You may have asked yourself, “Why can’t I wear white after Labor Day?” — particularly on those warmer September days. Here’s everything you should know.
I often point out that Emily Post said you can wear white year round. You just have to do it right. I like to mention this because I prefer wearing lighter colors. Not as a rule, but in general (they make you look tanner). But for fashion disciplinarians, this is a faux pas.
So, why can’t you wear white after Labor Day? Or rather, why was that rule set in the first place? Even today, if you’d rather not think about your outfit, avoiding white in the fall is the safest bet.
Can You Wear White After Labor Day?
Ultimately, you can wear what you want any time of the year. However, sartorial tradition decrees that you mustn’t wear white after Labor Day.
You “should” avoid it in the fall. When winter comes along, there are appropriate times for winter white — skiing, themed or holiday parties, and white-tie events, naturally.
Then you can officially wear white, and even go all white, starting on Memorial Day.
However, there are ways to thoughtfully wear white all year long. If you balance it out with fall colors, you can get away with creams and beige in autumn. No one would bat an eye at a few white garments during the spring. And truthfully, white sneakers can be considered year-rounders. Just keep them clean.
Just stick to the rule if you’re attending an event that incorporates it as a dress code. Perhaps you’re attending a fall event, and the hosts are especially traditional.
Or perhaps it’s part of the theme. There’s nothing wrong with thoughtful rule-breaking, but you should always be respectful to any person, community, or establishment hosting you.
Personally, I avoid white for about two weeks after Labor Day. But that’s just me.
White After Labor Day Rule: Some History
So, why don’t you wear white after Labor Day? As with most fashion conventions, avoiding white after Labor Day came about through practicality. And as with most fashion edicts, it was decreed and enforced by society’s elites.
Before cooling technologies and tech wear, it was simply more practical to wear white in the summer. After all, it reflects light instead of absorbing it.
Plus, societal acceptance of tank tops and shirtlessness on the beach is relatively new. White was your only reprieve from the heat and sun.
Starting in the 19th century, well-heeled city folk left their townhouses behind during the summer to holiday. New Yorkers left for the Hamptons, Londoners for the coastal countryside — a practice still common today, though it’s more democratized.
Then, when autumn hit, it was, of course, more comfortable to wear darker colors. Even more, society’s upper crust would go back to the cities, where they couldn’t wear white. Between the smog and dirty streets, it was simply a foolish thing to do.
Still, even as the sanitation departments of New York, London, and Paris started to improve, high society continued to avoid white in autumn. Americans specifically drew a hard line after Labor Day. Why though?
Well, first of all, old money people love their traditions and uniforms. Following these conventions was proof you were from this world. New money robber barons started infiltrating the old social clubs of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Having this secret sartorial language was one way to separate the old from the new.
Wearing white clothing and the ability to holiday were still pursuits of the wealthy well into the Gilded Age. However, only gauche new money ever showed off their riches by wearing white after Labor Day. Take note, members of Gen Z: Quite luxury as a flex isn’t new.
By the 1920s, the economic boom made vacationing common even among those in the middle class. Following the no-white-after-Labor-Day rule spread and became well known. Arguably though, it was still the upper class who most strictly enforced it.
Wearing White After Labor Day: Can You Do It Today?
Ok, so times have changed. The world has gotten more casual. Why not wear white after Labor Day?
The truth is, you can wear whatever color you want any time of the year. Unless you’re attending an event with a strict dress code, wearing white in the fall isn’t wrong. It feels like a faux pas simply due to the fact the convention had been in practice for so long.
Even as someone who grew up in LA, I saw people mostly avoiding stark white after Labor Day. And this is despite the fact there isn’t a major change between August and September there. It was more like a symbolic hat-tip to the changing season.
But yes, today, you can generally wear white after Labor Day. Outfits with white pants tend to look summery, but you can always style them for any season. A pair of white or off-white jeans paired with a dark chore coat and boots? You can definitely wear that in the fall or winter.
You can go for winter white in December and January. You can wear white with pastels in spring.
In fact, if it’s hot out, no matter what the season, white never looks out of place. A loose-weave white t-shirt is perfect on a moderately warm or sweltering hot day. And let’s be real. We still get those after Labor Day.
White Shoes After Labor Day
Okay, so what about white shoes after Labor Day? Even if you’re following the rule strictly, few people would be offended by white shoes after that first Monday in September.
Imagine brown chinos, a forest green flannel, and a chore coat. Very fall, right? Finishing this outfit off with some white
The style of the shoe is more important than color. White boat shoes definitely feel more like summer or spring. As mentioned, I consider low-profile white leather
FAQs
If you still have questions about wearing white after Labor Day, no worries. Here are the answers to some common iniquities.
Why is it rude to wear white after Labor Day?
It’s not rude to wear white after Labor Day unless you’re going to an event or establishment expecting you to abide by that convention. At worst, wearing a stark white garment in the fall is more peculiar than rude.
Is no white after Labor Day still a thing?
Not nearly as much as it used to be. Again, in stricter contexts, it’s safest to avoid white after Labor Day. However, in everyday life, you don’t have to avoid white after summer as a rule. Just style that white garment appropriately, and you’ll be fine most of the time.
Conclusion: It’s All About Respect
So why can’t you wear white after Labor Day? Well, because it was a practical convention that became more of a ceremonial rule. It doesn’t fully apply now.
However, I will say that following old, established rules is an effective shortcut for looking good and looking the part. You can wear white in the middle of fall, but it won’t look seasonal without a little styling. That’s fine if you don’t care, but if you do care, avoiding it completely is just easier.
Do you wear white after Labor Day? Why or why not? Let’s start a conversation in the comments!
