Before you know it, you'll be putting away your sundresses (opens in new tab) and summer sandals (opens in new tab) to make room for a chunky sweater (opens in new tab) and over-the-knee boots (opens in new tab). (opens in new tab) But do I need to send my cream skirts and ivory pants to the warehouse? Short answer: yes! In fact, the reason behind this arbitrary dress code is ...... Needless to say, it is classist, but there is an unconvincing story.

In the late 19th century, long before it was possible to wear jeans to a Michelin-starred restaurant, socialite women were waging an invisible battle against the new wealthy class that could only be won through subtle manipulation of fashion. The "don't wear white after Labor Day" rule was created to separate the old money elites from the new money groups.

Valerie Steele, director of the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, said in an interview with Time (opens in new tab), "Insiders tried to keep others out and outsiders tried to get in by proving they knew the rules."

For those with money and the ability to leave town during the warmer months, white was considered vacation attire. Charlie Shipes, author of "American Fashion," said, "If you look at pictures of any American city in the 1930s, people are dressed in black. Meanwhile, white linen suits and Panama hats (open in new tab) were considered "the look of leisure."

Some authorities on etiquette, such as Judith Martin, rejected this class theory, with Martin telling Time magazine that There is a constant stream of people who want to attribute all of etiquette to snobbery. There were many little rules that people dreamed up to annoy those who wanted to disassociate themselves. But I do not believe this is one of them." [When the first Monday in September became a federal holiday in 1894, Labor Day marked the end of summer. Holidaymakers shed their crisp white dresses and linen button-downs for navy suits, gray sweaters, and other dark clothing. 'Before,' Steele explains, 'the sense of re-entry was much clearer.' 'I would go back to the city, go back to school, do whatever I had to do in the fall.'

Regardless of how this subjective rule actually came about, no one in 2020 should feel the need to follow it. (I am a fashion editor and wear white all year round, thank you very much)