By now, you’ve surely heard the fashion rule that wearing white after Labor Day is an absolute no-go. But how come? Why must we put away our favorite white top, or even those easy breezy linens, when the September sun can be just as hot as August‘s?
Let’s get into the century-old fashion rule and why some people still follow it today.
Why can’t you wear white after labor day?
The rule origins actually come from a tradition set by wealthy New Yorkers in the 19th century when they would dress in white on their summer vacations near the coast.
The color white was ideal for hot temperatures, keeping the wearer cool, compared to other colors, like black, that absorb light and trap heat. Moreover, the ability to maintain clean white clothing meant you could afford to not to get your clothes dirty from work and to have the luxury of taking summer vacations.
At the end of the season (around Labor Day), the wealthy New Yorkers would return to the city and swap their whites, a status of money and maintenance, for darker clothing and practicality. They wouldn’t introduce their whites back into their wardrobe until summer came around again.
Do people still follow this fashion rule?
For many years thereafter, people still followed this rule. It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that white became a more acceptable color for clothing following Labor Day. Modern wardrobes consider the rule outdated and believe white is a year-round color.
Is the fashion rule still practical?
In some ways, the rule to not wear white after Labor Day can still be considered practical due to white being an optimal color for warmer temperatures. However, modern technology such as air conditioning and heating can help alleviate the need to dress in a certain color. Not to mention, cities have become much cleaner, making white less likely to get dirty.
Furthermore, many believe trends are meant to be challenged and so long as you wear an appropriate fabric for the season, such as opting for white denim, cashmere or wool in the winter, that’s all that matters.
Of course, we believe you should always wear whatever your heart desires, no matter if that’s white after Labor Day or sandals in the winter (although, you might want to forget about open toe shoes altogether in NYC). Whatever makes you feel good should be what you dress in; but we hope you enjoyed a bit of this fashion history!