Why can’t you wear white after Labor Day? How bizarre Gilded Age etiquette still has fashionistas in a frenzy today

You probably grew up with the fashion rule that you can’t wear white after Labor Day. But why is that?

While most follow the unspoken order, many fashionistas are unaware of the history behind this unofficial mandate. Believe it or not, it began in the Gilded Age, sometime between the late 1800s and early 1900s.

During the summer months, New Yorkers sported their finest all-white outfits as they headed to oceanside spots like Newport, Rhode Island, and Southampton to cool off.

It was considered inappropriate to wear shorts or mini dresses at the time, despite the increasing heat waves, so white was the main color worn to reflect the light and keep the wearers comfortable outdoors.

When fall came and it was time for New Yorkers to return to the city, the whites were removed. The streets of the Big Apple were filthy with garbage, horse manure, and mysterious stains and smells.

You probably grew up with the fashion rule that you can’t wear white after Labor Day. But why is that?

Despite most following the unspoken order, many fashion lovers are unaware of the history behind the unofficial mandate — or the fact that, believe it or not, it began in the Gilded Age

Fashion historian Amanda Hallay shared with Harper’s Bazaar: ‘By the late 19th century, upper-class Americans were escaping the summer heat of the city by retreating to the countryside or the coast, where white clothing remained free of the inevitable grime of increasingly industrialized urban centers.

‘There was a social divide in fashion: only those who could afford to wear white were allowed to wear white.

‘Not only did the wealthy spend their summers in the much cleaner countryside, but when their beautiful white dresses got dirty, they had servants to wash them.

‘It was a snobbish way for the upper classes to distinguish themselves from the emerging nouveau riche.’

To wear white or not to wear white: that is the question that many TikTokers are for or against in this modern era.

For some content creators, bad habits die hard, which is why many make a conscious decision not to put on their best white suit until Labor Day.

The text that a content creator overlaid read: ‘I’m wearing an all white outfit for the second day in a row because I want to lower my cost per wear on my white outfits before Labor Day!!!’

Another influencer’s caption read, “I’m wearing all my white before Labor Day.”

During the summer months, upper-class New Yorkers would sport their finest all-white outfits as they headed to oceanside spots like Newport and Rhode Island to cool off.

When fall came and it was time for New Yorkers to return to the city, whites were evacuated because the streets of the Big Apple were filthy with garbage and horse manure.

A third content creator’s text read, “Wear as much white-on-white as possible, before Labor Day.”

A fourth influencer’s caption read: “I’m wearing all white before the Labor Day elves come to take away my summer clothes when the clock strikes midnight on Monday.”

However, other influencers are rebelling against this unspoken fashion rule.

The text someone put over it read: ‘It’s almost Labor Day and we want to remind you that it’s okay to wear white after Labor Day!’

A second person said, “I would love to wear white before Labor Day, on Labor Day, and every other day.”

A third influencer added: ‘I pretend that my window of white jeans wear is short, when in reality I do wear white after Labor Day. You can’t break rules that aren’t there.’

A fourth content creator’s caption read: “When you decide to wear all white after Labor Day.”