How to Wear White After Labor Day

It’s been a Fashion Rule for decades: “No White after Labor Day”. But the whole “no wearing white after Labor Day” rule is pretty much a thing of the past. These days, winter whites rule the runway and you’d be pressed to find someone who really abides by the dated notion. While no one is completely sure how this rule came into effect, the best guess is that it had to do with elitism in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Wives of the wealthy ruled society and as the overall population began to prosper they invoked their own fashion rules. It was their way of discerning the respectable old money from the likes of the vulgar “new money”. Not wearing white outside the summer months was one of their silly rules. When Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, society eventually adopted it as the natural endpoint for summer.

Not everyone followed this rule. Even some socialites continued to buck the trend, most famously Coco Chanel, who wore white year-round. But even though the rule was originally enforced by only a few hundred women, over the decades it trickled down to everyone else. By the 1950s, women’s magazines made it clear to middle class America: white clothing came out on Memorial Day and went away on Labor Day.

So much for the history lesson. The runways are rocking with white – ALL WINTER LONG.  Yes, you have permission to put on your fabulous white dresses, pantsuits and of course the ubiquitous white blouse. Heck put on a pair of white ankle boots and a white fur vest. The 70’s are back and maybe you’d like to have a little fun.

 

Some of this season’s top designers have created some of the most sought after looks and they’re all white.  All whitey, then.

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