Photo Courtesy of Mango
Style: both creating (and breaking) fashion rules. Fashion is what you wear, but style is how you wear it. One of the most harped on cardinal rules of fashion is “Do not wear white after Labor Day.”
What do I say to that? Hooey.
303’s upcoming White (and series finale) Pool Party (this Sunday Sept. 15) made me beg the question: how should we wear white after the summer rays are of yore?
OK, so maybe the dead of winter is not the best time to pull out that stark white, ultra-transparent eyelet summery dress you love so much, but this is not to say you should stow away all of your white until summer 2014.
White might be devoid of pigment and contains no hue, but it does not mean it does not pack a punch in the wardrobe department all year long.
White can be pure and innocent (the white wedding dress has been tradition since Queen Victoria wore a white lace gown in 1840), aloof yet chic, and surprisingly it can be wintry. It can represent light, perfection, surrender and new beginnings. White is indeed a versatile color.
More than color, changing out your wardrobe to be appropriate for the new season is more so about fabrics. Pull garments from your closet made of linen, eyelet and gauze in every color, not just white.
Here are my tips on how to freshen your fall/winter wardrobe with white (and to show off that impressive summer tan of yours).
1. BLACK AND WHITE CONTRAST
What pops better than the duo black and white? The mod, contrasting color combo is graphically edgy and reminds onlookers of anything but summer. Go for a colored denim jean with geometric patterns or stripes like these from Paige (Edgemont Stretch-Denim Skinny Jean) or a black and white yoke dress. Opting for a white panel in center flanked with black on the sides in a dress is ultra slimming on the figure and super on-trend.
Photo Courtesy of net-a-porter.com
2. WINTER WHITE
Winter is a time to dress cozy, warm and soft. Complement the season with winter white, stark white’s more subdued cousin. Opt for a winter white boot (yes, even UGG has a white sheepskin boot) with a denim jean, or my personal favorite (I own three!): a winter white sweater dress. It’s a wintry style but can be played up Boho with a brown leather belt and boot.
Photo Courtesy of The Style Skinny
3. WHITE DENIM
Stop! Do not pack away your white denim for a whole year! That twill has some more miles available on it for 2013. A white denim jean (sans distressed holes…air conditioning in winter, anyone?) is chic with a denim shirt tucked in with a brown belt and ankle bootie. Done and done. Layer a white denim jacket with a black turtleneck for yet another versatile, season-appropriate look. Wearing white in other heavy-duty cold-weather fabrics also works like brocade, tweed and tartan.
Photo Courtesy of Hautelook
4. WHITE OUTERWEAR
One place you can always get away with white in the winter is on the slopes and the après-ski life of the mountains. Snow is all around so white befits the setting. Splurge with a Moncler down puffer coat (most are at least $1,000) or go for another fall trend with the oversize coat like this one below from Kate Spade New York (Erika Woven Coat).
Photo Courtesy of Nordstrom
5. MONOCHROMATIC WHITE
Go big or go home. In whatever shade of white you fancy: vanilla, ecru, champagne – you name it – mix and match various tones for a monochromatic look. Monochrome is a trend this season in really any color, so why not try it with your whites? Plus, layering is much warmer! There is something uniquely cool and fresh about head-to-toe white. See what Mulberry (pictured below) sent down the runways fall/winter 2013-2014 for inspiration.
Photo Courtesy of Vogue France
And if you still need one more reason to wear white after Labor Day — you rebel you! — attend this Sunday’s 303 Magazine White Pool Party at The Breakers Resort. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!