Wearing White In Winter

New reader question:

"What exactly would you say the rule is about white in the winter? No white at all? Or is it acceptable when paired with something wintery enough? I bought this jacket yesterday and I'm wondering if I have to wait until spring to wear it. Could I pair it with a scarf or something so it doesn't look too summery?"

"Winter White" is actually a trend this fall & winter! Your grandmother's "no white after Labor Day" rule no longer applies.

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There are a few things to consider when wearing white from October to February, though:

• Choose your fabrics strategically: Save the linens & light summery textiles for warm weather. Stick to heavier knits, leather, wools... I also recommend pairing whites with especially wintery accessories (jackets, boots, scarves, etc.) again, to ground the outfit.
• Don't be afraid to go for lots of layers. You can go for an all white outfit (if you're really brave and keep your distance from all pasta sauce), but I recommend experimenting by adding camel, black, or a neon bright, to ground the look.
• Don't worry about matching your shades of white perfectly: One of the beauties of this trend is that the layered, mutli-hued white ensemble will make the textures you're wearing stand out and look both cozy & chic.
• If you're not interested in an all-white outfit, match white with wintery colors like camel, cranberry, gold, or forest green. Unless you're going nautical, be careful wearing it with navy or red.

When it comes to the jacket in question, here are some suggestions for styling it until the spring (match all of these with white pants, jeans, etc.):