I Wore White After Labor Day // Fashion Faux Pas

A few weeks ago, the weather here was simply gorgeous. I don’t remember it ever being so warm in October in Pennsylvania! I just bought this beautiful new hair scarf and wanted to showcase it. I chose an all-white color palette in an effort to create a blank canvas. My accessories really stood out! This was the result.

Wearing

Top // Gap

Trousers // Gap (linked similar)

Sandals // Tommy Hilfiger (linked similar)

Hair Scarf // Unique Vintage

Earrings // Given to me by my mom

Sunnies // Vogue Eyewear 

Watch // Skagen Denmark

From my What Not To Wear knowledge, it is unacceptable to wear white after Labor Day. I did some research to find out why. Apparently in much older times, wearing white symbolized a higher non-working class. Those who wore white were not required to do manual labor and could, therefore, wear white with no fear of getting their clothes dirty. Another important element of the ‘No White After Labor Day’ rule is that summer was always said to start on Memorial Day and end on Labor Day, very much the same as it is now. However, in the olden days, people dressed much more modestly. Going out in tank tops and shorts was unheard of, and there was also no air-conditioning. They wore white clothes in an effort to stay cool. When the colder months approached, people retreated back to wearing their darker suits and dresses. So it makes total sense that no one was ever seen in white after Labor Day! The tradition was continued into the 1930’s, 40’s, and 50’s because white was then associated with summer days spent at the beach. For example, many New Yorkers vacationed in the Hamptons wearing their white linen dresses and crisp, button-down shirts. Once the summer was over and they came back to the city, darker clothes were more appropriate. ‘City Style’ is typically based upon dressing in black and other dark, neutral colors.  New York is one of the biggest fashion capitals in the world, so many people still follow this trend. I personally don’t feel the need to follow this tradition. White also reminds me of snow and winter, and I own a beautiful white turtleneck sweater that I can’t wait to wear as the weather gets colder! This was my second Fashion Faux Pas post. If you want to read my first one all about wearing navy with black, click here. 🙂

What about you? Do you wear white after Labor Day? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Monday!

xx, Madison