You probably heard about the old fashion rule that you should wear white after memorial day and before labor day.
There are various explanations for not wearing white before memorial day weekend, and the truth of the origins of this tradition is the practical approach to dressing for comfort and climate.
Here are three viable reasons:
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This rule dates back to 1900, when people rigorously followed this rule mainly of its practicality. At that time, white clothes were made from light-weight materials than darker ones, and people have started wearing more white during the summertime between May and September to deal better with the heat.
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Another reason could be, according to fashion reports from the 1930s, that rich people were starting wearing white clothes in the summer when they vacationed out of the city, and they put them away when the season was over. Light clothes were mostly for leisure time, while darker-colored clothes were for working people.
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Others consider it a Southern thing because it’s hot in the south. Girls raised in the south held on to tradition, and this rule expanded in the 1950s among the middle class.
Living in the south, I can say that not wearing white before memorial day and after labor day is still alive in some parts of the south.
If you plan to wear white on memorial day weekend and want to look appropriate, don’t go overboard. Make sure to choose a suitable fabric for the weather, pair white with seasonal or neutral colors, and avoid wearing head-to-toe white.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the rule about not wearing white before Memorial Day come from?
The tradition traces back mainly to practicality: around 1900, white clothes were made from lighter-weight materials than darker ones, so people wore white between May and September to cope with the heat. Other explanations point to 1930s fashion, when the wealthy wore white on summer vacations, and to Southern tradition that spread among the middle class in the 1950s.
Do people still follow the no-white-before-Memorial-Day rule?
In some places, yes; in parts of the American South, not wearing white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day is still a living tradition. Girls raised in the South held on to it, and the custom persists there more than elsewhere.
How can I wear white on Memorial Day weekend and still look appropriate?
Do not go overboard; choose a fabric suitable for the weather, pair white with seasonal or neutral colors, and avoid wearing head-to-toe white. A measured approach keeps the look fresh and appropriate.
Was there a class element to wearing white in summer?
According to fashion reports from the 1930s, wealthy people began wearing white in summer when they vacationed out of the city and put those clothes away when the season ended. Light clothes were mostly for leisure, while darker colors were associated with working people.