What Clothes I Pack Away on Labor Day (and what I keep)

I live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., which means it can be shorts weather well into October. That being said, there are some items in my closet that I don't feel comfortable wearing beyond Labor Day, AKA the unofficial end of summer. If you're wondering what you should or should not pack away on Labor Day, my list may prove helpful.

That being said, in 2025, there is no hard and fast rule of what you can and cannot wear after Labor Day. We have already dispelled the myth that you can't wear white after Labor Day, and honestly, if styled right and in the right situation, most anything can be worn year-round.

What Clothes I Pack Away on Labor Day

I personally feel some fabrics and styles scream “summer,” and I do not wish to put forth a ton of effort to make them appear autumnal or wintry. There are also items in my wardrobe that no longer serve a purpose after Labor Day, unless I am packing for a tropical vacation. I find that by packing these items away (or at least moving them to the dark recesses of the closet), I can see better what great items I own for the current temperatures, season, and events for this time of year.

Linen

I love linen, and spend a good portion of the summer rocking my linen separates. I own several button-front linen shirts, a few pairs of linen shorts, one or two linen dresses, and can't go a summer without a pair of wide-leg white linen trousers. But I pack them come September.

Linen has a distinct, casual, and rumpled look that evokes a vacation vibe. In the summer, it's chic. In September, it feels messy. Even in dark colors, linen doesn't look comfortable with autumnal fabrics and it takes a lot of effort to make them feel seasonally appropriate. I instead steam or iron them, carefully fold them, and pack them to revisit come April.

Sundresses

I'll keep my sleeveless, my short-sleeved, even some of my going-out halter and spaghetti strap dresses, but the true sundresses are packed up. Made from cotton, rayon, eyelet, Tencel, chambray, gauze, linen, and lightweight jersey, these dresses feature summer fabrics or incorporate summer details like tie straps and cutouts, or they are from a very summery print.

Some may say you can “winterize” these sundresses with a denim jacket, but I find the true sundresses always look like summer, no matter how they are styled. To get the most mileage out of your clothes, consider the fabric, color, and print before making a purchase.

Bathing Suits

While I will keep my black tank suit for indoor pools, hot tubs, and various seasonless situations of that sort, I pack the rest away. Unless I am going on a warm-weather getaway, I don't need my two-pieces or my waist-whittling fashion one-pieces. My favorite one-piece has done me well for after Labor Day until Memorial Day for several years, and I have never wished I had left one of my other suits out.

Swim Coverups

If there isn't sun, I don't need my swim coverups. Spas offer robes, my friend's hot tub doesn't need a cute topper, and for the local indoor pool, I only have my towel by my side until I get to the locker room. I pack up my rashguards, ruanas, and any other items I wear over swimsuits in the summer.

Summer Bags and Totes

Most of my handbags and totes are seasonless. Even my crocheted totes could find some use in the fall or spring. But others are just too summery to be easily styled after Labor Day. The ones I pack up:

• An orange raffia crocheted tote with a bamboo ring handle
• A tan raffia woven clutch
• White and blue paisley heavy cotton tote from Roller Rabbit
• Vintage white macrame handbag I inherited from my mom
• Wicker croddbody purse

Raffia, straw, cork, wicker, and rope are summery fabrics, and while they are often used as neutrals to add texture to an outfit, that texture doesn't look right with wool, heavy denim, and other cold-weather fabrics.

Summer Accessories

While I will continue to wear my neutral straw fedora for sun protection, my cotton sunhat and my big-brimmed floppy raffia sunhat will be packed away. It's just too summery to look at home in September and October.

Along with these hats, I will also pack away my white woven leather belt and my cork kitten heel sandals. Both are so versatile, but they also are so very summery that styling them after Labor Day will require serious effort.

What Summer Items I Keep in My Closet After Labor Day

As I mentioned, it stays warm here in the “DMV” well after Labor Day. Heck, I have worn shorts on Christmas before! It makes no sense to pack up all summer clothes come Labor Day; in fact, I shop thinking what kind of clothes will work for summer as well as early fall so I get the biggest bang for my buck. What will stay in my closet:

• Denim and chino shorts. Especially when paired with items in fall colors, denim and chino shorts are worn until October and pulled back out late March
• Tank tops. Paired with full-length jeans, styled under cardigans and blazers, tank tops can be useful and stylish all year long.
• Shirtdresses. Sleeveless or short-sleeved, these look at home with flats or sneakers in September and even early October.
• White jeans. I love the look of white jeans all year long and offer plenty of suggestions on how to style white jeans after Labor Day.
• Sandals. I will wear flat gold and brown sandals with jeans through September. My EVA Birkenstock Arizonas and Teva Hurricane Drift sandals sit at the door for quick runs into the yard. I may even wear my clog sandals with midi dresses and a denim jacket. Unless they're of cork, raffia, or another summer textile, I'll keep wearing them with pedicured feet.

Now, I'd love to hear from you. How do you curate your closet for the seasons? Do you move summer items to the back or pack them away, or do you look to style everything all year long?