White: Facts. Fallacies. Fashion.

The first Monday in September is almost upon us which brings about the ever popular annual fashion question, “Can you wear white after Labor Day?”.  The answer is YES.  Yes you can.  Here is a guide of do’s, don’ts & exceptions:

1.   DO wear oversized chunky knits in all shades of white whenever your heart desires.  Sometimes throwing a great sweater on and some great boots is the perfect way to look chic and be cozy, comfy during the cooler months.

2.    DO wear wide leg, winter white trousers year round.  They look great with a cropped winter jacket in the winter, lighter weight cashmere in the fall and a chiffon sleeveless top in the summer.

3.   DO own a tailored white or crème pantsuit.  It is one of the most elegant alternatives to wearing a gown if donned as evening wear and can be taken from season to season as well as dressed up or slightly more casual with accessories and separates. 

4.   DON’T continue to wear white jeans, especially capris.  Leave these for any warm weather vacations or dust them off around Memorial Day.

5.   DON’T let your white linen jackets remain an option after the holiday.  Those are meant for summer weddings or to create a casual “Hampton” look for summer brunches eaten outside in the sun.  Unless you’re attending a destination wedding those can go on a winter hiatus as well.

6.  DO wear a tailored, modern winter white coat.  Whether paired with jeans, office attire or a night-on-the-town look it creates a classic, elegant look to any outfit.  Or wear a white down fur trimmed jacket to head down the slopes or run day-to-day errands.

7.  DO stay warm with any color (including various shades of white) scarf.  Not only will this accessory keep you toasty it also adds interest to your outfit in the same way a necklace would.

8.  DON’T keep those drawstring linen pants on the shelf.  Simply made to only be worn with flip-flops or summer sneaks, unless you are headed to the beach or live in a Caribbean-like climate, bid farewell to these until next summer rolls around.

9.  And…NEVER, EVER, EVER wear too tight white dresses or separates that are not properly lined or that show off all your “ass”ets.  White is not a very forgiving color to begin with.  Fit and construction are very important and can be the fine line between classy and trashy.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday and hope that your summer has been as fabulous as ours!

XO J & L