Why can't you wear white after labor day?

Question

I never understood why you not supposed to. Can some one explain?

Answer 1

Originally, the rule was more along the lines of "Only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Day." Furthermore, it mainly applied to white pumps or dress shoes. White tennis shoes and off-white boots seem exempt, as are any shoes worn by a winter bride. "Winter white" clothing (e.g., cream-colored wool) is acceptable between Labor Day and Memorial Day too.

The only logical reasoning we could find cited temperature. Image consultant Nancy Penn suggests that because white reflects light and heat, wearing white would make you cooler in winter, and thus should be avoided. But others suggest the rule stems from a class issue. Acting Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Valerie Steele notes that in the late 19th century and the 1950s, more people were entering the middle classes. These nouveau-riche folks were often unaware of the standards of high society, so they were given specific codified rules to follow in order to fit in.

Several sites quoted a charming refrain about G.R.I.T.S. -- girls raised in the South. This bit of folklore states, "Southern girls know bad manners when they see them," and a clear sign of bad manners is wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day. Because fashions in the American South can be a little more formal than elsewhere, perhaps the no-white-shoes rule came from south of the Mason-Dixon Line? Even Star Jones (an otherwise fashion-forward Southern lady) admits that white shoes "are for Easter Sunday and not the dead of winter."

We can only surmise that the point of this rule is to ensure that people only wear summer fashions during the actual summer months. The opposite probably applies as well, but people generally don't need to be reminded to avoid wearing a goose-down parka in 100-degree weather. If you live in a locale with summer temperatures year-round, we can't see the harm in wearing white shoes or a head-to-toe white outfit in October. And we promise not to tell Miss Manners.

Answer 2

I don't know. I'm wearing white on Labor Day lol...

Answer 3

It's not like they're going to send out a firing squad on you if you wear white. This is an old tradition. I never quite understood it. Here's a snippit on the history:

Popular fashion etiquette dictates that white should not be worn after Labor Day.[3] Originally it was white shoes that were taboo— white or "winter white" clothing was acceptable.[4] The custom is fading: "Fashion magazines are jumping on this growing trend, calling people who 'dare' to wear white after Labor Day innovative, creative, and bold. Slowly but surely, white is beginning to break free from its box, and is becoming acceptable to wear whenever one pleases. In the world of western attire, it is similarly tradition to wear a straw cowboy hat until Labor Day. After Labor Day, the felt hat is worn until Memorial Day."[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day

Answer 4

I would say its just a fashion no no but I don't think you will get yelled at if you do wear it. I do.

Answer 5

Its pretty much just a fashion no no.  As white is a summer/spring color because the sun bounces off that color, people wear it more often in the summer/spring, and as Labor Day pretty much enters you into fall/winter where as white is not a fall/winter color.  So thats pretty much it, so if you don't care about fashion rules, go ahead and wear it!

Answer 6

its just one of those things that people say that arent really true. if you believe that then you are not ever allowed to wear white....

Answer 7

youuuuuuuuu can! just wear it!

but i think people say you shouldn't because the seasons are changing and its not spring and summer anymore its turning into fall and winter so you should wear colors more appropriate to the weather.

but you go for it if you like white!

Answer 8

It's an old tradition that went out os style a long time ago.  The reason is snow - if you wear white shoes for example, you could loose them in the snow.

Answer 9

I think that it is because white is considered a "summer/spring" color and people consider Labor Day the beginning of the fall fashion season, so you should begin to wear fall colors (eg. browns, reds, darker colors.)

Answer 10

It's just an outdated fashion rule, that's all. People used to think that pastels should only be worn in the spring and dark colors should be worn in the winter.  

Answer 11

because white is not the color of fall and labor day is in september, which means fall is around the corner...which means white should no longer be worn..BUTTTTT it's 2008...people color outside the lines now, so white after labor day is cool, i guess...i would wear white in the winter... =)

Answer 12

check out for the answer here

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111127/  0

  

Answer 13

because after labor day is officially the end of summer. and white is so much a summer color that you're not supposed to wear it during fall or winter.

personally, I think I look best in white so I always ignore that rule.