We’ve all heard it. The age-old adage, “Don’t wear white after Labor Day,” has permeated fashion pop culture at all levels, from catwalks to the catalogues. Though most people treat the rule fairly concretely, there’s still some wiggle room for you to show off your favorite white pieces during the winter.
No one really even knows why the whole no-white rule even exists, though there are two common sentiments toward its origins: practicality and the changing seasons.
As far as practicality goes, white is comfortable to wear during the hot summer months (it absorbs less sunlight), but people should change to darker colored clothes for the rainy gray winter days to avoid ruining lighter clothing. Plus white looks ghastly with pale, winterized skin.
The other popular opinion is that the rule originated as a symbol of the changing seasons. Historically, the well-to-do in the big cities were famous for jetting off to fabulous summer destinations and donning crisp, light, white clothing. On their return to the everyday in the fall, they would dust off their darks and officially enter fall with a new wardrobe.
It’s hard to go wrong with a quilted Burberry coat, even if it is white!
The jury is out on which theory is correct, but we do know that this rule is for-sure getting bent and loosened. Many fashion icons and magazines have resisted banning white from their winter repertoires, and “winter white” has become very à la mode. We all know that rules are meant to be broken, so it’s time for collegiettes™ at Wake Forest to make white look fresh and exciting for winter!
Before you start breaking the rules, however, here are a few basic do’s and don’ts for wearing white after Labor Day.
First, don’t make it look like you are at a lush resort in south Florida. Resort collections are limited to the summer seasons for a reason. Once the temperatures start dropping, it’s best to avoid white shorts or skirts. Try thicker dresses or sweaters instead.
Be careful pairing summery frocks with winter accessories!
Stay away from lightweight fabrics. Lightweight clothes just aren’t practical for the wintertime, and it makes you like you forgot to check the weather app on your iPhone.
Avoid wearing head-to-toe white once fall officially starts. Mix-and-match white with other fall colors and accessories, like galoshes, scarves and dark jeans. Branch out and explore white’s winterized cousin, cream—it’s just as stunning as white but a little more subtle.
Try adding bold accessories to look on trend (not like you’re overstretching your summer wardrobe). And most importantly, if you decide to break the rules and wear white this season, show off your look with full-fledged confidence.
Now you see: you can wear white after Labor Day when you know how to do it right! So get out there and rock your winter whites, collegiettes™!
*Photography by Lauren Hunstad