before Memorial Day? ›
No rule enrages Miss Manners' Gentle Readers as much as the ban against wearing white shoes (unless you are a baby, a bride, or playing tennis) between Memorial Day (not Easter) and Labor Day.
When can you start wearing white pants and white shoes? ›
While there are many who still choose to live by the tradition-based guideline that you must wait until Memorial Day to wear white, there are others who favor a different date: Easter. In fact, Easter is sometimes seen as the true mark of being able to break out your best whites, and it does make sense in some ways.
Can you wear white shoes out? ›
"White sneakers are easy to pair with any outfit," says Lauren. "There are so many types of white sneakers, ranging from a casual, active style to trendy, chunky soles." Whether going out for a night on the town or running errands, they make any outfit look fashionable.
Is it OK to wear white shoes and black clothing? ›
It's absolutely fine to wear White shoes on Black jeans, as long as you choose the correct shoe. Do white shoes match with black jeans? Sure!!! You can wear black jeans with a long black jacket, a black wide belt matching with a black bag and a pair of white high heel shoes.
