FASHION & STYLE
FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT FASHION
By Kristy Lee
At some point this last December, I
complimented a friend on her white pants.
They were darling, with a skinny jean
silhouette and a really light beige all-over print.
To my surprise, her gratitude was immediately
followed by telling me her coworkers had been
giving her trouble about wearing white in the
winter. I wondered why such an old-fashioned
rule still existed when we live in such an
“anything goes” fashion world.
The old rules we’ve all heard, like no white
after Labor Day, or making sure your shoes
and belt match, were probably developed in
past decades when there was one main look
to which everyone aspired. There was the
military-inspired skirt suit-style of the 1940s,
and the “New Look” of the 1950s, and you
followed the rules or you weren’t fashionable.
But fashion today is about rule breaking,
fitting in while standing out, and expressing
yourself regardless of what people think.
Here are some rules you should consider
completely disregarding.
Put on all your
jewelry, and then
take one thing off
Don’t wear
black and brown
together
More is more, at least
when it comes to
accessorizing. Wear
multiple necklaces
or bracelets, and
it’s even OK, nay,
encouraged, to mix
metals. Coco Chanel
was a wise lady, but
this old adage didn’t
stand the test of time.
Black and brown
together can be just
as chic as wearing all
black. While you’re at
it, throw in some navy.
Don’t mix prints
This rule is hard for
people to break, most
likely because they’re
not sure how. As long
as the colors in the
prints are the same
or complement each
other, it’s probably
going to work.
Red lipstick is only
for evening
You can definitely
rock red lips during
the day without
people questioning
your occupation.
Keep several different
shades on hand to
really finish a look.
Horizontal stripes
make you look
wider
If the horizontal
stripes in question
are across a top three
times the size of your
body, then yes, they
do. While they do
imply a casual feel,
horizontal stripes
on a garment with
a flattering fit will
indeed be pleasing.
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Breaking the rules may be hard at first
because we’re forced out of our comfort
zone. And while it may take a while to
muster up the courage to wear hosiery with
open-toed shoes, remember that the most
important element is confidence. Wear what
you like, express yourself, and the confidence
comes naturally.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY