10 Fashion Rules To Always Follow & 10 That Were Made To Be Broken
Which Fashion Rules Do You Follow Or Reject?
Rules were made to be broken, especially when they dictate our style. That being said, there are some guidelines that we believe help to create a look that works and avoid major fashion flukes. Here are 10 fashion rules we always follow and 10 that were made to be broken.
1. Dress For The Occasion
The first rule of being tastefully dressed is to consider the occasion. It would make you and everyone else at the event feel strange if you show up to a luncheon in an evening gown.
White House photo by Eric Draper on Wikimedia
2. Fit Matters Most
When putting together an ensemble, it doesn't matter how expensive or fancy the pieces are, if the fit isn't right, everything will just look off. Prioritize flattering, quality, and perfectly fitted pieces over the brand name.
3. Dress For Your Body
There are no hard and fast rules here, but dressing for your body type is integral to looking and feeling amazing in your clothes. Understand your body and what silhouettes flatter it the most.
4. Choose The Right Undergarments
No one wants to see your boxers or your bra straps peaking out from under your clothes. Unless purposeful, don't let the world know what underwear you're wearing.
5. Maintain Your Clothes
Don't neglect caring for your clothing. A well-ironed, clean, crisp shirt speaks volumes louder than a wrinkled, nubby one, even if it's an expensive brand.
6. Less Is More
When it comes to accessories, less is generally more. That being said, maximalism is in, so don't be afraid to express yourself. Just keep it to one or two bold accent pieces to not overwhelm your look.
7. No Plaid On Plaid
Mixing patterns is okay, but a plaid shirt on top of different plaid buttons is just blinding in our opinion. Plaid alone is a bold and busy pattern, so mixing two different plaids is just a lot for the brain to process.
8. Balance Your Look
Balancing bold pieces with neutral ones is a good rule of thumb for not overwhelming the eye. We love matching a bold necklace with a white top to really make it pop.
9. Choose A Focal Point
While too much minimalism is boring, too much boldness is overwhelming. While not a strict rule, choosing a single focal point is generally a good way to ensure you have your bases covered for a look that's both interesting and not too much.
10. Have Fun
The final rule you should always follow is to have fun with fashion. Don't be afraid to express yourself, and don't be overly concerned with arbitrary rules.
Now that we've covered the rules we believe warrant following, let's talk about the ones you should feel comfortable breaking.
1. Always Match Shoes & Belt/Bag
There's no doubt you've heard the boring rule that you must match your belt or bag with your shoes. We believe this results in a much too matchy look, and we're all about mixing and matching leathers and other materials to our hearts' content.
2. Never Wear Black With Navy
We're not sure who made this ridiculous rule up, but it's one of the first we would like to throw in the garbage. Black and navy, like a smart black sweater with dark blue jeans, is a classic and chic look we would never say no to.
3. Don't Mix Metals
You've probably heard the archaic rule that you should never mix gold with silver when it comes to jewelry. In reality, mixing metals smartly can add an interesting and magical complexity to your look.
4. Stick To One Print
Minimalism is so last century. We're all about mixing prints to express ourselves and make each article pop in its unique way, adding intrigue and flavor.
5. Only Wear Clothes Assigned To Your Gender
The most outdated rule of all is that you're supposed to only wear clothes assigned to your gender. Look at Harry Styles in a skirt and tell us that's not hot.
6. Never Wear Black To A Wedding
In the olden days, black was reserved for funerals and mourning, and wearing black to a wedding would signify your deep-seated dread about the bride and groom. However, in the modern day, that just seems silly, so don't be afraid to rock that LBD at the next wedding you attend!
Apostolos Vamvouras on Unsplash
7. No White After Labor Day
The "no white after Labor Day" rule originates in the 19th century as a way for the elite class to distinguish themselves from the "nouveau riche" and working class. Sound archaic enough to you? Let's embrace white all year round.
8. Never Wear Sneakers With Dresses
Wearing sneakers with a dress is a great way to turn something dressy into casual attire. It can be very cute and enables you to wear dresses more often.
9. No Mixing Bright Colors
Maximalism is in! We're not living in a drab world. You can express yourself all you want through bright colors if that's your style.
10. Tuck In Your Shirt
In the past, it wasn't well-seen to leave your shirt untucked as a man, but now it's actually preferred a lot of the time. A loose, untucked shirt can be more flattering and effortlessly cool, much of the time.
