No More Fashion Rules
So today, I wanted to talk all about fashion rules. Starting today, I’m doing a 5 day style challenge on breaking fashion rules with confidence so if you haven’t signed up, go sign up using the link in bio because I’ll be sending out fun tips to all the participants and there’s going to be a giveaway and discount one of my services so you don’t want to miss out. But back to the task at hand, I want to talk all about these so called fashion rules. Even in 2022, the industry still finds a way to put restrictions on our personal style and it’s time to break those rules!
So before I give some tips on breaking these rules, I need to have a mini rant. I hate fashion rules, I hate rules in general but especially when it comes to our style and the way we dress. Our style is so personal to us and the last thing we need is to put restrictions on the way we express ourselves through our clothes. Mixing prints is too busy, don’t wear white after labor day, denim on denim is wrong, sequins are only for evening wear, your bag should match your shoes and the list goes on and on unfortunately. These rules are so dated, silly, somewhat insulting and prevent you from getting in touch with your personal style. Fashion at it’s core is about having fun, not about following rules. Even with my clients when I’m teaching them a new way of dressing to flatter their body type or showing them their best colors, I always tell them these aren’t rules. It’s not about what you can and can’t wear. Knowing your body type and best colors are great tools to have in your fashion toolbox. It’s never about rules.
Since I’m doing a whole weeks worth of fashion rules to break with confidence, I’m just going to cover two rules in this video. But these two rules are particularly ridiculous.
One of the rules I hear all the time is you need to dress age appropriate or specifically no shorter hems after 40. I despise this ageism rule. I’m not saying age isn’t something to consider when getting dressed but you shouldn’t be covering yourself from head to toe and dim your light just because you’ve hit a certain age. I find that as women transition to different age brackets, they go through a style rut of feeling like they can’t dress fun or they can’t wear colors or statement pieces because they’re in their 30s, their 40s and so on. It’s not about your age. It’s all about dressing your personality and keeping in mind that you still want to look presentable and be taken seriously. Fashion is ageless so choose pieces that make you happy first.
And the last rule I wanted to cover is women with curves shouldn’t wear form fitting clothing. The fact that this rule still exists is truly irritating. As the years have gone on, designers, the industry and retailers are finally starting to get their feet wet with inclusive fashion but we’re still not even half way to the point of full inclusion. Women with curves are told all the time that they should hide their figure in baggier, dull and dated clothes. NO! Women of any size or shape deserve to show off their figure however they please whether that;s in oversized clothing, baggy pieces, androngeous pieces, form fitting, skin showing, every body deserves to show off their shape how every they would like.
The biggest key to breaking any fashion rule is to do it with confidence. It’s scary, I’ve definitely had those moments before I leave the house I see my outfit and I know I’m not following what the fashion elite deem as appropriate but I take a deep breath, look in the mirror and say girl, you look good, you feel good, strut this look and forget the rules. This little pep talk works every time. And not once do I have someone giving me the side eye or saying oh my gosh why would you wear that, you’re a walking fashion faux pas. If you feel confident in your look, it’s going to show and no one can touch that confidencd. And isn’t being a fashion rebel more fun than being a fashion follower?
Work with me! I’m a certified style coach helping busy women elevate their style by rediscovering a new way of dressing to look and feel luxe.