The Shameful Reason Texans ‘Shouldn’t Wear White’ After Labor Day

In Galveston, Texas, the crowds are already gathering for one of the biggest weekends on the island. In Kerrville, the Fall Music Festival is coming up. In West, Texas, the town not the geographical region they are gearing up for Westfest. And if you're looking for a parade, they've got a good one planned in Garland. 

It is Labor Day Weekend in Texas and in addition to the beginning of football season, it's also your last opportunity to wear white without being scrutinized by some members of society.

You can bet all of the celebrations we've listed above will have a couple of things in common. You'll be able to find something cold and refreshing to drink. You'll probably be able to do a little dancing and flag-waving. You'll probably wolf down some incredible barbeque. And, you'll be wishing you had a place to wipe your hands, especially if you're wearing white.

Why Can't You Wear White After Labor Day?

And the conundrum of where to wipe your hands after eating a messy brisket plate or rack of ribs is a legitimate concern, especially if you're not wearing your dark-colored blue jeans, the bigger question is the one you see depicted above. Why can't you wear white after Labor Day?

First, you should know this "law" is only enforceable by the "fashion police" and to be honest, most of them will look the other way when it comes to "white after Labor Day".

Second, the "no white after Labor Day" is what a lot of us would consider "peer pressure from dead people", also known as a tradition. But have you ever wondered how the tradition got started?

There Were Status Updates Long Before Social Media

Long before Facebook, Instagram, and X people concerned themselves with social status in different ways. There were no mass appeal methods to share what you had for dinner, your thoughts on an election, or let those who are watching just how much "better" you are than them.

So, if you wanted to show your social status you had to do it with the way you dressed. Those with money wore white and light-colored clothing in the summer months, especially in the south, because it was cooler. The well-to-do also didn't have to do manual labor so wearing white was not a "washday" issue.

White and light-colored clothing was what the "elites" from back in the day would wear on holiday. And since the holiday season ended with Labor Day that meant there would no longer be a need for wearing white clothing. And that's how the "don't wear white after Labor Day" got started. 

Just so we could be prideful in our actions and deeds so we wouldn't have to be with our words. It's shameful, just shameful. Thank goodness we can accomplish all of that with a mouse click on social media. Yes, that's sarcasm.

It should also be noted that in many places the weather starts to get cooler after Labor Day, Texas is not one of those places. So the shift to cold weather clothes, which were usually darker in color anyway, also expedited the removal of white and light colors from many people's fashion palate.