I get email… Reader Tim challenges me with “Khaki”

Here are Tim’s questions/concerns:

“It’s about summer clothing like Khaki (sp?)” Yes, this is the correct spelling and so far he understands that some clothing is seasonal yay! We love Tim!

So in some part of the country it’s major faux pas to wear anything summer-ish before Memorial Day.” Absolutely! Tim, I am troubled by the phrase “some parts of the country ” unless you live in Key West, which has tried to secede,  it’s fashion dogma- no white after Labor Day no white before Memorial Day! More below, but really no means no-right?

“At what point in Georgia Climate is it perfectly ok to wear:
Khakis for dress” (NEVER!-good grief who is Tim hanging out with?)

“Or casual” (see below for more-thank God Tim asked this. Sheesh I was getting very alarmed)

“Flip-Flops” -I avoid this for now, as I’m not really sure where this is headed, and frankly the khaki discussion is enough for one post.

Seriously this is a great set of topics, and it prompts me to begin the discussion about what clothing & fabrics are seasonal and appropriate as we transition from winter to early spring.

I use the word transition on purpose, because rarely does one season just “change” into the next… Here in the Atlanta metro, one day can be sunny and nearly 80 and the next cold and rainy. Just like this week. Some are judgment calls  (except WHITE don’t make me say it again)

Khaki is like the old joke from the 70’s SN&L; it’s a floor wax and a dessert topping. Khaki is a fabric type and color, which is not necessarily understood well. There is a rich dignified history of khaki and then there is the confusing misunderstood current application.

The name comes from the Persian word khâk (dust/ashes), which came to English from India, specifically via the British Indian Army. Regardless of its precise etymology, “khaki” refers to the color of uniforms introduced by the army regiments in the 1880s.

More accurately, the correct shade of “khaki” is the color of “Multani Mitti”, meaning “the mud of Multan”. Multan was a well-known military cantonment of British India (now in Pakistan).

The original khaki fabric was a closely twilled cloth of linen *or cotton. The British Army adopted khaki for the campaign dress in 1897, and it was used in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). A darker shade of khaki serge was adopted for home service dress in 1902.

The United States Army adopted khaki during the Spanish American War (1898). It has become de rigueur for military uniforms of militaries the world over. It has also spread to civilian clothing, where “khakis” since the 1950s has meant tan cotton twill pants/trousers.

Today, civilian “khakis” come in all ranges of colors and the term refers more to the particular design or cut of the pants/trousers. In this context, “Khakis” have become popular as business casual pants/trousers, and includes other cuts and fabric types (such as chinos).

 Ah ha, and here in lies our problem. Chinos are not in fact khaki; they are yea you guessed it something else entirely in my book.

But, what I think Tim really wants to know is; do khaki’s ever really have a season?

In the southeast I’m going to say yes, with a caveat.  That caveat being- they must in fact be khaki, and not cotton poplin or chino, they must be dark beige and a heavier weight than simply cotton pants.

As with most clothing, there are appropriate seasons to wear most everything. More on this later.

Here is a handy and simple rule of thumb:

Light colored chinos and tan cotton pants should probably be put away from Halloween to St. Patrick’s Day.

Heavier weight dark khaki’s (cotton) ideally are worn from October, early November NEVER December and are you kidding me-khakis are NOT ever formal. You can wear them February through mid April. With some “judgment calling” done in those transition seasons.

Of course all this advice goes completely out the window if you combine your appropriately chosen khaki style with the wrong shirt or jacket.  See PSP for more.

Linen no mater what color even “khaki” is limited to late spring -Easter through the summer and should probably not be seen after mid September.  Memorial Day rules are strictly applied to white pants and white shoes. I’ve heard some say in the “south” it’s ok after Easter- I disagree strongly;  and is a slippery slope if you will.

As to flip-flops…oy that is something else entirely and I will address as separate topic with open toe shoe s and sandal etiquette.

Kids, it’s Friday after 7:00 pm and I want a cocktail… all for now!