Where did the “no white after Labor Day” rule originate and my take on it.

The Story

I’ve been longing for a fancy outing for many months (due to Covid, the last time I was out was January 2020), and one is finally on the calendar for the second week of September. Naturally I’ve started to think about what I might wear, and that got me wondering, “is it appropriate to still wear white after Labor Day?”

Growing up, I had heard the “no white after Labor Day” rule on TV and accepted it, as Labor Day is supposed to mark the end of summer. This “rule” is probably engrained in the minds of anyone in America who has any interest in fashion. White was supposed to be acceptable May to September (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and then again as winter white, December to January.

Where Did “No White After Labor Day” Come From?

According to Marie Claire, the “no white after Labor Day” rule may have started in the 19th century as a way to distinguish between the “old money” and “new money.” While most folks took their vacations during the summer months, the old money, who didn’t have to work, could afford to travel in the fall and winter, and would flock to warmer climates where they would wear white. In this Better Homes & Gardens article, Emily VanSchmus says, “Wearing white represented that you could afford to get out of the city and vacation elsewhere when summer ended.”

This theory doesn’t quite make sense to me. If the established rich were still wearing white after Labor day on their vacations, then wouldn’t the new money (and everyone else) want to emulate this? I suspect the rule came about more as a practical way to mark the change in seasons.

When Does Fall Start?

Did you know that there are actually different ways to mark the seasons? Meteorological (equal markings lasting three months) fall is September 1 to November 30, while astrological (based on the Earth’s rotation around the sun) fall is September 22 to December 21. Here’s a short article about this distinction. If you ask me, fall starts whenever the weather in your area starts dropping, and you can start feeling that pleasant crispness in the air.

The Verdict

The transition into fall depends of course on where you live. I remember in college, around the second week in October, they would turn the heat on in the dorms, at the first sign of a drop in temperature. Without fail, the next week it would warm up again and we’d all be miserable inside.

Anyway, come October we are certainly in what everyone would consider “fall,” and I find that I’m ready to give my summer brights and whites a break. But as long as it’s still above 80 degrees outside, I’m wearing the white! My first rule of fashion is comfort, so as long as you’re comfortable and the clothing is decent, you’re not breaking any rules.

However, as the weather gets cooler, the texture and weight of the fabric should become more of a consideration. While a white linen shirt may seem out of place in late October, a cream crew neck shirt or ivory knitted skirt is just fine.