Wearing White After Labor Day

Specifically, wearing white at all when you are an Art Gypsy.

I love wearing white. I love the crispness, the cleanness of white. White shorts tend to make my otherwise scary pale legs look tan, and white shirts or tank tops are just so classic.

But, what I have learned, is that if you want to wear white anything (sneakers, socks, shirts, etc.), you'd better run back to your van or to the port-a-potties and change into them because if you wear one little smidgeon of white anywhere, it's going to be a mess after you set up.

My stubbornness always gets the better of me at setup. Almost all of the shows I do now are in the Kingdom of Florida, and it's hot, no matter what month it is. So, I wear white. Bad move.

I've seen so many Art Gypsies wearing their "I'm An Artist" attire – funky skirts, tank tops with handprinted whatever, beads up the ying-yang, fringy things – but I tend to stay pretty normal, with a pair of shorts, shirt and flip-flops. These other Art Gypsies look so cool and collected, while I end up looking like I just took a swim in a muddy pond.. They set up their tents the same way, get their product out and still have time for a crossword and a latte before the opening bell. I'm sweating bullets, my white shirt is smudged in all the wrong places, and my feet are so grimy from wearing flip-flops you could plant corn between my toes. And I usually end up finishing three seconds before opening.

So, after this last show, the Great Sprinkler Mishap of 2016, I have decided to bow down to the fact that I simply cannot wear white during set up and must build in some clothes-changing time if I want to present a clean and crisp appearance.

Now, all Art Gypsies know that Saturday morning is the ONLY time you can abide being in a port-a-potty.They are somewhat clean, still have tissue available, and if you have to change in them, it's relatively easy. Sort of. Well, not really. Not if you're changing in to white. Because, no matter what, if they are set up on Friday evening, they've collected an inordinate amount of scum on the floor, so nothing you wear can touch the base. There's no where to hang anything. And putting something on the side plastic by the toilet  – well, you might as well pick your clothes out of a dumpster.

My solution is now to just give up wearing white until I own an RV, where I can get in, change and be back out in relative cleanliness and comfort. Sunday mornings can be my white days, after a nice hotel stay and a shower. During load out, no-one looks refreshed, no matter what they are wearing, and it's usually a long drive home, and take-out is on the menu.

I'll save white for Sundays.