How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Winter White
Serial Mom’s final victim meets her fate. Image via
“You can’t wear white after Labor Day!” proclaimed John Waters’ Serial Mom, in which an unhinged suburbanite murders people for breaking social rules or committing the slightest faux pas. I was raised on this outdated rule but luckily, my childhood media addiction and near constant consumption of movies opened my mind and showed me the great wide world of winter white!
The historical fashion tenet that states white is a strictly summer color has practical and societal origins—white reflects the sun for optimal coolness on blistering summer days, but it’s also prone to all kinds of stains and ruin. White clothing, dating back to the 1930’s, was a sign of luxury. Old money WASPs fled to their summer homes—away from city grime—and thus their white clothes would stay immaculate. But once they returned to life in the city they retired their white clothing, setting the trend and birthing this piece of fashion gospel.
But, as the hapless juror who wore white shoes to Serial Mom’s trial argued, “Fashion has changed!” Winter white is all the rage! A sleek way to stand out and flip off a classist adage! As in life, so in art: here are some iconic winter white looks from film:
White Christmas (1954)
This is the perfect holiday party outfit, case closed. Balancing the perfect line between classy, sexy, refined, and seasonally appropriate (see: turtleneck and argyle print). Also, sparkles!
Basic Instinct (1992)
This may be cheating? The movie was set in San Francisco so I really don’t know if it was winter, but she was wearing a coat so I’m counting it anyway. The outfit was a mere prop in this (in)famous moment in which Sharon Stone, um, gives us all she’s got. No one remembers this cute look because it’s, um, what’s inside that counts. If you’re confused, Google this bit of scandalous cinematic history.
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
The “borrowed” outfit that snagged the guy! My heart palpitated when her coat got stuck on that magazine she sat on…
Last Holiday (2006)
Things that upset me: that this is the best quality image of this outfit I could find on the entirety of Google, that no one has seen this movie, and that Queen Latifah’s character didn’t buy this outfit. Catch me petitioning to get it preserved by the National Film Registry because it is undoubtedly “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant.”
The Devil Wears Prada (2008)
The hat! The gloves! The (probably, I don’t remember) Sidekick phone! I miss the early ‘00s!
First Wives Club (1996)
The indisputable queens of winter white. An extreme amount of bonus points for wearing these looks while doing an elaborately choreographed dance to You Don’t Own Me as they conclude this 1h43m demonstration of why their respective husbands do not, in fact, own them. Honorable mentions: the usually despicable white/ecru combo and Goldie Hawn’s white leather pants.
Feature image via.
