There are several unwritten rules in the world of fashion that have been around for much longer than anyone can remember. Avoid mixing prints, don’t wear black and brown together, no denim on denim, and of course… no white after Labor Day. The long, hot days between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend are what we all refer to as Summer. And this is also the time period in which wearing white has traditionally been acceptable. While yes of course, there are many styles and pieces worn during summer that simply cannot carry over into the colder months. However, wearing white does not have to be one of them. Amongst these unwritten fashion rules, nearly all of them have been broken time and time again to the point where no one should even think to deem them legitimate. Which is the way it should be! Fashion today is about expressing yourself, now more than ever. And if that means rocking a good ol’ denim on denim fit, then so be it. Perhaps, white after Labor Day is the last of these rules to be truly broken. So why not break it?
Personally, I could never get away with not wearing a single piece of white clothing after Labor Day. I, like so many other twenty-something year olds, wear white sneakers literally all year round. Aside from the fact that I may have an obsession with white sneakers, these shoes are such a staple in anyone’s closet and are so easy to seamlessly transition across all different seasons. Previously, I used to at least limit the style of my white sneakers based on seasons, wearing Keds in the Spring and Summer months, then transitioning to white Nike sneakers in colder months. However, as of late, I wear my Nikes all year regardless of the temperature outside. These are something I couldn’t just easily part ways with either. I really don’t even know what other shoes I would wear sometimes.
Aside from the Nike shoes that have become a staple in my wardrobe, there are other ways to keep white in the loop. As of more recently, color has tended to have less restraints on season. For example, with the rise in “Y2K” style trends, bright colors and quirky patterns have been popular. Even as we enter fall, these colors don’t show any signs of disappearing. While the rules on colors are evolving, some clothing pieces make the most sense in certain seasons. Of course, we wouldn’t want to wear sweaters in the heat of summer, the same goes for linen items in the brisk winter air. Strappy sandals can be replaced with chunky boots, but your white top doesn’t necessarily need to be swapped with a brown, or army green one. As we make this transition and work toward ending the stigma around this unwritten fashion rule, it’s important to understand the importance of material and silhouette over color.
Additionally, on the opposite spectrum of the bold and bright “Y2K” type style comes the rise in minimalist wardrobing. Those dedicated to this extreme (in my opinion of course) way of living often have as little as less than twenty pieces TOTAL in their wardrobe. This includes coats, shoes, tops, pants, and for some people even jewelry. I say extreme way of living because at one point in time I had twenty pairs of pants alone… so you can imagine my shock that people actually pull this off. But anyways, those with a minimalist wardrobe or style are sure to need white pieces close by. Having such limited clothing options and needing to mix and match different staple pieces, you are bound to loop some white in your outfits beyond Labor Day.
For me personally, I enjoy a variety of different styles but the pieces I am always most likely to buy are the ones that are neutral. For me the color range consists mostly of black, tan, brown, ivory, army green, or of course… white. I couldn’t get rid of white from my wardrobe even if I wanted to. This fall I will be sure to sport white in the most sensical pieces I have including none other than my Nike sneaks, puffy sweaters, chunky cardigans, sleek sweater vests, oversized tees, and maybe even some transitional jeans. Do not hesitate to do the same!
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