Did you know that the “no white after Labor Day” rule was invented to keep the classes separate? Only the rich could afford to go on vacation to warmer climates after Labor Day, so the rule became that white could only be worn in warm weather. Those with less money weren’t allowed to wear it, so this distinctly showed the classes.
Nowadays, this rule only exists in the form of an archaic saying. I personally love wearing white during all four seasons!
Lately, I’ve gotten a bit bolder, and starting wearing all white outfits regularly. I love the flawless look that a single color creates, but it is a bit trickier to do correctly. It takes trial and error, and is one of those things that you just know when you’ve gotten it right.
There are, however, a few guidelines that help make an all white outfit work. Here are the 3 key rules you’ll want to follow when putting together an all white outfit!
Mix Textures
In most cases, you won’t want your all white outfit to be a single texture. As you go through the example photos, you’ll see that there’s a lot of mix and matched textures.
When you already have a single color, you need a different way to introduce variety. Try mixing jeans with a silk top, satin with linen, or corduroy with cotton.
The are some outfits that will look better with only one texture, but they’re few and far in between. Even if you have a suit set with shorts, you’ll probably want to add a textured shirt for some interesting variety. Good fashion is never boring!
Use your judgement here – if the outfit works with only one texture then go for it, otherwise add in another white piece.
Have One Focal Point
You’ll notice that most of these outfits have a clear focal point. For most of the examples, the focal point is at the waist (where the fabric is tightest, the sweater is tucked in, etc.). If you don’t have a focal point at the waist that is tailored and sleek, then you’ll want to create one somewhere else. For example, if you’re wearing an oversized sweater, pair it with tight white jeans to make your legs the focal point.
Add Accessories
Just as all white outfits need texture, they also need accessories! You want the look to be sleek, not boring, so don’t be afraid to accessorize a bit.
Generally, I think all white outfits look best with (lots of) gold jewelry and neutral shoes, bags, and hats. I like to stay within the warmer color palette and opt for beige or tan most of the time.
Sometimes, a black accessory will work well for a contrast. It totally depends on your look, but the example photos below should help a bit.
For jewelry, I like to wear layered coin necklaces, thin gold bracelets, and a variety of rings. I find that simple works good with all white outfits, as long as you have enough jewelry pieces.
Di says
I adore wearing all white outfits but I’m nearly 6 feet in height and that can be a bit much on the eyes! But these look really beautiful and when mixed with slightly warmer, creamy tones, the white really pops and should look fine for me to wear, especially as summer is coming. Thanks so much for the tips!