Can You Wear White After Labor Day?| MJF Weekly Newsletter

Can You Wear White After Labor Day?

Of course! Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it doesn’t really mean the end of white apparel. Although it did, once upon a (gritty) time in New York City.

The whole “no white after Labor Day” rule was born, like many things, in the Gilded Age, when the city was exploding with new money, grand mansions, and a healthy dose of social and class competition (sound familiar?). The wealthy would escape the hot, sticky city in the summer and retreat to breezy enclaves like Newport or Southampton. In Newport, everyone wore crisp white linen, which was more than just a fashion statement (although that certainly played a role). White and neutral colors simply stay cooler under the sun!

There was also a very important, practical, and historic reason whites were 86’d in the fall and winter when everyone was back in the city: New York City’s streets were pure filth. They were made of dirt and covered in horse excrement and rotting garbage! If you walked around in lighter colors in New York, by mid-day you might look like you had climbed out of an old, dirty chimney. As Vogue put it back then, white was “perfect for the country” but “impossible for town wear,” because it simply didn’t survive the city streets.

So, when summer ended and “society” returned to the city, whites were packed away. Darker, sturdier fabrics became the uniform of fall and winter—not necessarily because of fashion genius, but because they could withstand the grit of urban life. Over time, this very practical distinction hardened into a so-called rule.

Of course, fashion rules come and go, and some never last forever. White cashmere sweaters, fluffy puffer coats (I own one), and white wool overcoats are now commonplace. But don’t think for a second that your winter white coat is going to stay pristinely clean in New York City. There are still hazards—especially if you’re standing next to a slushy, grimy puddle and a cab whizzes by to spray you down!

Labor Day itself wasn’t always about a white party in the Hamptons or a clambake on the Cape. It was about protest and the fight for dignity on the streets of New York City, also during the Gilded Age—while the white-wearing wealthy were summering elsewhere.

In the late 1800s, the Industrial Revolution was booming, leading to grueling work conditions, with many laborers working 12 or more hours a day. Labor activists and unions began to call for better conditions, and in 1882, 10,000 workers staged the first Labor Day parade to do just that. They took unpaid time off and marched from City Hall up to Union Square.

By 1887, Oregon had adopted Labor Day as a state holiday, and in 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law as a federal holiday. What began as a gritty protest in Lower Manhattan’s crowded streets became a national tradition—a day to honor labor’s role in shaping America.

Over the decades, the focus of Labor Day has shifted from work-life balance to simply enjoying a day off with family and friends. But that balance could be back in play. A hot new topic in the labor world is the concept of a four-day workweek. A recent survey shows nearly 70% of Americans believe they could get their jobs done in 32 hours. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the push, envisioning a future where Fridays are free, weekends are three days long, and life isn’t entirely consumed by work. It’s reminiscent of those 19th-century demands for shorter hours—proof that while fashion trends may have changed, the conversation about how we work never really ends.

Who knows—by this time next year, every weekend could feel like Labor Day weekend, and everyone might stop wearing white in the winter again!

Have a safe, restful, and work-free Labor Day weekend!

Best, Michael

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Local News

One of the world’s most beautiful bookshops is in Manhattan

Books are prized for their escapist qualities, gorgeously jetting you off to lands and adventures unknown—but what about the bookstores they're found in? Those spaces can be just as transporting, as proven by this 2025 ranking of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, put together by book-loving travel guide site 1000 Libraries. And, as should come as no surprise to New York book lovers, one of our city's stunning booksellers cracked the picturesque top ten.

One of the best bookstores in all of NYC, Albertine Books on the Upper East Side came in at a handsome No. 9 on this year's global rankings, joining fellow beauties like Shakespeare and Company in Paris (at No. 2), El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires (No. 3), The Gently Mad Bookshop in Edinburgh (No. 4) and the first-place finisher, Boekhandel Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands.

📚 Discover why Albertine Books on Manhattan’s Upper East Side was named one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores.

✨ Explore the beauty in the link below!

More Info: CLICK HERE

The best Labor Day events in NYC

Make the most of your three-day weekend by checking out the best Labor Day events.

Labor Day Weekend in NYC is the last hurrah of summer. It’s our last chance to truly enjoy all the good things summer has brought us—rooftop bars, beaches, pristine pools, beautiful parks and more.

