White Way After Labor Day My Go to Vacation Hue

If you've been following my travels for any amount of time or you've fallen down the rabbit hole of my vacation photos you've probably noticed something.

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I wear a LOT of white.

And when I say a lot, I mean if you opened my suitcase before a trip, you might think I accidentally packed for my own destination wedding.

White dresses.

White pants.

White linen.

White jumpsuits.

White skirts.

White tops.

White cover-ups.

At this point, my vacation wardrobe looks like it has a very serious relationship with bleach.

And no, it isn't an accident.

There is a method to my monochromatic madness.

White Is My Vacation Uniform

There are very few destinations where I don't pack an abundance of white.

In fact, unless we're going somewhere like China—where I may actually have to rethink the practicality and cultural considerations of certain pieces—you can pretty much bet that white is coming with me.

Beach?

White.

Desert?

White.

Mountains?

White.

European village?

White.

Luxury resort?

Obviously, white.

Snowy ski resort?

You guessed it.

White.

And before somebody says, “But Lela, aren't you afraid of getting it dirty?”

Yes.

Of course I am.

I'm just willing to take the risk.

😂

Because somehow, when I'm on vacation, I suddenly develop the confidence of a woman who believes she will never spill red wine, sit on a dusty bench, eat chocolate, or encounter a suspiciously muddy patch of grass.

Vacation me has absolutely no survival instincts.

But she looks fabulous.

Why White?

First, let's talk about the obvious.

White is flattering.

There is something about white against sun-kissed skin that just works.

For me personally, it gives my skin this warm, golden glow that makes me look like I've spent three weeks in the Caribbean—even when I've only been outside for approximately 45 minutes.

White reflects the light beautifully, especially in photographs.

And if you're traveling somewhere with gorgeous natural scenery, white becomes almost like a blank canvas.

The landscape gets to be the color.

The ocean gets to be blue.

The flowers get to be dramatic.

The architecture gets to show off.

The sunset gets to have its little moment.

And I get to stand there in white looking like I was intentionally placed in the photograph.

That's the beauty of it.

White Doesn't Compete With the Destination

One of the biggest reasons I love wearing white while traveling is that it works almost anywhere.

Imagine standing in the middle of a desert.

You've got the warm sand, dramatic rock formations, blue sky and golden sunlight.

Now put yourself in a bright patterned outfit covered in competing colors.

It can be beautiful—but the outfit becomes part of the visual noise.

Now put yourself in a flowing white dress.

Suddenly, you're part of the landscape without disappearing into it.

Same thing at the beach.

Same thing in the mountains.

Same thing wandering through a European town.

Same thing at a luxury resort.

White travels well.

And that's exactly what I need my vacation wardrobe to do.

The Secret Is in the Silhouettes

My love affair with white isn't simply about the color.

It's also about the way I wear it.

I tend to choose pieces that are either floaty and romantic or structured and polished.

Think:

Flowing linen dresses.

Wide-leg trousers.

Structured blazers.

Oversized button-downs.

Crisp jumpsuits.

Flowing skirts.

Elegant cover-ups.

The beauty of those pieces is that they can be mixed and matched.

A white linen shirt can become a beach cover-up one day and part of an actual outfit the next.

A white pair of trousers can work with a swimsuit, a crop top, a silk blouse or a colorful statement accessory.

A white dress can be casual with sandals or completely transformed with jewelry and heels.

That means I'm not necessarily packing more.

I'm actually trying to pack smarter.

At least that's what I tell myself while sitting on top of my suitcase trying to zip it shut.

😂

White Makes Vacation Dressing Easy

And honestly?

I like not having to think too hard about getting dressed on vacation.

I'm usually trying to figure out where I'm going, what I'm eating, what excursion we're doing, whether I remembered my passport and why my phone battery is already at 18%.

The last thing I need is a complicated outfit equation.

White gives me a foundation.

I can change the personality of the outfit with accessories.

Add a colorful scarf.

Throw on a statement necklace.

Change the shoes.

Add a dramatic hat.

Carry a bold handbag.

Layer gold jewelry.

Put on a colorful swimsuit underneath.

Suddenly, it's an entirely different look.

That's what I call vacation wardrobe efficiency.

From Desert Heat to Ski Slopes

What's funny is that my obsession with white isn't limited to tropical vacations.

I'll wear white in the desert.

I'll wear white in the mountains.

I'll wear white at a snowy ski resort.

And yes, I realize white clothing at a ski resort is basically me saying:

“Please allow me to blend into the environment while simultaneously making this unnecessarily difficult.”

😂

But there is something incredibly chic about winter whites.

A white sweater.

White trousers.

Cream coat.

Ivory boots.

Soft textures.

Snow in the background.

It's luxurious without trying too hard.

And that's really what I love about monochromatic dressing.

It creates an instant sense of intention.

But What About the “No White After Labor Day” Rule?

Let's address the fashion rule sitting in the room.

No white after Labor Day.

Respectfully…

Who made that rule?

And why are we still listening?

😂

Fashion has changed dramatically.

White isn't reserved for summer anymore.

Winter whites, ivory, cream, bone and ecru have become staples.

And honestly, I think the traditional Labor Day rule was always a little too rigid.

Especially when you're traveling.

Because here's my philosophy:

The destination determines the wardrobe—not the calendar.

If I'm sitting poolside in September, why would I suddenly stop wearing white because a specific Monday appeared on the calendar?

If I'm heading somewhere warm in October, you're going to have to physically remove the white linen from my suitcase.

And if I'm traveling somewhere snowy?

I'm probably packing white specifically because I want that gorgeous monochromatic winter look.

White Is More Than a Color for Me

Over time, I've realized that white has become part of my travel identity.

When I look back at my vacation photos, there is this running visual theme.

White against turquoise water.

White against green mountains.

White against desert sand.

White against colorful architecture.

White against a sunset.

White against snow.

And somehow, it always works.

It's clean.

It's effortless.

It's feminine.

It's elegant.

It's timeless.

And perhaps most importantly, it lets me feel like I'm on vacation.

Because isn't that what getting dressed for travel is really about?

You're not just putting on clothes.

You're creating the character you're going to become for the next few days.

And vacation Lela?

She's apparently wearing white.

My Vacation Hue

So yes, I might be breaking the old fashion rules.

White after Labor Day? Absolutely.

White in the desert? Absolutely.

White at the beach? Obviously.

White in the mountains? Yep.

White at a ski resort?

I'm committed to the bit.

Because I've learned that personal style isn't about following every rule someone else created.

It's about discovering what makes you feel beautiful, confident and completely yourself.

And for me, apparently, that color is white.

So if you see me walking through a resort in a flowing white dress, glowing in the sunlight like I have somewhere extremely important to be…

Just know I'm probably on my way to lunch.

And yes, I probably packed three more white outfits.

Because some women have a favorite color.

I have a vacation hue. 🤍