The fashion rules that you should no longer follow | Vogue LargeChevron Menu Close Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Pinterest Facebook Twitter Pinterest Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Pinterest LargeChevron

Rules are made to be broken, especially those that dictate what we can and cannot wear. Although there are times and places that dictate modesty and formality, our closets today are less restricted than ever. Trends are fun to follow and we are invited to participate in the creative vision of fashion designers who continue to challenge, question and reshape the zeitgeist, but what we wear is all our interpretation. That's why we're calling time on these rules that are totally outdated and definitely out of style.

You can't wear navy and black together

Sorry what?! Ally yourself with the likes of Phoebe Philo and the Olsen sisters and destroy this outdated ideal soon. Navy blue and black is simply the most elegant color combination a woman knows. A navy cashmere jumper, sharp skinny jeans and black leather loafers combine to create an easy and total outfit, while also proving that darker shades can be the happiest bedfellows.

Your bags and shoes should always match

Are you the queen? We assume not. (If you are, we give a very warm welcome to Miss Vogue, Your Majesty.) Bags and shoes no longer need to match. In the 1950s, women invested in a matching ensemble, designed to last through all seasons and suit all occasions. Now, it is more realistic and fun to combine chunky sneakers with a feminine handbag, stilettos with a nylon fanny pack. But don't completely ignore the allure of a matching set. There's something magical about intentionally pairing a super-shiny shoe with an identical bag; just make it a style choice and not an everyday rule.

You should never mix metals

Are you a gold girl or a silver girl? Who cares? Goodbye to the old fashioned rules of using only one metal and welcome to the new order of mixing and matching, stacking and layering. You will find that the combination of metals will only add an exuberant appeal to your favorite jewelry.

Heels are essential for 'party looks'

A lie! Lie, we scream! Flats are now just as chic as party heels that still work, but are no longer alone in the box for night out looks. There is nothing less elegant than shoes so painful that the wearer's gait is affected by an unpleasant limp. Just slip on flats for comfort and a fresh take on formal wear. If there's one thing the coronavirus pandemic has taught us when it comes to style, it's that comfort comes first, always.

Your size will dictate what you wear

The most stylish people in the world have one thing in common, and they're not all the right size. of a sample. They choose clothes that are most flattering and frame their silhouette as an extension of their personality. What they don't do is let archaic fashion rules and labels based on a fruit bowl's anatomy dictate the pieces they wear. How boring. Young women in the spotlight are reclaiming lengths, shapes and fits for themselves no matter the number on the tag. Follow them, not this silly rule.

Stick with one pattern

Okay, this is boring in every way. Follow up-and-coming designers like Richard Quinn and Matty Bovan who challenge this opinion by throwing it totally out the window. Today, more is more, edgier is better, and frankly, a lot more fun to wear.

You can only wear clothes assigned to your gender

Snooze. snooze. snooze. While the global approach to gender continues to change, this is not always reflected in the way fashion is marketed. There are clothes for men and clothes for women, but when gender is much more than these binary terms and the aesthetics that are prescribed for them, buying beyond our assigned or presentation label is a given. Fashion becomes really fun when you go beyond the norm. Just ask every single person who has made a name for themselves in the realm of style.