It’s common knowledge that rules are meant to be broken, but in the fashion world, it’s hard to tell if this concept still applies. There are so many different rules about what to wear and what not to wear (just ask Stacy and Clinton!) and it’s almost impossible to keep them all straight. But what fashion rules should stay and which are meant to be broken? We did some serious runway research to let you know which long-standing fashion rules you should always follow and which ones you should toss.
The Rule: Never wear denim on denim.
The Verdict: While this trend is all over the runways, it’s often hard to pull off, says Cara Chace, a wardrobe consultant, personal shopper, and owner of wardrobe consulting company Apparel Therapy. “It’s a trend for now, but for most people, it doesn’t work because it’s hard to pull off.” If you’re feeling daring and want to pull off the trend, a simple trick is to wear two different washes of denim. Make sure you add appropriate accents to break up your denim ensemble. “Try a brightly colored or softer textured blouse, like cotton or silk,” says Jill Ouellette, chair and professor of the fashion marketing program at Northwood University. Try pairing dark skinny jeans with a lighter jean jacket and a colorful scarf to make this look work, like Jessica Alba does here.
The Rule: Don’t wear black and brown together.
The Verdict: Black and brown are both neutrals, and since neutrals go with everything, black and brown can definitely be paired together. Remember, however, that they’re both muted tones, so make sure you incorporate another color or pattern into your look to avoid looking drab. “Kick up the intensity with a splash of color, metallic accent, or materials with unique textures to make the outfit look both fun and finished,” Ouelette says. Lindsay Lohan rocks this look with her black leggings, blue vest, and brown booties.
The Rule: Mixing crazy patterns is never okay.
The Verdict: Chace says that like the denim on denim look, pairing crazy patterns together is often hard to do correctly. If you’re one to experiment, however, this is definitely a trend to try out. To make it work, Ouelette says it’s important to pair patterns with similar colors. “Plaid can look good with polka dots or stripes, as long as the colors coordinate and complement.” Make sure that the patterns don’t overpower each other—pair a large print with a more detailed smaller one. Rachel Bilson executes this perfectly with her black and white ensemble that mixes stripes with polka dots.
The Rule: Don’t mix silver and gold jewelry.
The Verdict: When you’re wearing delicate jewelry, like a Tiffany sterling silver necklace, it’s best to stick to one metal. Mixing your silver and gold jewelry can be stylish, however, if you do it right. Always keep the jewelry that is close together the same – rings and bracelets and watches should be the same metal, and earrings and necklaces should be the same metal. Many designers are making jewelry that mixes metals, though, so if this is the case, the previous rule doesn’t apply. Ashley Olsen makes it work by wearing rings that mix gold with silver.
The Rule: Never wear white after Labor Day.
The Verdict: As long as your whites aren’t sandals, sundresses, or linen, wearing white after Labor Day is definitely okay. White is definitely chic in the fall and winter, whether it’s a crisp white coat or a warm white sweater. White monochromatic white looks great in the summer, but try to mix up your colors in the winter to avoid looking like Frosty. Check out Zoe Saldana’s brilliant white-after-Labor-Day look.
The Rule: Always match your purse and your shoes.
The Verdict: While this rule is still important, it’s no longer a necessity, says Chace. If you want to match your shoes with your bag, it’s definitely still in style, but if you want to switch things up, you can still look chic. Your bag and shoes should still coordinate somewhat, however, and should definitely be colors that complement each other. But there is one exception: if you’re going to a formal event, make sure that your purse and your shoes match! Alexa Chung pulls off the mismatched purse and shoe look with her blue heels and black bag.
The Rule: Only wear sequins at night.
While sequins used to only come out at night, they are now sneaking into everyday wear. Sequins can be worn during the day as long as they are paired with something less glitzy. If you want to wear a sequin tank top, tone it down with a cardigan or a blazer. If you think you can pull off a sequin skirt during the day, pair it with a simple tee shirt. Blake Lively gets this trend right by pairing a simple tank and pair of jeans with a sequin jacket.
The Rule: Black and navy should never be worn together.
The Verdict: “This look will work, but you just have to make sure you make it obvious,” Chace says. “Otherwise it will look like you got dressed in the dark and accidentally mistook navy for black or vise versa.” In order to avoid this, try adding some different patterns, colors, and textures to your black and navy look. Another option is to follow Reese Witherspoon’s lead and layer your black and navy.
Sources:
http://stylebakery.com/style-
Cara Chace, wardrobe consultant, personal shopper, owner of Apparel Therapy
Jill Ouellette, chair and professor of the fashion marketing program at Northwood University