Is Wearing White After Labor Day Still A Fashion No-No?

Is Wearing White After Labor Day Still A Fashion No-No?

“Don’t wear white after Labor Day,” is a fashion rule we have all heard before. But, did you know the rule dates all the way back to the nineteenth century? Why does this Victorian era fashion law still govern what we wear now?

In the 19^th century, clothes were expensive and most common people could not afford large wardrobes with special outfits for particular occasions. Instead, people would buy well made, sturdy clothing that would last. They would also choose dark clothing that would disguise staining and wear. The Victorians would rewear the same garments daily and repair them when needed. Since white was easy to stain and usually more light weight, it was not practical for most people.

Also at that time, going on vacation was a great privilege that only the wealthy could afford. They would escape the cities and travel to the countryside or ocean for vacation. Since there was no air conditioning, and shorts or tank tops were considered inappropriate, it was very hard to keep cool. Therefore, vacationers wore light, thin, white fabrics to keep cool while on vacation. Because white clothes were only worn during vacation and only wealthy people could afford vacations, overtime wearing white began to symbolized wealth. Labor Day marked the end of summer when everyone arrived back home from vacation. People packed away their white clothing until next year’s summer travels, thus developing the rule to not wear white after Labor Day.

This outdated fashion rule should be abolished like many others before. For example, it is now fashionable to wear sneakers with a blazer or dress, when one hundred years ago that would have been unthinkable. Fashion trends are always evolving, and now it is perfectly permissible to wear white beyond Labor Day. And why not? Nowadays, people own larger wardrobes because clothing is relatively cheaper than it was a hundred years ago. Additionally, we have modern detergents and washing machines that make it easier to maintain light colored clothing. Finally, today traveling is cheaper, easier and no longer restricted to the extremely wealthy as it was when the rule was first made.

We should all leave the outdated fashion rules of the elite in the past, where they belong, and wear white after Labor Day as much as we want. Go ahead and sport your white shoes and ignore this century old so-called “fashion” rule.