When is okay to wear white

She'll wear white tops or sweaters. But no dresses or pants. The start of the rule against wearing white after Labor Day or before Memorial Day is a bit ambiguous, according to various fashion sites I found online. The prevailing theory is that wealthy women wore crisp, clean white in the warmer months, while the working class wore dark colors. It makes sense. It's hard to work and keep white clean and crisp. Heck, if you're as clumsy as I am, it's hard to do anything and keep white clean.

But snobbery has long gone out of style, and it's a lot easier to get a stain out of that white blouse now than it was in Dress Etiquette for the Mother of the Groom. By Kimberly White. By Selene Benjamin. What Shouldn't a Guest Wear to a Wedding? Tips for Choosing a Second Wedding Dress. By Audrey M. White Shoes on Easter. Ladies White Dress Shoes. Inappropriate Business Attire for Females.

Professional Summer Fashion. Professional Woman's Clothing on a Budget. Sheer Dress. Golden Globe Fashions. With white boots becoming a wardrobe staple and an overload of winter-white coat options blanketing the market, why are we still asking if it's okay to wear the hue after Labor Day? Though it's unclear who invented this "rule," it originated among the elite in 19th-century America, explains Amanda Hallay, the fashion historian behind The Ultimate Fashion History , a popular YouTube channel.

As with most things, the fashion "don't" only continued to flourish into the 20th century because of the wealthy. This was a sartorially social divide—only those who could afford to wear white could wear white.

Not only did the wealthy summer in the far-cleaner countryside, but should their beautiful white dresses get dirty, they had servants to launder them. The short answer? Absolutely not. In fact, winter white—from shoes and outerwear to knits and even white pants—is chicer than ever.

At some point along the way, the fashion rule attempted to transition into "no white shoes after Labor Day. From cowboy boots and croc-embossed knee-high styles to two-toned black-and-white options, white kicks are an unexpectedly fresh way to accessorize even the bulkiest of winter ensembles. At a time when sneakers are worn with suits and streetwear is more coveted than classic designer items, why are so many people still clinging to such an outdated, strict fashion rule?

We've been programmed to believe that white after Labor Day is tacky, and I think it will take a couple more decades for the 'rule' to completely disappear," Hallay says. In the spirit of breaking fashion rules once and for all, add some white to your fall and winter wardrobe. We love how layering different shades of white and eggshell make for a fresh combo, no matter which dates our calendars display.

Go on to see how to wear fresh white pieces and head-to-toe monochrome , if you're so inclined during every season. For spring, try swapping out one key item for its white versions, like jeans or a blazer.

A delicate white dress is a closet staple, and while it's not quite warm enough to wear on its own in spring like it is in the summer, it works well layered underneath a long coat. Ecru jeans and a white button-down should be the easy outfit combination you keep in your back pocket. If you're into the all-neutral look this spring, consider grounding the whites and creams with dark accessories.