To help you take advantage of the best of the city, we have a list of the best things to do on Labor Day right here. Go wild at a summer music festival, celebrate Caribbean culture at the annual West Indian American Day Carnival, and cheer hard at the U.S. Open. Whether you’re an indoor type or looking for things to do outside, we have the perfect itinerary for Labor Day weekend.

✨ Still looking for plans? NYC’s Labor Day Weekend is your ticket to summer’s grand finale—think music festivals, cultural parades, rooftop parties, and world-class tennis. Don’t let the long weekend slip away!

Click below to see all the highlights:

More Info: CLICK HERE

Why You Need To Check Out ‘Tonight With

The Impressionists’, The Awe-Inspiring

Journey Through 19th Century Paris

Enjoy this Labor Day Weekend with 20% off your tickets to Tonight With The Impressionists, go here for more details!

While booking that flight to Paris takes planning — and let’s face it, a hefty budget — Tonight with the Impressionists brings you to Nadar’s studio on Boulevard des Capucines for a fraction of the effort (and price). Excurio’s VR expedition, in collaboration with Gedeon Experiences and the Musée D’Orsay and held at the Eclipso Center, transports you back to 19th century Paris at the very first impressionism exhibit.

30 pioneer artists prepare to showcase their revolutionary pieces outside of an official salon. Monet, Renoir, Morisot, Cézanne, Pissarro, Degas… your favorite artists plaster their oeuvres on the walls of the exhibition that changed the course of history. Read on to find out why you need to experience Tonight with the Impressionists in NYC…

🏛 Not just an exhibit—Tonight With The Impressionists is a full immersion into history, art, and the magic of 19th-century Paris.

✨ Step into the full experience in the link below

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Featured Listing

15 West 81st Street, Apt. 11H

2 Bed | 2 Bath | Sophisticated 4.5 -Room Residence | Co-op

Upper West Side | Maint.:$4,286/mo.

Offered at: $2,500,000

A renovated, high-floor 4.5 room residence at 15 West 81st Street, one of the top white-glove pre-war cooperatives on the Upper West Side, Apartment 11H is a truly rare find. With multiple exposures and stunning natural light from every room, the home is bathed in brightness throughout the day. The owners have artfully blended a stylish, sophisticated mid-century modern design with high-end finishes, all perfectly integrated with period details.

Upon entering the home, you’re welcomed by a gracious foyer that flows seamlessly from the grand-scale living room to the dining room. Modern wall-to-wall carpeting was intentionally chosen to evoke an authentic mid-century aesthetic, while perfectly restored hardwood floors lie beneath, should the next owner prefer a different finish.

The foyer leads into a grandly proportioned 16' x 24' living room featuring three oversized windows that highlight beautiful northern exposures and iconic, open Upper West Side views. This space easily accommodates both formal dining and generous entertaining.

The newly renovated, windowed kitchen is outfitted with custom lacquered cabinetry, frosted glass fronts, Silestone countertops, and a handsome tile backsplash. The new appliance package includes a Fisher & Paykel side-by-side refrigerator, a Bosch oven and cooktop, a Bosch dishwasher, and a Bosch convection microwave.

The corner primary suite boasts three large windows with sunny open views to the north and west — even offering a peek of the Hudson River. The wall-to-wall carpeting continues into the sleeping quarters and a generously sized dressing room lined with a walk-in cedar closet, additional custom closets, and an in-unit washer/dryer. The en-suite, windowed bath is richly appointed with floor-to-ceiling marble, a striking checkerboard marble ceiling inlay, a deep soaking tub, a classic pedestal sink, and top-tier fixtures and finishes.

The second bedroom is equally generous, offering an oversized window with sunny southern courtyard views and a large walk-in closet. Its en-suite bath features beautifully preserved original tiles laid by Emery Roth — a hallmark of only a select few Upper West Side buildings.

Additional features include stunning Venetian plaster walls in the living room, new windows, through-the-wall air conditioning, recessed lighting in the kitchen, custom closets throughout, and a built-in audio-visual system.

See listing website: CLICK HERE

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Michael J. Franco

Lic. Assoc. R.E. Broker

M: 917.817.4122

mfranco@compass.com

Office: 646-982-0353

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. All Coming Soon listings in NYC are simultaneously syndicated to the REBNY RLS. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.