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W Magazine
In the Mood For...

How to Wear All White After Memorial Day, Or Whenever You Damn Please

In the parts of America that are afflicted with actual seasons, the impulse is to immediately dust off your favorite all-white look the moment the temperature climbs above 70 degrees fahrenheit. But no, you’ve been told by no one in particular at some point in your life when you blindly accepted conventional wisdom, not until after Memorial Day! Naturally, as with most fashion maxims, that rule is meant to be broken—if not completely ignored. But before you bound off into the sun in an icy ensemble this holiday weekend, consider that there are indeed rules to this. There is a right way, and thus a wrong way, to wear white. Here, let Rihanna, Gisele, Cara Delevingne, Mila Kunis, Alicia Vikander, and more of the pages of W show you how to do it well. And then you can do it your own way, anyway. Just don’t spill the rosé.

by W Staff
May 27, 2019 12:00 pm
Azzedine Alaïa. For Naomi Campbell, the best defense is looking drop-dead gorgeous as she serves her sentence. Here, she wears Azzedine Alaïa's silk Chantilly lace and organza dress, to order at Azzedine Alaïa, Paris.Beauty Note: Campbell glows in a palette of playful lavender. To get her look, try the following products from MAC Cosmetics: Select Moistureblend SPF 15 in NW55; Eye Shadow in Beautiful Iris; Eye Shadow in Night Divine; Eye Kohl in Smolder; Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack; Powdered Blush in Breath of Plum; Tendertones SPF 12 lip gloss in Softnote.

Steven Klein

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Naomi Campbell photographed by Steven Klein for W Magazine, June 2007.

Double Edge

Craig McDean

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Photograph by Craig McDean for W Magazine, July 2012.

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Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

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Photograph by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, September 2004.

Ralph Lauren. Her upcoming onscreen personae include a legendary American folk rocker and a British royal supreme, but Cate Blanchett is just as capable of playing a bronzed beach babe. Here, she wears Ralph Lauren's white cotton dress, at select Ralph Lauren stores, ralphlauren.com.Beauty Note: A palette of barely there neutrals shows off Blanchett's sun-kissed glow. Try the following shades from Clarins: Colour Tint in Sun-Kissed; Deep Shimmer Eye Colour in Blazing Brown; Eyeliner Pencil in Black; Wonder Length Mascara in Wonder Black; Rouge Appeal lipstick in Cappuccino.

Michael Thompson

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Cate Blanchett photographed by Michael Thompson for W Magazine, October 2007.

Calvin Klein Collection dress, harness, and shoes. Beauty note: Tresses get a boost from Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray.

Ryan McGinley

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Anna Ewers photographed by Ryan McGinley for W Magazine, April 2016.

Roberto Cavalli swimsuit.

Mikael Jansson

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Joan Smalls photographed by Mikael Jansson for W Magazine, June 2013.

From left:American Apparel fleece hoodie. Oscar de la Renta embroidered cotton dress. White + Warren cotton and modal blend turtleneck. Derek Lam stretch cotton twill trousers. Jil Sander boots. American Apparel fleece hoodie. Missoni dress and viscose blend pants. BCBG Max Azria viscose blend turtleneck. J. Mendel silk chiffon pleated skirt. Jil Sander boots. Beauty note: Get slip ‘n’ slide hair texture with Phyto Professional Wet Gel.

Craig McDean

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Photograph by Craig McDean for W Magazine, March 2013.

Louis Vuitton's white viscose and silk organza dress, at select Louis Vuitton stores, 866.VUITTON; www.vuitton.com.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

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Kate Moss photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, March 2005.

Best In Class

Emma Summerton

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Lily Donaldson, Cara Delevinge, and Jourdan Dunn photographed by Emma Summerton for W Magazine, January 2012.

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Mikael Jansson

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Cara Delevingne photographed by Mikael Jansson for W Magazine, February 2013.

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Juergen Teller

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Gisele Bündchen photographed by Juergen Teller for W Magazine, June 2005.

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Jerome Corpuz

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Photographed by Jerome Corpuz for W Magazine, May 2015.

Dior Haute Couture jacket and skirt. Beauty note: For eyes as bright as your whites, swipe with Dior Flash Luminizer Radiance Booster Pen.

Venetia Scott

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Bella Hadid photographed by Venetia Scott for W Magazine, October 2016.

From left:Christian Lacroix Haute Couture's cotton organdy and crepe dress, to order at Christian Lacroix, Paris. Christian Lacroix Haute Couture necklace.Chanel Haute Couture's sequined and embroidered silk tulle dress with ostrich feathers, to order at Chanel, Paris. Chanel Haute Couture shoes.Chanel Haute Couture's sequined, beaded and embroidered silk organza bolero and silk tulle dress with ostrich feathers, to order at Chanel, Paris.

Juergen Teller

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Malgosia Bela, Diana Dondoe and Shalom Harlow photographed by Juergen Teller for W Magazine, April 2006.

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Craig McDean

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Rihanna photographed by Craig McDean for W Magazine, February 2010.

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Venetia Scott

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Anna Ewers photographed by Venetia Scott for W Magazine, May 2015.

Givenchy Haute Couture's silk organza shirt, cashmere cardigan and silk tweed skirt, to order at Givenchy, New York.

Juergen Teller

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Diana Dondoe photographed by Juergen Teller for W Magazine, April 2006.

DOLCE & GABBANA'S SILK TULLE DRESS, AT DOLCE & GABBANA.

Juergen Teller

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Lily Cole photographed by Juergen Teller for W Magazine, February 2008.

Clotilde de Kersauson, at her family's home in Paris, wears an Alberta Ferretti dress; Elie Top necklace.

Angelo Pennetta

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Clotilde de Kersauson photographed by Angelo Pennetta for W Magazine, June 2015.

Haider Ackermann's wool caftan with silk lapels and wool pants; Ralph Lauren Black Label's cashmere sweater. Haider Ackermann belt, Burberry shoes.

Tim Walker

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Tilda Swinton photographed by Tim Walker for W Magazine, September 2011.

in the mood for Memorial Day white
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