Is it against ‘fashion rules’ to wear white after Labor Day?
The short answer, according to a few North Texas style/design experts, is NO! White is definitely allowed.
The tradition of not wearing white after Labor Day started on the East Coast.
“People would escape the hot cities for cooler destinations and wear lightweight leisure fabrics, like linen. Many of which were white,” lifestyle expert Steve Kemble said. “Upon returning after Labor Day, they would consider it the start of fall and switch to darker, heavier fabrics. If you did not do the switch to darker fabrics, it was considered not following the fashion rules.”
Steve Kemble, Lifestyle Expert
Steve Kemble, Lifestyle Expert
Founder and Designer of Partwo & Founder of Von Voyage Style, Nerissa von Helpenstill said much of the same.
“Wearing ‘summer white’ originated as a signal of wealth and privilege for those who could afford a leisurely lifestyle while summering in coastal destinations,” von Helpenstill said. “I’m not a big fan of antiquated rules; I believe white is a year-round indulgence that everyone can enjoy!”
Her company’s new September collection will be dropping soon, and there will be plenty of white.
So, is she good with white after Labor Day? Yes, with a little attention to the shade of white.
“I love softer ivory ‘winter whites’ during the transition into Fall and crisper, brighter whites as a fashionable choice around the Holidays,” von Helpenstill said.
Nerissa von Helpenstill
Nerissa von Helpenstill
As far as the holiday itself, the first Labor Day celebration in the U.S. took place in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers marched in a parade organized by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor.
Workers’ quality of life was declining as they transitioned from artisan to factory jobs, while factory owners’ quality of life was “just skyrocketing,” said Todd Vachon, an assistant professor in the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations.
In the years that followed, a handful of cities and states adopted laws recognizing Labor Day. President Grover Cleveland signed a congressional act in 1894 making it a federal holiday.
Labor Day also brings holiday deals in and around North Texas.
