Fashion rules

mumtojessandluke

Just wondering if this occurred to others, or if I'm out of date or out of touch... but... one of my 1st fashion rules I devised was:

If a skirt is wider than it is long, it is WRONG!
I was about 15 when I cottoned on to this one. And I continually see it broken by teens mostly, but sometimes grown women.

My new one is... leggings are not pants.

Sounding kind of prudish hey!

Anyone else got a rule they follow? Do you ever break them? Do you agree/ disagree?

15 years ago

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from BlondeAmbition

Christie

Active Member

It took me a minute to figure out that you meant a micro-mini skirt! (I was thinking cute, full, knee-length skirt.)

Over the years, I haven't worn sweaters or t-shirts with obvious pictures (thinking of "grandma" clothes). I did recently break that rule with a darling graphic tee with the silhouette of flowers and butterflies.

15 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Look up Angie's rule for "perfect pant lengths" and you'll have isolated one that many of us subscribe to.
Amen on leggings are not pants!
Coco Chanel's rule "when in doubt, wear pearls" doesn't resonate with everyone, but it works for me.

15 years ago

Veteran

I used to think that handbags were only for grandmas. Now there are so many fabulous handbags out there, they're irresistable!

15 years ago

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Sweatpants are indoor clothes!

My DH has attempted to break this rule on one or two occasions in the 20 years we've lived together. Oh no, mama no like!!!!

15 years ago

mumtojessandluke

Active Member

Amazed how quickly you girls replied
I checked out the pant length thing, and agree.. not too long that they are dragging on the ground but long enough to skim the ground and be able to pop a heel under. I think that was about it as I don't do skinnies.
The skirt thing is for any skirt, no matter what the length in my book, so not necessarily micro mini's. If a large lady (such as myself, size 14 in Ausi language) wears a skirt that is wider than it is long, I tends to look a little boxy to me and you tend to look at the skirt more horizontally rather than vertically if that makes sense. I think I need as much going for me vertically rather than pointing out how wide I am to be honest. Just my opinion by the way, be free to through me a curved ball on that one, as I've held that belief for more than half my life.

I hear you on the handbag dilemma AJ! I really should get a few better pieces so I'm not using a tote bag or nappy bag for everything and constantly swapping. Defiantly not just for grandmas.

And those that would love some pics of my style- camera is broken, gone to Harvey Norman, not covered under warranty - another few weeks wait to get it fixed and well I love photography... it is hurting! So please don't feel like I am hiding here.

15 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I distinctly remember my mother disallowing me to wear my fuzzy wool navy tights with my black patent shoes. Now I mix navy and black all the time! See, I was just ahead of my time!

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Here's a rule that I've recently started following: "Angie is right."

15 years ago

cfun467

Member

I think the fashion rules are just another way for the stores to steal our money because you cant wear a pink pruse with dark blue outfit insted you have to buy a blue pruse so i think if you like it you should wear it

15 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

I used to have a problem wearing black and brown together. Somehow it just didn't match. Well, your wardrobe shouldn't match, it should 'go' as in go together. I think Stacy and Clinton said that on What Not To Wear a long time ago. I'm not a fan of leggings worn as pants with a non-tunic top.

15 years ago

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

April - I hear you!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*blushing* @ April and Polly. Not always

Like Cricket, I had to think about your skirt rule too, mumtojessandluke. But the penny dropped!

There are few rules here on YLF, which is one of the reasons it's a unique place. We are very open around here. I can appreciate the breaking of most so called fashion and style rules but two are non-negotiable if you want my 2 cents:

o PPL’s. My number one pet peeve and I'm afraid I cannot be convinced otherwise.

o You have to have fun with fashion and style. I see no point in ever breaking this one

15 years ago

Steffie

Active Member

For the love of all that is holy and good, keep your knickers, and your rear end, inside your pants. There is nothing worse than seeing a gal's thong rising up from under a pair of pants that are halfway down her bum. I get the feeling they think this is alluring. It is not.

