When You Can Wear White After Labor Day

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I’m so in love with white dresses. A crisp white dress is so light and feminine, and is a great option when the temps start to rise, but when are you supposed to start wearing yours? There are so many rules when it comes to what seasons you should wear certain fabrics and colors, and it seems like they’re constantly changing, which can make it even more difficult to keep up! I was raised on very old-fashioned etiquette books, which is a really good starting place if you’re unsure and want to play it safe, but a lot of sources now will tell you to throw any rule out the window just because we are living in such modern times.

So, as a young Southern woman who is well-versed in traditional etiquette but also at the same time living in 2018, I have my own take on what is or isn’t appropriate when it comes to certain clothing colors and fabrics during each season. I am somewhere in the middle of hard-core traditional rules and modern notions.

The old rule is you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day (the first Monday in September), and that you shouldn’t start wearing it again until Easter. I, on the other hand, have a problem with this hard-and-fast rule. I think it mostly has to do with the weather where you are, what activity/event you’re dressed for, and the fabric of the clothing during a particular season. So, here are my white clothing rules for you:

Wearing white based on the fabric/season:

I definitely think it’s fine to wear white after labor day if you stick to certain fall and winter-appropriate fabrics (wool, velvet, tweed, velour, corduroy, cashmere, faux fur, flannel). It usually makes more sense to go for a more “winter white” shade like ivory or bone instead of a stark white, but either are okay.

Once you get into the months of February and March, things get a little more flexible. You can start wearing your white linen, cotton, seersucker, rayon, jersey, chambray, and eyelet, but I think it all has to do with the weather. Once it starts getting warm enough to wear sundresses and show your legs, I think you shouldn’t have to limit the color and fabric too much. One thing I will note is I think white shoes (especially leather ones) should totally stay in your closet until Easter.

Wearing white where you are:

This was something that didn’t really occur to me until I lived in Charleston. Even though we can have incredibly hot fall and winter seasons in Texas, we still mostly stay in the mood of the season and don’t tend to skip ahead to spring and summer too fast. Charleston is totally different! Since it’s such a coastal, beach-type town, I picked up on the vibe that as soon as the first warm day happens, everyone is immediately ready for summer and start dressing like it. This also goes for vacation! Obviously, if you’re on the beach in Mexico or walking the streets in Greece, it’s totally your own judgement call. So, I say if you feel like a white dress makes sense for where you are, go for it!

Wearing white for your activity/event:

This is the most important rule to follow in my opinion. There are events when you should never wear white (a wedding, a rehearsal dinner, a funeral, or a bridal shower) but then there are times when it totally works after Labor day depending on where you’re going or what you’re doing. This comes down to a personal judgement call. Activities like sailing, garden parties, and baby showers are all events that can happen in the months between Labor Day and Easter where white works.

Photos by: N. Mickle Photography