Do you have any 'Style Rules'?

[WilburIsSomePig]

These days I generally believe that you should wear what the hell you like but I can clearly remember thinks from my youth that were an absolute no no.

My mum was horrified when I went out in a coat with my skirt hanging down a couple of inches from the bottom. (This was the 80's).

I would never have worn red and green together, whereas now I have a pair of bottle green trousers that I like with a dark red jumper and hope that I don't look too much like an extra from Elf.

Do you have any particular 'rules' that you stick to?

[Newbrummie]

Warm and comfortable or cool and comfortable. And no fat hanging out or on display. That should be an actual law if you ask me

[AgentCooper]

Nothing too loose or baggy because I'm a size 14 with big boobs, big bum and a small waist so I look like Homer Simpson in his muu-muu if I wear anything that skims at boob level then hangs.

[Floisme]

No black or white next to my face.
Same goes for anything too pale or too bright. In-the-middle shades look best on me.
Sleeves. Always.
Knee length or just below.
No polo/high necklines - boobs are bigger than they used to be and I'm getting jowly.
If I wear good underwear, my body can still look in reasonable nick.
I look better in fitted, structured clothes. This hasn't been easy to adjust to as I was always a floaty, boho dresser when I was young but that just doesn't work any more.

But if it breaks any of those and I still like it - I wear it anyway. The worst that can happen is I'll look a tit.

[Floisme]

Just to be clear - they're my own personal rules and I'd never impose them on anyone else.

[SnugglySnerd]

I never wear a long cardie under a shorter coat.
I avoid white because I'm very fair and it just makes me look ill.
I've given up wearing trousers except for jeans because they never fit me and I end up looking scruffy.

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

No PJ's/sportswear/loungewear out of context.
No flab hanging. That's about it. I like a bit of rule breaking now and again.

[WilburIsSomePig]

Has anyone else discovered that something they do/wear over a period of time really doesn't suit them? As I've got older I've ahem 'changed shape' somewhat but it took me a while to realise that now I really don't suit skinny jeans at all, so it's straight leg all the way for me now.

Weirdly I can get away with skinny style trousers but just not jeans, I don't know why. I also used to wear a lot of bright colours but now I predominantly wear quite muted tones and use jewellery or scarves if I want to add colour.

I know that leggings look ridiculous on me so that's a no no for me.

[neverwronged]

No caramel/camel/beige near my face. On other people it looks chic and understated, on me it looks like I'm jaundiced.

[LimpidPools]

No tops with pictures of people who are more attractive than me on them.

Honestly, why invite the comparison?

[Floisme]

Has anyone else discovered that something they do/wear over a period of time really doesn't suit them?
Oh my god yes. It took me years to work out I'd grown boobs. Years I tell you.

[AllTheBabies]

No bright shoes. They make me look like a cbeebies presenter. In fact pretty much just no bright clothes at all.

[HumptyDumptyBumpty]

Put on jewellery, then remove one piece. I think it's Coco Chanel's rule, but I definitely follow it so as to avoid the sociology lecturer look!

[niminypiminy]

Never buy anything if it doesn't look at least as good as what you already had on (and always wear clothes you like yourself in to go shopping).

I don't do sleeveless, ever, and prefer elbow length or three quarter to cap sleeves.

No shirts - my shoulders are too narrow and my arms too short.

No camel or beige - make me look slightly dead - or coral or lime green or sky blue. Lovely colours, but really don't suit.

Structure, not boho; no frills or lace - unless I want to look like the Widow Twankey. Bold, rather than feminine, in general.

For me clothing that skims the body is more flattering g than very fitted, hence no skinnies. Simple shapes and interesting fabrics better than a lot of detail.

Those are my rules - but my no nos are wonderful on other people.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Make sure it's clean and ironed before wearing.
If in doubt, sniff.

That's it.

[WilburIsSomePig]

No tops with pictures of people who are more attractive than me on them.

Honestly, why invite the comparison?

Yes! Someone bought me a T shirt with Debbie Harry (who I love) on it and all I could think about is 'are you kidding me?' I'm also not one for T shirts with words or faces on them anyway, but there was no way I was sticking my face next to hers!

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

Much like floisme I can't do floaty/boho anymore, I need to go classic and structured, feels a bit dull to be honest I find it harder to dress the older I get.

[Floisme]

I know what you mean Lois and I'm trying to find ways of doing structured without going down the classic route. So I suit a pencil skirt shape these days (an unexpected bonus) but I go for a (heavy duty, double fabric) tube skirt rather than a tailored pencil, or a fitted jacket but with jeans. And so on. Little things but they make a difference.

This year I'm going Katherine Hepburn and will soon be driving S&B mad with my search for the perfect pair of trousers.

[SwedishEdith]

No pale colours near my face (includes hair colour) - look washed out.

Must look ok with flat shoes/boots.

Black in winter, navy in summer. These aren't "rules", I've just come to realised this is what I do.

[Fadingmemory]

I cannot even garden or clean in clothes whose colours do not match.

[WilburIsSomePig]

Little things but they make a difference.

I find this is very much true. Last night I had very plain trousers and a fine knitwear top and thought I looked so dull. After I put on the right jewellery I felt so much better as it just looked much more 'together' if you know what I mean.

[MsUnderstanding]

No prints or patterns except strips, camo or leopard.
Structured over floaty, this usually means wearing clothes described as "boxy"
Limited colour palate of mostly neutrals.
Only buy something if I need it.

[Greenteandchives]

Nothing with frills, or a bow that ties at the back.
I try not to wear more than two colours if not wearing a print.
No polo necks.
No stretchy patterns on fat bits if avoidable.

[Floisme]

Oh and one more: if there's a new look on the scene, I always at least try it on, even if I think I'll hate it and even if it never gets out of the changing room. Stops me getting in a rut.

[Kione]

No white clothes except a pair of Levi's. White does not look good on me.
No clothesvwith writting on it, "slogans".
No turtle necks (big boobs), I use a scarf if top is open and its cold.
Trying not to put on more than 3 colours, it is easier to get a neat look following this rule.
No sporty clothes unless doing sport.

[MargeryFenworthy]

Matching lingerie. Always.