Answer:
Sometimes I am white, sometimes I am dark. Most people love me. What am I?
I am perfect with a head perfect without a head; Perfect with a tail perfect without a tail; Perfect with either neither or both.
I was was before was was was.
In buckles or lace I help set the pace. The farther you go the thinner I grow.
Before I grow I'm small. When I'm old I grow tall. When I die I give a mighty fall.
It rows quickly with four oars but never comes out from under his own roof. What is it?