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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Honestly, why invite the comparison?

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.

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

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!

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.

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

That's it.

*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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matching lingerie. Always.