Is it ok to wear white after Labor Day? YES! These are the BEST examples of how to style white after Labor Day.
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Who started the “no white after Labor Day” rule?
Back in the day, just wearing white was an indication that you were wealthy, didn’t have to do manual labor for work and could afford summer vacations. Wearing white was a way that wealthy women separated themselves from the rest of society.
So, where did the no white after Labor Day rule come from? It was yet another attempt to create distance between the wealthy and the middle class. If you were in the know, you knew that white after Labor Day was a huge no-no.
Is it ok to wear white after Labor Day?
Yes. The “no white after Labor Day” rule is completely outdated. Besides, fashion has no rules, and your favorite white pieces deserve to be worn at all times of the year.
However, successfully styling white after Labor Day can still be a challenge, especially when it comes to white pants. We’ve been told for so long that it’s not allowed, and it can be hard to break that barrier.
In this post, I will be showing you 10 examples of how to style white after Labor Day. My hope is that this post will help you style pieces you already have in your wardrobe, but if you love something, I have also linked similar second-hand items for you to shop.
Is it ok to wear white after Labor Day?:
My favorite ways to wear white after Labor Day are:
In cooler weather cuts
If we’re being real, I can’t always wear this dress in the thick of the summer because although it is a linen/gauze material, the cut still makes the dress a little too warm for cruel summer days, making it perfect for early fall or late spring.
I’ve styled this dress with my white Golden Goose, which I wear year-round without giving it a second thought.
With layers
Once it’s even cooler out, I continue to style this dress by adding layers! You could also wear tights underneath the dress if needed.
It may seem obvious, but an easy way to style white pants in the fall and winter is to layer them. It may not seem like the white pants add much to the look, but I think they pair great with the above jackets, especially the blue shacket.
With high-contrast pieces
I personally love the contrast of white eyelet and black leather. No matter the look, I find that contrasting pieces always add an extra element that makes the outfit more interesting.
In “winter white” or cream
Another great way to style white in the winter is to opt for a winter white or cream.
Winter fabrics
An easy way to make white look a little more winter is by including winter fabrics in the look. In the above looks, I have styled white leather pants with strong chunky knits. The silver heels also make looks two and three a little more winter-appropriate.
An oversized cardigan
I decided to include this duster cardigan because when I first bought it, I had a really hard time styling it. I couldn’t think of anything other than pairing it with an all-black base.
Even through it wasn’t flowing in my wardrobe to begin with, I knew I loved the piece, so I continued to hold onto it. And the next year, I styled it more seamlessly with my closet.
In the first look above, I pinned the cardigan together on the inside to transform it into a new piece and layered it with this lace top. In the second look, I styled the cardigan casually for working from home or at the coffee shop.
I would also pair this duster cardigan with a printed maxi dress and a pair of boots.
With a monochromatic look
The last way I like to wear white after Labor Day is in a monochromatic look. I always have trouble pulling off a monochromatic look because the undertones have to work well together, or else your outfit just looks like it doesn’t match. So props to you if you have found a way to pull it off!
Even thought this look isn’t fully chromatic, the matching cream leather pieces work great after Labor Day.
My exact leather set can be found on Poshmark along with listings of the jacket by itself. My exact bodysuit is available on Poshmark, and I have linked similar second-hand 70s-style tops below.