Don’t wear white or straw hats after Labor Day? Fall fashion tips more myth than fact
The post-Labor Day dress code of not wearing white is practically as old as the holiday itself.
Labor Day, signed into law by President Grover Cleveland in 1894, celebrates American workers and their achievements.
The law does not specify whether white should be worn or not, so how did the rule start?
Once established as a holiday, Labor Day became synonymous with the end of summer which meant packing up light-colored clothing and swapping them for darker clothes better suited for colder months.
In an interview with Time, Charlie Scheips, author of American Fashion, said white linen suits and Panama hats were seen as “a look of leisure” and worn by those who could afford to vacation in warmer climates.
The stigma around wearing white after Labor Day was also a way to distinguish old money society members from the nouveau riche, or newly rich, members, Marie Claire reports.
Can I wear white after Labor Day?
Yes you can wear white after Labor Day because the over-a-century-old fashion guideline is arbitrary, fashion experts say.
Warm and humid days remain in the forecast for North Texas during Labor Day weekend, with highs in the 80s according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, so avoid packing those light clothes away for now.
Can you wear straw hats after Labor Day?
In Texas, the post-Labor Day dress code tends to apply to cowboy hats as well.
Labor Day typically signals the start of felt hat season until around Easter when straw hat season returns, however that is not a hard and fast rule. When wearing a cowboy hat it’s best to coordinate with the weather, donning a straw hat in warm weather and felt when its cooler.
