For summer heat, white is a good fashion

When it comes to fashion and color, black gets all the accolades, and white gets all the grief.

Black is the go-to hue for every skin tone and every occasion. It makes cheap fabrics look better; it makes hips look slimmer; it is arguably the alpha and omega of the color spectrum. White might make you look bigger; it might stain; it can be too see-through; and it can look cheap.

The conventional wisdom: When in doubt, wear black.

Yet, the palest of color continues its intrepid attempt to outshine black's allure. Now that we're past that outdated Memorial Day rule and a fair space from Labor Day, it's time for white to step into the sunlight.

Sure, the basic white tee remains a closet staple alongside the beloved little black dress, but this year, it's all about the white pant. If you don't have a pair of white jeans, shorts and capris, get thee to the mall.

"I always hear the same thing when I try to encourage people to buy a pair of white pants or a jacket: 'I'm afraid of white,'" says Gini Linnabery Swancy of Anatomy of Style boutique in St. Louis, which specializes in wardrobe consulting. She uses her retail pulpit to preach the virtues of white.

Swancy tries to convince people that white is flattering, washable, dressy, casual and stunning. Nothing makes vibrant colors pop quite like a white backdrop, she says.

White ensembles can look wispy and romantic or structured and refined. The color can be reminiscent of desert safaris or rose garden soirees. White can be ethereal, and it can be something black can never aspire to: being the coolest thing in your closet.