“No wearing white after Labor Day.” Its a rule that every man and woman has heard at some point in their life regardless of how little they may actually pay attention to style. But does it still hold up as a rule today?
The short answer is no it does not. You can absolutely wear white after Labor Day but there are a few caveats to keep in mind. Also, for the purposes of this article, “white” will also include similarly light colors like cream or ivory.
A Brief History
Traditionally, white has been the color of leisure- the color the middle and upper classes would wear during the warm months while on vacation in the countryside away from the city. It complements the blossoming colors of spring and contrasts nicely against the full green of summer. White looks especially brilliant when struck by the direct light of the sun.
So why wait until you’re out of the city? Couldn’t you wear white there too during the summer?
Well, not so much. Historically, urban centers have been full of smoke, mud, soot, and general filthiness. This was especially true during the industrial revolution and, understandably, white clothing does not lend itself well to this environment. A wealthy person could probably replace a dirty white garment easily enough but it wouldn’t exactly be worth the hassle. Darker colors like black, charcoal, and navy were used to conduct every day business, while white was left for when you could get away from the city.
Labor Day comes in by marking the general transition in the weather from summer to autumn for much of the northern hemisphere. This signaled the end of leisure- those warm and relaxing months spent in the clean country. It was now time to get back to work or school, and that meant moving back to the dirt and grime of the city.
Nowadays thanks to advancements in things like pavement, waste management, and zoning laws, cities are much cleaner than they used to be. Its no longer considered faux pas to wear white in the city during the summer time.
Some Considerations
Climate – Today, wearing white has less to do with the date on the calendar and more to do with your geography. Bright sunny days are currently numbered for the man in Detroit, but he has different considerations than the man in Key West who is essentially free to keep wearing it all year round.
To put it simply, white as a primary color is completely appropriate if it looks and feels like summer outside. Let that be your overarching guide on this topic.
Weather – White loses a lot of its brilliance when the sun can’t shine on it. I’m not saying you can’t look good with some clouds out, its just something to keep in mind. But if its raining too? Don’t even bother. It won’t look good AND mud and puddles will find their way to you like ants to sugar.
Skin Tone – White contrasts more harmoniously against tanned or darker skin tones. If you’re naturally pale, as I am, white will only flatter you in the warm months after your skin has had the opportunity to darken a bit. A lack of contrast between the white clothing and your skin will only highlight to how pale you are.
Conclusion
“No white after Labor Day” is yet another relic from time gone by. Its more of guideline than a rule now but it may not apply to you at all depending on what area of the world you live in.
What do you think? Do you begin packing away the summer garb after Labor Day, or do you hold onto summer for as long as you can?
So glad you made a post about this! I wore white the other day and someone commented that it was a good thing it was still before Labor Day. My reply was that I don’t follow that rule, but your explanation of how it came to be and the application of it as a guideline is much more helpful.