White After Labor Day
by habituallychic
09 . 01 . 08
Usually by this time of the year, I’m officially over summer and ready to break out my fall clothes but not this year! Maybe because I spent so much time working or maybe because I don’t know what I will wear when I put away my white dresses and my white Goyard bag! Of course, it stays warm through October so it’s not exactly fall weather right now anyway and since rules are meant to be broken I will probably throw on a white dress tomorrow. I might make a concession and carry a brown handbag though. I have put away anything linen or very summery but will definitely not be putting away my white jeans for a few more weeks.
The Sartorialist photographed fashion editor Giovanna during fashion week last fall and she clearly doesn’t subscribe to the “no white after Labor Day rule” but she is Italian so perhaps they don’t have that fashion rule since Labor Day is an American holiday! What about you? Will you wear white after Labor Day?
35 Comments
Goyard bag? Interior decorators in NYC must be paid quite well! Or, perhaps you have a benefactor (parents most likely).
Heather — judging by that photo with Mrs. Blandings, white is your color so I can understand why you want to still wear those dresses 🙂
Anonymous – they don’t pay interior designers a lot which is why I have a lot of irons in the fire. I am also single with no children or a car to buy gas for so I can buy whatever I want which includes a Goyard bag. I bought it for myself last summer because it is timeless and can be used for years.
My parents have been generous here and there but they do not support me nor do I have a benefactor. As everyone who meets me knows, I work very hard for it honey!
Courtney, you’re too sweet! What’s funny is that before I met someone in person whom I didn’t know, she said she always wore blue and I said I always wore white and sure enough, she turned up in blue and I turned up in white. Now I just need to find a new color for fall!
Rules are meant to be broken aren’t they!
You go girl with your white frock & pretty bag!
this rule needs to be revamped! white is a staple in my closet and we should have until at least october!
Thanks Camilla! I’m definitely wearing white tomorrow!
Anonymous #2 – I think if you mix white in with some more fall colors you can definitely wear white into October. Instead of hot pink or pastels, I pair my white jeans with black sweaters or little tan jackets and tops.
HC, You go girl with your Goyard bag!!! Everyone deserves to give themselves a little present now and then! Darn…is it really time to put away all the linen clothes?? I LOVE linen..have some tan and black pieces that are heavier weight..I usually try to sneak through to mid-late Sept. in them! I only have a few fav. white dresses…probably won’t indulge toofar into Sept unless it gets screamin’ hot out! If I had a white Goyard bag, I’d probably wear it is often as possible until the leaves on the trees change!!!
Ivy Lane – I’ll give you a pass on the dark linen. I also have an heavy ivory linen dress I might wear for maybe another week. I put the lighter white one away. I know the other white dresses will have to be put away soon too. I think I need to go shopping to replace them this weekend!
Maybe I can pick up a “faux” Goyard bag on the street in a darker color for fall! Ha!
Maybe it’s because I’m south american and don’t know anything about this whole Labor Day business, but I honestly don’t see why you can wear certain colors in, say, hot weather but not in cold ones. In my city, people will wear black, brown and navy in the summer and white and pastels in the coldest winter day. I think the idea of limiting colors like that is such a waste of fashion opportunities! 🙂
Alessandra, I think most South Americans could wear a garbage bag, of any color, and still look good so maybe that’s why there are no rules for you all 😉
America loves to make rules so this is probably why “no white after Labor Day” was created but I think people are realizing that it’s silly, esp. if it’s still blazing hot out!
yes, to white after labor day and YES to this dress! i had this photo saved since last year as well because i loved it so much!! such good taste we have 😉
Of course white jeans are great year round…i throw a big gray sweater over mine and go
!!!
definitely still wearing white after Labor Day. I live in NYC, too. Still much to warm not to. Of course, when it’s cooler, I am partial to “winter white”. 🙂 But too much… because it is NYC after all. That’s not a fashion note. It’s practical. White gets dirty fast!
We should wear what we like when we want. The whole no white after labor day is old news, just look at Valentino, Celine, Chanel and all the other big marks and see how every year they make the most beautiful white and cream sweaters, coats, pants… I think it’s actually called ‘Winter White’?
You look absolutly gorgious ! End of the day ! bravo for the white .
