Rooted in both high society exclusivity and seasonal practicality, the old adage banning white after Labor Day has become a lasting piece of American fashion folklore. During the late 19th century, society ladies were engaged in an invisible battle with the nouveau riche, a term used to describe people who had recently become rich rather than having benefited from generations of wealth. One of the subtle jabs that the old money crowd used to distinguish themselves from the nouveau riche was to make wearing white after Labor Day a fashion faux pas. Others believe that the rule is related to the "vacation theory." After Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, it came to symbolically mark the end of summer. Around this time, vacationers packed away their breezy white dresses and linen button-down shirts in favor of darker-hued clothing, like navy suits and gray sweaters. Today, “No White After Labor Day” is considered outdated, as modern fashion is less about following rigid standards and more about self-expression.
