Traditionally, wearing white clothes after Labor Day is considered a fashion faux pas, but I think in the year 2014, it is perfectly acceptable.

As I walked around campus today in my white denim ankle pants, I had never felt more rebellious.

Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer season, and wearing white after the first Monday of September has always been taboo in the world of fashion.

Though I’m usually a stickler for rules, this one seems a bit unusual to me. The weather today felt no different than it did yesterday.

So where did this “rule” come from, and why is it considered a major fashion faux pas to so many?

According to Time magazine, the history of the “no-white rule” is not so black and white.
One theory is that in the early 1900s, most fashion magazines were set in New York City, where Labor Day marks the start of the rainy season. White clothes became impractical in the muddy streets.

Technically, the official first day of fall is on Sept. 22, when the autumnal equinox occurs and Earth’s axis is perpendicular to the Sun’s rays.

So even though designers have started selling their fall lines, and pumpkin spice is the star of the Starbucks menu, a simple flip of the calendar page is not enough for me to switch out my wardrobe just yet.

Unfortunately, here in the south where temperatures are still in the mid-nineties and humidity levels often reach 100 percent, those dreaming of layers, scarves and cashmere sweaters should not hold their breath.

South Louisiana in particular is known for its unpredictable weather, however its constant semitropical climate will remain constant.

These days, the fashion world has become much more open-minded, and fashion-forward individuals are often applauded for completely disregarding the current trends.

I’ve never considered myself “trendy” and often wear more classic clothing, but I’m certainly not ready to retire my cotton dresses and white jeans for the season.

Walking around under the blazing sun, sweat dripping down my face, I had a feeling no one was judging me for “breaking” this outdated rule with my denim pants. I passed students in seersucker and other summery fabrics and was jealous of their cooler ensembles.

Even EmilyPost.com admits defeat, telling readers to “wear what’s appropriate—for the weather, the season or the occasion.”

I think that in the 21st century, people who judge others for marching to the beat of their own drum or wearing whatever outfits they like are the ones who should reevaluate their lives.
I will continue wearing whatever I like and hope that everyone else will too. Fashion rules like the “no-white after Labor Day rule” are the ones that are begging to be bent and broken.