LOU.EARL in The Daily Mail

LOU.EARL founder and designer was recently interviewed by Margaret Abrams, Style and Beauty Lifestyle Editor of The Daily Mail. We're so honored to be included in her piece about old-school fashion rules and the role they play in modern society today.

Read the full, unedited commentary from our interview below. 

Daily Mail: "Should people wear white after Labor Day? Should they wait until Memorial Day to wear it? Any other colors you should avoid seasonally?"

Unruh: "Let’s be frank here. People do what they want nowadays and they’ve tended to throw out all rules and regulations of the past societal norms of fashion. But let’s not forget that Labor Day was deemed a holiday in order to celebrate the workers union and the opportunity to be able to work in the United States of America, and provide for one’s family. It was the beginning of a rigorous work time in which so many Americans were grateful for, and celebrated. It was a time of momentous joy and gratitude."

Daily Mail: "Should people wait until Memorial Day to wear white?"

Unruh: "As someone who has been in fashion their entire life and raised from a very classic upbringing and continues to design classic styles, I would say so. It is purely out of respect and by the way, who wants to wear white in the winter? Unless of course there’s a trend and it’s ‘Winter White’. But even then, it’s still a little disrespectful, in my opinion.

I’m sure you’ve seen those old photos of people lounging on the beach in their striped swimsuits or maybe the striped umbrellas overhead? The blue and white stripes were an honor to the beginning of Memorial Day. You could stop wearing the dark black and the dark colors of the cold seasons, and factory attire, and you could see the sunshine and wear a little bit of brightness. You could stop wearing dark colors in order to cover up the oil stains and the burns from whichever factory you were working at, and you could wear white in order to show that you were not working. The white attire represented part of the American dream at the time, and the working class could take a break to have their leisurely summers which included the sand and the sea, and still do to this day. 

However, let’s not forget what Memorial Day really is all about. Memorial Day was formed in 1868 by Grand Army of the Republic, Commander-In-Chief, John A. Logan in order to honor and mourn deceased service men and women who had lost their lives fighting for America’s independence in the Civil War, which ended in 1865. The “Memorial Day Act” was meant to honor the men and women and decorate their graves with flowers. It was an honor of gratitude and respect that we should still honor to this day."

Daily Mail: "Should people avoid horizontal stripes because they can be unflattering? What about mixing bold patterns, like polka dots and stripes?"

Unruh: "My mother always told me not to wear horizontal stripes because they can make you look wider. While that may visually be true, I suppose it depends on which society or culture you’d like to dress and impress for, and how you’d like to express yourself. Our country has definitely come a long way since 1868. There has always been expression in attire and you can find that claim in any old historic photograph. 

"Mix bold patterns, mix polka dots, and stripes. Express your true colors and express yourself. After all, isn’t that what Madonna says? “Express yourself!”"

Daily Mail: "Why is it inappropriate to wear wearing velvet in the spring/ summer? Are there any other fabrics to avoid seasonally, like corduroy in summer or linen in winter?"

Unruh: "It isn’t exactly inappropriate to wear velvet in the spring or summer however, you will sweat beyond any deodorant that you own. The weave is tight, and it’s thick and warm. It’s just not something that you wanna do during the hotter time of the year. You should also skip corduroy as that’s also a very heavy weave and wale.

Summer is the time for you to be free and airy and lightweight. Think of it as the time to take a break, relax a little and let the sun give you that vitamin D while relaxing on a sea-side sandy beach somewhere where your days at the office drift away… 

Pair those summer temperatures with lightweight breezy linen and lightweight cottons. Your tanned skin will surely thank you."

Daily Mail: "Why is it important to still avoid wearing double denim?"

Unruh: "Let’s talk about double denim for a second. First of all, it’s fantastic if you’re in Montana on a ranch with horses and cows. Chickens, complimentary. Denim can be hot as the dickens as it’s a thick cotton weave. You’re gonna wanna save the denim-on-denim for Fall seasons, or just a fantastic fashion photo shoot while you’re in the barn."

Daily Mail: "One major TikTok trend is dressing to Kibbe body type or wearing seasonal colors. Are those important to follow?"

Unruh: "Kibbe helps you choose the most flattering attire based on the yin-and-yang of your body type. Dressing alike to the seasonal colors has been a practice for centuries. We adapt to the Fall seasons and colors, the Winters, the Springs and the Summers. Our moods have always been affected by the seasons so therefore that is the way that we present ourselves. We like to be in harmony with the Earth and Mother Nature. 

Let’s just say this to make it very simple, dress the way that you would like to dress, feel the way that you would like to feel. Choose the materials and colors that make you feel the best about yourself. If you just follow your own instincts and be true to yourself, you will always feel your best and others will notice that too."

The complete interview by Margaret Abrams is available to read on The Daily Mail.