When to Wear White

I was reared to believe that one only wore white – especially white shoes – between Memorial Day and Labor Day. I adhered strictly to this fashion rule well into my professional career. Even when wearing “winter white” suits, I would don a darker blouse or scarf and navy or black shoes. Looking back on those times, it seems a bit ridiculous now. Where did we get the idea that wearing white was reserved for summer?

Wearing white in the summer and packing it away after Labor Day seems to have been a fashion rule designed by early 20^th Century elite. The nouveau riche in New York was attempting to join the “old money” crowd who were established as the social elite. This group established fashion rules to separate themselves from the up and coming.

Of course, a more practical reason existed. Many from high society summered in Newport or Southampton, leaving behind the dirty streets of New York City. Vacation attire was cooler, consisting of linen suits, breezy dresses, and tennis attire. These lighter clothing articles were packed away until Memorial Day to keep them clean and fresh.

After Labor Day and returning to New York, white clothing was not practical as walking near dirt-laden streets containing horse excrement and stinky garbage would quickly soil clothing, staining the lighter fabrics.

Fashion magazines reinforced the seasonal changes by promoting darker colors for fall. This prompted etiquette experts to declare white a summer color; darker colors were for fall and winter.  Only a few fashion icons challenged the rules. Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, and Tom Wolfe all chose to wear white year around.

Thankfully, today the rule is considered outdated. Even those fashion magazines that touted the fashion rules have agreed that weight of the fabric is more important in selecting seasonal clothing. My guess that rule, too, will fall by the wayside, considering we now live and work in temperature-controlled environments.

While I agree with current fashion thought, I still find a crisp, white, capri feels undeniably summer-ish. Still, I am happy to be free of the fashion rules of old.