15 years ago

mumtojessandluke

Active Member

Thanks for all the replies
I love the one keep your knickers and rear end to yourself!
Thanks Ange. I'm guessing that PPL= peoples pant length?
I love the other rule about keeping it fun. I can't wait to get some more fun in my style to be honest.
I can't wait to really start my YLF experience and get your ideas and comments on my somewhat boring style.

15 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

My number one rule is one I got from What Not to Wear, I think: If it doesn't fit your body perfectly RIGHT NOW, today, in the fitting room right this minute, don't buy it. In other words, dress the body you have now, not the body you wish you had. After a lifetime of buying clothes that pinched and gapped because I thought I would diet into them, I am much happier now that I follow that rule.

15 years ago

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

Oh yes I have fashion rules! These are rules I follow because they please ME so some may disagree with them.

1) Never match a purse with the shoes. They must go together, but not match.
2) If you're showing a lot of legs cover up your arms or vice versa. Only one body part gets exposed at a time (I love microminis and would be sporting them every day if I had the body for it)
3) No matching jewelry - I don't like "sets" of jewelry. Like rule #1 jewelry must compliment each other, but not be part of a set.
4) The size of purse you carry must corollate to the size of your derierre. Too many times I see teeny weeny little girls carry massive duffel bag sized purses and even worse, a larger woman like me cannot sling a tiny purse over my shoulder or it will make me look like a giant.
5) Pop of colors - I'm a strong believer in a pop of color. I often wear monotone clothing but would never do so without a bright graphic tee or a sparkly bangle.
6) Wear flat sandals with maxi dresses - never heels.
7) Never hem jeans - always buy then the correct length to begin with - I love the stitch that jeans come with and when people get them hemmed they lose that trademark stitch.
8) Never always wear one kind of thing. Even if a look is flattering on you doesn't mean you should wear it every day. Just because you like ballet flats doesn't mean it's the only shoe you should ever wear. Just because you like cargo pants doesn't mean it's the only pants you should buy. Just because you like messenger bags doesn't mean that you should carry one for every occassion. I am baffled by how many people dress themselves into a box and conduct their fashion this way. Set your style free!

15 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I don't have that many rules, other than PPL. I have become much more open recently to things I used to stay away for - mixing metals, wearing shorter hemlines ( with boots) etc.

Blonde Abmition, about your rule #7: jeans can ( and should if you ask me) be hemmed with their original hem: you retain the look and get PPL.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

not so much a "rule" but a revelation..

Don't be afraid to take matters into my own hands...
-Cut off those pesky scarf tags.
-If the pocket gapes open, sew it shut.
-If belt loops are annoying, cut them off.
-Those self fabric tie belts can and should be used to truss a turkey rather than wear with the garment.
-a needle and thread are my friends

And regarding shoes...

"If the feet ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Don't ever ever ever buy an uncomfortable shoe no matter how cute it might be.

15 years ago

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

Tanya, I had no idea you could do that. How can you hem pants other than at the hem? You know what I mean though? When you see people walking around with hemmed jeans and it just looks like they're rolled under in a strange way because they lack the original hemming?

15 years ago

Megan

Active Member

Blonde Ambition, the tailor cuts off the original hem and sews it back on after shortening the jeans.

The thing I don't like about jeans when you shorten them is that the fading often ends up in the wrong place (ie. not above your knee where the fading should be but lower on the leg). Go petite jeans!

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

BlondeAmbition, OMG #4 is cracking me up! I often say the same thing but not *quite* like that! I will be using the purse/dupa proportion idea from now on!

15 years ago

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

Kristen I don't think I've ever read about this rule, I'm the only one I know who imposes it. Most of my friends think I'm crazy for even thinking that but I don't know, to my eye it seems like common sense and a matter of proportions. I'm just saying, when I look in the mirror I think that my size 14-16 pants don't look right with a 5x7 sized purse slung over my shoulder.

15 years ago

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