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| "Soldiers": photo, collage, digital. |
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Can you wear white after Labor Day?
You might have heard the outdated rule that you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day. But don’t worry: There’s no fashion police out there waiting to see if you don a white shirt in September. And the idea actually has a pretty problematic origin.
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| Winter White: White trench & Midi sweater dress |
The rule was one of many 19th century style customs used to distinguish the upper and middle classes, according to Valerie Steele, a fashion historian and director of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
“As you got more and more sort of ordinary people, whether middle class or lower middle class, being able to have enough money to try to dress fashionably, then there become more rules so that the more upper class people can say ‘yes, but you’re doing it wrong,’” said Steele .
White was tied to summer vacations – a privilege only few could afford. Labor Day represented the “reentry” into city life and the retirement of white summer clothes after a summer of leisure for the upper classes, Steele says. But the arbitrary rule all but disappeared during the 1970s, Steele says. The 1960s “Youthquake” allowed young people to challenge old stylistic norms, including the Labor Day rule. “It was part of a much wider anti-fashion movement,” said Steele.
3 Favorite photos from the week in 34 photos
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| A costumed performer blows a kiss during a parade at the Notting Hill Carnival in London on August 27. |
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| Hikers watch the Super Blue Moon from the summit of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix on Wednesday, August 30 |
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| US gymnast Simone Biles competes on the balance beam during the US Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, on Sunday, August 27. Biles won a record eighth national all-around title. |
* You can pick your favorites, here.
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| Red-faced liocichla |
4 comments:
I never heard this rule that you shouldn't wear white after Labor Day. For me it only was clear that white doesn't look good in the dark season. For white you need sunny days, not dark winter days. Maybe I war wrong? I don't mind.
Jane Goodall is so right, isn't she, Jacki?
Thanks Elenor, I agree and I think most women do. I remember hearing about it when I was younger, but didn't adhere to it. Today is labor day here, we have a holiday day off. It was originated during the union days, I think in the forties?
That soldier image sure tells a story. The emotion in his face is so strong. Your magic makes the image even more emotional. :-)
Thank you, John. The soldier were from a newspaper and I just made them meaner?
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