Last week, Design Mom asked a question about personal style, “Do you like style rules? Or do they stress you out?”
My answer? I don’t mind rules. They let you know which ones to break when you want to stand out.
Gabrielle’s question was in response to Ines de la Fressange’s edict on earrings and necklaces — in her opinion it’s either or, never both. I suppose that’s an easy enough rule to follow, unless of course you’re going for full on glamour.
Like, say, Grace Kelly. Or Liz Taylor. Or, I don’t know, the Cleopatra-like model in the Tiffany ad?
Rules are comforting and make life easier. But don’t be afraid to break them every once in awhile. Keep things fun.
This got me thinking about other style rules, and how to break them. Hopefully this inspires you to break some of your own.
Never wear white after Labor Day
Tell that to Abbey Lee Kershaw (pictured outside the Hotel de Crillon, Paris in October).
Winter whites are dreamy.
Never wear black with brown or navy
Dita Von Teese
Really. Can someone explain to me why brown and black is supposed to be such a sin? It works for leopards. And blue and black? Dita looks perfectly fine here.
Never wear red if you’re a redhead.
Photo from Delta Sky Magazine
Ms. Christina Hendricks shows anyone who believes redheads can’t wear red the error of their ways.
You must cut your hair short hair when going grey
image via models.com
Grey hair is striking. Cut your hair short? Sure! But only if you want to.
Never wear tights with open-toed shoes
photo by two cups of tea
Yes you can wear tights with open-toed shoes. Just look at expert fashion rule breaker Erin Loechner from Design for Mankind! Tuck the seam in under your toes and you’re good to go.
What style rules do you break, my friends?
(Or does looking at these rule breakers make you break a sweat?)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
When I heard the style gurus on What Not to Wear say, over and over, never to wear short skirts after 30, I took this one to heart. But then I realized they looked good on me. I eased up on my length rules, and broke out some short shorts as well. How liberating it was!
The earrings and necklace rule makes me laugh — I mean, yes, you shouldn’t wear huge, glamorous earrings with a statement necklace along with a tee and khaki shorts to the supermarket, but I often wear both at the same time with, I think, great success.
I think white is beautiful in the winter — it’s more a matter of fabric. With the right texture and weight, I think it’s stunning.
I don’t think I follow too many rules, really. My purse rarely matches my shoes or belt, and I routinely pair light dresses with heavier sweaters to ward off the cool winter temps in Florida. I don’t know — if I put it on and I feel great about it, who cares whether or not it follows the rules?
Oh, but I should add that, in terms of makeup, I do follow the “just one thing” rule. I’ll do a bold lip or a serious eye, but not together.
THANK YOU for posting about not cutting your hair short when it goes gray. I think long, gray hair looks fabulous as long as it is maintained well. I’ve never been a short-haired person and I don’t plan to be in the future. I think it’s elegant.
By the way, I agree with all the rest of your “broken rules” as well.
Love this post! I think fashion rules are dumb, because if you’re confident enough in your style, you’ll be able to pull it off. All these ladies in the pics you posted are doing a fantastic job of doing just that. Awesome!
I do follow the statement lips or bold eyes, but not both rule, otherwise you end up looking…trampy instead of vampy, sleezy instead of sultry.
One of my personal OCD’s – if the bag is black (or brown), the shoes should be too. For some strange reason though, this OCD does not extend to other accessory color scenarios. I know, I’m weird!
I definitely adhere to the no tights w/ open-toes, I think it makes your toes look like something stuffed.
And long hair — I say GO FOR IT! Whatever your age, whatever your hair color. I’ll never forget watching TV one evening with my outlaws and my MIL went off on a tangent about the over-35 actress with hair past her shoulders and how “stupid” she looked. She proceeded to go on & on & on, never once thinking of the over-40 DIL, w/ hair well past her shoulders, sitting right next to her. I LOVED it when my husband, who was sitting on her other side, looked across her & said “Guess you’re stupid, honey.” Needless to say, the MIL didn’t even acknowledge her faux pas!
I completely concur with you — I love rules ’cause they let me know where the lines are drawn so I can choose when I want to step, walk or run right over them!