Every year around this time, the question: “Can you wear white after Labor Day?” comes up. It’s one of those fashion “rules” that seems baked into American culture, but the truth is, it started less about fashion and more about keeping people in their social lane. And yep, you guessed it, New York played a big part in it.
Old Money vs. New Money in the Gilded Age
The story goes back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when New York’s wealthy elite ruled the social scene. Old-money families weren’t too happy about the “nouveau riche” (aka the new rich) trying to climb into their circle. So what did they do? They created arbitrary rules to separate insiders from outsiders.
One of those rules: White is for summer only. Come Labor Day, white clothes went back into the closet. If you didn’t know that, well, dead giveaway you weren’t “in the club.”
Practicality Played a Role Too
To be fair, some of it made sense at the time. In the Gilded Age, New York streets weren’t exactly spotless. Picture dirt roads, garbage, horse manure… It wasn’t the vibe for a crisp white linen dress. White also made sense for summer leisure: tennis at the club, lounging in Newport or Southampton, or those breezy coastal vacations the Vanderbilts loved so much…