[Rustbuster]

I've heard a couple of theories but am curious to see what others think.

The one that makes the most sense to me is the fact that prior to the wide spread use of water borne paints, painters would wash their work clothes in lye to remove oil based paint stains and as a result any coloured fabric would be bleached out by the lye to leave "painter's whites". The white clothes are now synonymous with painters.

 

[Bushdude]

Another popular belief is that white clothes were worn when everything was "whitewashed" [calcimine], so that the painters clothes would not show how much they slopped on themselves.

 

[paulingrad]

I think it was maybe the uk that introduced whites.

 

[daArch]

I've posted before on other forums that whites were traditionally worn by plasterers, with no front pockets or pant cuffs for plaster to fall into.

I just figured it was a carryover from them.

But with the amount of white paint used, it does make better sense because it don't show so much as on blue jeans.

 

[timhag]

Its traditional and stems from a time when 95% of painting was in white! So they wore white so the paint did not show up as much as if they wore blue denim! If you look at old pictures the houses are all white! White and Red were the cheapest and easiest colors to produce in those days! Thus, the houses were painted white and barns were traditionally red. You could paint your house red if you wanted everybody to think it was a house of ill repute!
But that was a while ago, I guess the tradition just held

 

[timhag]

One advantage that just about everyone could agree on is that white connotes cleanliness. A painter, after all, removes dirt and crumbling plaster before applying paint. Many painters compared the purity of their “whites” to the uniforms of nurses, chefs, and bakers. Philadelphia One painters theory is that a white uniform is like a badge that says, “There’s no paint on me, so I’m doing a my job.” Obviously, it is as hard to hide paint smeared on a white uniform as it is to hide a ketchup stain on a chef’s apron

 

[timhag]

The white uniform is also a sign of professionalism, one that distinguishes painters from other crafts people. In the early twentieth century, nonunion workmen tried to horn in on the painting trade. These workers, usually moonlighting, wore blue overalls or other ordinary work clothes not related to the paint trade. By contrast, The “real painters” certainly looked professional in there white overalls, white jackets, and black ties.” Even today, most professionals prefer crisp white uniforms (even if they’ve shed the tie), while odd-job part timers might wear blue jeans and a T-shirt

 

[Dave Mac]

I dont and my painters dont, we wear kakis, imo cheaper and better looking

 

[NEPS.US]

I dont and my painters dont, we wear kakis, imo cheaper and better looking

I second that!

 

[Paul_R]

I personally like to wear "whites". I agree with Timhag, that it is an expression of professionalism. I bleach my whites, and do not use them for a convenient rag, so usually they are not excessively stained with paint. I usually wear out the knees before they look really bad.
I once told a little girl that I am so neat that I take my thumb and dip it into paint and then wipe it on my pants so I will remember the job I had. I have always thought of whites as a kind of uniform that signifies a trade, pretty simple and straightforward. But, just as policeman or fireman wear their uniforms, whites are a uniform that identifies one who belongs to a group of unique and specialized individuals.

My 2c, Happy painting, Paul.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Whites here wouldn't have it any other way. There are whites out there that are comfortable just find them, stay away from d i c k ies.... Carhartt whites are fine as are tradesman (the ones me and my guys wear) I have seen some off white / khakis from old navy and other places that look the part.

I do have to say that the shorts suck because most are an 8 inch inseam, have bought my pants and cut and hemmed them to a 12 inch inseam which is what most "normal shorts" are these days.

 

[painttofish]

Carhardt whites or kakis with white logo'd shirt. I allow my guys the same white/kaki option.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Our T's

Here is our logo T's, they are natural color and we do have a few other colors, beige and olive.

 

[Olmoosedog]

Painter wear whites beacause

Painters wear whites because way back in the day there was only one color. "White". They would paint the houses all the time, so much that they would paint over and over. The house, the fences, everything. The owners of these huge homes would have parties and such. so they would make the painter wear white so that they would blend in, and not seen by the guest that would arrive.
This is really one of the true reasons painters wear white. Also I hear in the east coast you can't buy whites. Only Union painter can get them. Due to they are very Union oriented. I love all the stories I have read, being clean. Ya, right there is no way I can stay clean crawling on the floor to paint a tight spots:eek. I can stay clean hanging wallpaper. Not painting. I am not a sloppy painter, you just get dirty working commercial jobs....:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Wallpaper Gypsy]

:jester:Camoflouge-
It goes back to early days in America when the only things that were painted were churches and courthouses and it was all white. Since pastors and priests wore black, as well as judges and hangmen, they were easy to see. It only made sense that the painter try to blend in with walls to avoid them as much as possible.

 

[Wallpaper Gypsy]

......................

 

[hammerheart14]

I also like white, because it's the best "shade" to wear outside. the most heat resistant. much better than wearing dark colors. i'm sure you guys know what i mean. here's some very good painter pants that i sell. the guys love them; especially the built in kneepads:
http://www.threestarglobal.com/

 

[Retired]

Why Painters Wear White

After the temples of Greece were built, the King decided he didn’t care much for the color, originally sort of a medium brown, so he ordered the temples painted white.

In those days the temples were run by the Temple Virgins who were union. Painters in those days wore green and were non-union. They were afraid of the Temple Virgins Union.

The painters being afraid of the King as well, dressed up in white, snuck into the temples, painted them white, married the virgins and lived happily ever after.

After doing such a good job on the temples and the virgins, the painters continued to paint the temples white wearing white. The King thinking that it was a great idea to paint the temples white, wearing white decided from those days on, painters would wear white.

There were no virgins left to complain about the color of the temples or what the painters wore. The King was happy, the ex-Virgins were happy and the painters were happy.

This was told to me by an old painter. We all know that old painters do not make up stories especially stories about why painters wear white.

12/85

 

[6126]

Why Painters Wear White

After the temples of Greece were built, the King decided he didn’t care much for the color, originally sort of a medium brown, so he ordered the temples painted white.

In those days the temples were run by the Temple Virgins who were union. Painters in those days wore green and were non-union. They were afraid of the Temple Virgins Union.

The painters being afraid of the King as well, dressed up in white, snuck into the temples, painted them white, married the virgins and lived happily ever after.

After doing such a good job on the temples and the virgins, the painters continued to paint the temples white wearing white. The King thinking that it was a great idea to paint the temples white, wearing white decided from those days on, painters would wear white.

There were no virgins left to complain about the color of the temples or what the painters wore. The King was happy, the ex-Virgins were happy and the painters were happy.

This was told to me by an old painter. We all know that old painters do not make up stories especially stories about why painters wear white.

12/85

I'm going with this version :thumbup:

 

[Wallpaper Gypsy]

Does this mean that the king has decreed that every non-union painter that wears whites is entitled to 72 ex-virgins when he dies and goes to painter's paradise?
You left out the part about painters bringing the great beer elixer into the kingdom.