Wear White After Labor Day: The White Hot Bootie for Fall

Photography by Kirsten Beeksma Morse

I have been a shoe fanatic since I was a little girl, and that obsession continues to this day. This year I am really loving fall's amazing boots with all the modern and unexpected colors and details. The embellishments, like pearls on heels, and details like the embroidery make boots a total kick this season. I fell in love with the sock trim of this Fendi boot at the Nordstrom Season Shift event this summer, where they were shown in a fantastic silver metallic. I love the black as well. At the recent Neiman Marcus Fall Trend Show all of the female models wore the Stuart Wetizman Clinger Bootie in white, definitely a huge trend for fall. The sock bootie is all over the place this season, in fun colors and fabrics, like velvet. Yes!

Recently I overheard a conversation between two young women about the white boot trend that was both amusing and difficult to not comment on. Luckily we were in adjacent dressing rooms so they couldn't see me or my facial expressions. One woman was really into the trend and the other was against it because "everyone knows you don't wear white after Labor Day." She also stated that "white is not a fall color." I have to whole heartedly disagree.

The origins of the fashion "rule" of not wearing white beyond Labor Day come from a very different time. Beginning in the early 1900s, clothing was more formal and there were strict guidelines regarding what was appropriate to wear as the seasons changed. The summer season began at Memorial Day and ended at Labor Day. Society families headed from the city to summer places like seaside cottages to escape the heat. City clothes were left behind in exchange for lighter, whiter attire. Come fall and the return to the city, summer clothes were put away for formal, darker clothes.  It was an age when there was a dress code for practically every occasion, and not wearing white after Labor Day was meant to mark the appropriate change between summer resort clothes and clothing worn for the rest of the year.

The “No white after Labor Day" in 2017 is now about as valid as wearing a bustle. Still, people do cling do it, for reasons unknown. For me, the decorum of dressing well is to wear what you love, and show creativity and originality, especially when following trends. White boots with cropped pants and dresses show an edgy modern style that gives fall colors a fresh pop. I love it.

I decided that the Joie Saleema Bootie in a beautiful soft white shell color were the perfect fall boot for me. I love Joie boots because they are so comfortable, even with a higher heel, and these babies have the perfect modern vibe that I was looking for. I paired it with a Veronica Beard Alpha camouflage sweater with a crisp white removable collar. (Currently on sale from $395 to $119 by the way!) With the darker J Brand pants, I liked having another pop of white to play off the boots, but you don't have to wear it that way. 

I donned a Shrimps Bingo Faux Fur Jacket for a fun contrast with the camo sweater. I found this cropped jacket with a cool brooch embellishment at the Nordstrom Rack, but you can find it on sale here too. It is a great coat that will be a lot of fun to wear with denim this fall too. 

Never one to be a rule follower, I think the only rule you should ever follow is to make your own rules. Love it or not, this boot trend is white hot and gives a fresh perspective to fall's rich hues. Happy shopping!  xx

Photography by Kirsten Beeksma Morse