In the age of individualism, stereotypes are a thing of the past. And nowhere is this more evident than in fashion, where the trends never stop evolving and every rule is happily broken. Today, designers and style icons are not afraid of making bold choices, experimenting and showcasing their own unique looks. So there’s no time like right now, to break those fashion myths and take your personal style to the next level.
Here are some of our favourite fashion don’ts that you simply must do.
You can’t mix prints
You’ve all heard that mixing two prints is a big ‘no no’ but no one ever explains why. Yes, it is true that mixing colours and stripes randomly can spoil your look but it is always okay to take risks. Right? Complementary shades are a safe way to rock mismatched prints and you could also try wearing one print that’s bigger than the other too, to keep it classy. Alternatively, wear a striped pattern with florals for easy style success.
Image Source: Instagram@shaleenanathani
Save the sequins
for the night
Who says you can’t wear sequins during the day? Make the look casual by dressing down a sparkly jacket with a simple skirt, tee and trainers or ankle boots. Try a sequin skirt with a basic tee and layer with a plain jacket. Or you can even get away with a sequin slip dress by wearing a plain tee underneath. Basically — tone down your sequin pieces and make it your daytime wear.
You just need to balance.
Image Source: carriecolbert.com
You can’t mix metals
One of the beauties of accessorising is being able to mix and match pieces. A look doesn’t have to be 100 percent polished and often you’ll find the most fashion-forward outfits by putting things you wouldn’t usually think to pair together. Have a go at layering thin silver and gold chains to create an elegant neck statement, and don’t be afraid to mix up your rings too! If you’re layering necklaces, make sure the chains are around the same size or theme. Try mixing gold and silver bangles together for a fun take on a formerly taboo combo. As long as the style matches, there’s no reason why you can’t pair them together to build up a dual metallic look. And according to experts, the only thing that should be taken into account is the fact that the pieces share a similar style and match the other details of the look. The same goes for gold and silver clothes –- keep the rest of the look simple and use flashes of different metallics to tie the look together.
Image Source: Pinterest
High heels are more sophisticated/feminine than flats
It’s true that high heels do change the way you carry yourself, but you can alter your posture without raising the height of your shoes. Shoulders back, chin up, chest out — that’s all it takes. If you have a good posture, wearing flats can also make you look sophisticated, because they do have the comfort factor as a huge benefit. So, instead of believing in myths, always pick something that you are more comfortable in.
Image Source: Pinterest
Oversized clothes suit only slim or tall people
There’s a mistaken belief that says oversized clothes only suit slim and tall girls. But, in reality, this look works elegantly on the shorter and curvy women too. The best way to do it is to balance the look. Like when wearing a big, roomy sweater, pair it with something slim and simple.
Image Source: leFashion
No Stockings or Socks with Open-Toe Shoes
Pairing tights with open-toe shoes is certainly a look—but the contrast, like a silver shoe against black tights, can really add to your game. The same goes for socks and sandals. If matched well, it turns out to be a very sophisticated look. Some people can pull off slouchy socks with fluffy sliders, which may not be for everyone so experiment to see what works best for you. Fishnet ankle socks with open toe heels is a popular look, or you can go for playful patterned socks with block heels.
Image Source: Carolines Mode
Your Bag should Match Your Shoes
Accessorising your outfit is the key to looking stylish and cool. We think some of the most inspiring street styles are those that change it up in the accessory department. Especially this done to death notion that your handbag must match your shoes. Your outfit, from head to toe, is simply an expression of you. And a canvas for you to experiment and discover more of yourself. Colour blocked pairings, contrast pairings or even completely mis-matched are just as in.
Image Source: Pinterest
Horizontal Stripes Make You Look Heavy
We’ve all heard this one. The myth here is that horizontal stripes draw the eye across the body, making you appear wider, and vertical stripes draw the eye up and down the body, making you appear longer and leaner. A study done by a perception expert says that people don’t perceive people wearing these stripes as heavier, they actually perceive them as thinner.
Image Source: Pinterest
Short girls can’t wear maxi skirts
In fashion, there’s always a solution. If your height is not much then look for high waisted styles. Many maxis sit more on the hips, but when you find one that sits high on the waist (add a belt if it falls down), this will elongate your body and increase height perception. If the skirt drags along the floor, try folding the top waistline over itself a few times to reduce the length. Again, you can add a waist belt to hide this. If all else fails, wear wedges but do not miss out on the maxis!
Image Source: Pinterest
Brights colours are not for dusky women
It is a ridiculous fashion rule that dusky people should stick to wearing darker shades. If you like, you can opt for brighter colours such as orange, red, yellow and pink. They’ll get you all the right attention! Bright neon colours look great against a dusky skin tone and make you stand out wherever you go! If you have any doubts, just think about Beyonce rocking the look like a diva. It’s totally worth giving a try. Just be confident.
Image Source: sydnestyle.com
Unique colour combinations
The simplest rule to break — colours. There are many that would tell you to never venture past the usual combinations, but just don’t listen. Try out these funky pairings that simply deserve a spot in your closet.
Image Source: Brussels-with-love.blogspot.be
- Orange & Pink
- Green & Pink
- Yellow & Pink
- Pink & Red
- Blue & Yellow
- Navy Blue & Black
