It's one of the questions fashionistas sometimes ask at this time of year: "Can you wear white after Labor Day?"
Labor Day is the federal holiday on the first Monday of September (September 5 this year) that is used to pay tribute to workers and the labor movement, who fought for privileges including the weekend, 40 hour working week and the Social Security Act. The holiday, which originated in 1880s, also marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of the fall.
The "rule" that you cannot wear white after Labor Day spans back to the late 19th century and was reportedly invented by an elite group to use fashion to separate those with and without money. At the end of summer, wealthy Americans would leave the cities for warmer vacation spots, bringing white clothing that required special care with them. The poorer workers stayed in the city centers and wore darker attire.
"It is true that white—especially in the days before washing machines—keeping your clothes white implied having a servant to keep your clothes white," Jacob Remes, an associate professor at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study specializing in U.S. labor history told Newsweek.
As Labor Day represents the end of summer, the rule was established that you shouldn't wear white after the holiday if you don't have the money to take fall and winter vacations. The no-white rule starts after Labor Day and lifts on Memorial Day on the last Monday of May, at the beginning of summer.
Is the Rule a Serious One?
The rule is controversial and has been described by Marie Claire as "unconvincing" and "classist." The magazine actively encourages wearing white if preferred and stresses that is not a sign of disrespect to do so after Labor Day.
Some people want to do away with the rule entirely.
"One theory is that it was a rule by the elite to separate themselves from the masses. I say we ditch this artificial rule. I say wear white anytime you damn please! Be like Tom Wolfe or Emily Dickinson if you want, and wear white every day of the year," author A.J. Jacobs told Newsweek.
"I would say in conversation one only ever hears that saying, that rule, jokingly and when it's violated," Remes said. "You only ever hear 'Oh well, how come you're wearing white, it's the Fall, it's after Labor Day' I don't think that it's something anyone would ever take seriously, at least in my social circles."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Dutton is a Newsweek Reporter based in Cape Town, South Africa. His focus is reporting on global politics and ... Read more
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