This morning on the way to my office (interior design also) wearing white top to toes, Chanel shoes (2000) perfect condition! I stop on the way helping to put a horse mare in a trailer ! witch they were kicking badly and via-versa . . . I arrive to the office spotless … that’s living in style 😉 does not have anything to do with money . yep !
I live in houston, we only have two seasons…. summer and christmas. Sometimes its warm enough to wear shorts in december.
I love white all year round. I wear white jeans with a black turtleneck and big gold hoops in the winter and feel very Ali McGraw-ish! There is nothing like a beautiful white jacket and all black accessories.
yum.
S/
All right, I’m going to get a couple more uses out of my new seersucker suit then…
Okay, so I switched to dark linen this morning, but was too rushed to switch MY white goyard bag. I am an interior designer who works for her purses, also! I got my bag this spring at Barney’s when visiting NYC for the second time, thanks to you! The big question of the day, what will you be carrying for fall?
For sure! I wear white jeans year round. Throw on a cream cable knit sweater, tan boots and good to go.
hi habitually chic, i happened upon your blog and love your posts and layout…i’ll be back form more peeking around soon, sincerely robin for avantgarde
The white suit, trousers and sportscoats go away until next year. As do the spectators, etc. And yes, I miss them already. Not much looks better with a tan or is more comfortable to wear in full summer (still) sunshine.
You’ve anticipated one of my posts this week! I loved your take on it, albeit a bit different from my slant.
I honestly love wearing white especially white denim so I could care less about those silly rules! I forget why they even set that up?
I wear pops of white in the winter but not white pants because I’d just be drycleaning the salt off the bottoms everytime. For some reason white in the winter isn’t as off-putting to me as are pastels.
I can’t wear navy or grey in the summer for the same reasons I don’t wear pastels in the winter.
Coco + Kelley – I want to be Giovanna! She’s perfect!
Kellbell – I think it depends on where you live. The south has wamrmer weather longer.
Anonymous # 3 – White is hard to keep clean in NYC but I still love it. I’ll probably go dark after this week 🙁
Erin – Creamy winter white is so pretty in the fall with taupes and tans. I wear a lot of pale neutrals while the weather is still warm in the fall.
Zelda – the photo is not me I wish it was! She always looks great!
Anonymous #4 – I think I may need to move to a warmer climate! I’m tired of being cold all winter!
Mujer – I was thinking of white jeans and a black top like Jackie O! So chic!
DC Lawyer – not sure about seersucke. I usually put summery fabrics like linen, seersucker and madras away. But a white but not too summery dress gets worn for a week or two more. Does that make sense?
Lesa – I’m due for a new bag and have been looking. I’ve worn a MJ Mouse colored Stam hobo for the last two winters and it’s due to be retired. I saw another MJ in black that I liked. Now I just have to cough up the money. ugh!
Janet – Sounds fab!
Robin – Welcome!
Easy and Elegant – Can’t wait to see!
Chicaholic – I wonder why the rule was started. I’ll have to find out!
Anonymous #5 – I know what you mean about pastels. I put them away until later in winter and then I sometimes wear them with grey. They are a nice transition into spring that way.
I love white all year. White always looks bright and glows amidst darks. I love a classic white shirt or white scarves really add an elegance. White looks so great in many fabrics and works well mixing – white cashmere, cotton, canvas, leather….
white on… all year!
I wear white ALL year – always a white top with jeans, a skirt, dress slacks or chinos. Then I pair it with scarves with so much color! I love it. And I purchased a Goyard last year in a consignment shop because I do have a car and a mortgage. (It really is lovely) I saved a long time to get it too. So, to those who whine about others having one…save your $ and you too can have one.
I think the confusion is in the term “no white.” For men, white shirts, sweaters, vests, perhaps winter coats and hats, even gloves have always been OK despite the calendar. White trousers, shoes (and spectators), seersucker, straw hats are traditionally not worn after Labor Day.
Perhaps the injunction against shoes has sort of bled across its boundaries?
I think you look just lovely! Looks more like a model going from one fashion show to another than an interior designer! AND I also love white dresses!!!
White, in the appropriate fabric, is chic and seasonless.
So – you go ahead and rock your white dress and fab bag!
I actually blogged about this topic too! I am planning on wearing my white jeans with fall colored tops and sweaters!
I wore it yesterday! 🙂
White after Labor Day…agreed!!