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Original poster

Do you have any 'Style Rules'?

278 replies

WilburIsSomePig · 01/01/2017 11:28

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?

OP posts:
SnugglySnerd · 01/01/2017 17:25

I agree about no clothes with slogans or brand names on.
I also only wear comfy shoes now. Glamorous shoes look a lot less glam if I can barely walk in them!

Cocolepew · 01/01/2017 17:32

I wear a Debbie Harry top at least once a week, I never thought about her making me look even worse HmmBlush
I cant wear yellow or mustard type colours , it looks like I am dying from the plague if I do.

Floisme · 01/01/2017 17:40

Off-topic but I once dreamed I was Debbie Harry Blush

JudithTaverner · 01/01/2017 18:02

It took me years to realise that baggy clothes just made me look fatter.

I don't wear cream or camel or yellow.

I am conscious (although may ignore) the rule about navy and black together.

DameDoom · 01/01/2017 18:09

Wear only the best quality I can afford.
Keep clothes form-fitting - I cannot do slouchy anymore as it is starting to make me look unkempt.
Make sure I am wearing either bright lips or enough blusher to liven up my fading complexion.
Spend the most on the things I wear the most.
Try to keep weight stable - my clothes look best when I am around 9 and a half stone however this makes me look very haggard facially so about 10 is best for me. If I go above 10, I start to look bloated.
Smile more - have the worst case of bitchy resting face and close friends have described my usual expression as imperious.

user1471503992 · 01/01/2017 18:40

I love the look of band tees with a smart skirt, but I have a rule that I won't wear any band where I don't love the music, which knocks out anything that is currently in topshop and I want them to be in fitted female sizes rather than 'unisex' men shaped heavy cotton. (Wish someone would do cool rock style t-shirts featuring books - but they have to be ones I loved and that had amazing cover designs, so HP doesn't count although I do love the books.)
I don't personally wear high necks as they just don't suit me, I have a short neck.
Nothing from Next. This is shorthand for polyester with sparkly bits in heart shapes (boak).
No brown. I'm not sure it's a hard and fast rule, but nothing in my wardrobe is brown.
No uncomfortable shoes.

whattheseithakasmean · 01/01/2017 18:45

No florals ever, no matter how lovely the print. I am a petite middle aged woman & fear I would look like a creepy cursed child in florals.

ChickenVindaloo2 · 01/01/2017 18:45

Great thread.

This is my all-time best tip for looking stylish:
Not everything you wear has to BE expensive, it just has to look as if it MIGHT be.

As a rule of thumb, if Katie Price would wear it (or Kerry Katona) then don't buy it.

BellonaBelladonna · 01/01/2017 18:50

Goodness no. I wear what I like.

puglife15 · 01/01/2017 18:59

Tits or legs (or neither) not both

No short skirts with knee high boots unless you're a model or hooker

Nothing where people can see your bra, unless it's designed to be sheer

No tights with sandals/open toe shoes

No brown trousers with green tops unless you want to look like a tree

Personally, no black skirts. I always look like a waitress. And never black and white together, it washes me out.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 01/01/2017 19:03

I tend to be of the "wear what you like" school of thought as Bellona - but my rules are - clothes should fit me. I'm sick of stuff that's not quite big enough at the waist, or trousers that are a tiny bit too long (I'm short!) so don't sit right, or sleeves having to be turned under to fit shorter arms. If it doesn't fit properly, can it be altered, if not, don't buy. If it used to fit but I've gained weight, don't squeeze myself into it.

If I'm spending more than £30 on something, it has to match at least 3 other things in my wardrobe (unless it's a dress).

Some clothes need particular underwear to make them look good, so planning an outfit needs to start at pants level! (Particularly important in the summer).

InvisibleKittenAttack · 01/01/2017 19:06

puglife - oh god, I've worn brown bottom half with green top before, I hadn't even thought I might look like a small tree!

Original poster
WilburIsSomePig · 01/01/2017 19:08

If I'm spending more than £30 on something, it has to match at least 3 other things in my wardrobe (unless it's a dress).

Weirdly, I've never even thought of this! I buy things that I like then get them home and realise that I've got bugger all to wear with them so end up either sticking it at the back of the wardrobe or buying something to go with it, which is not exactly cost effective.

OP posts:
Chottie · 01/01/2017 19:14

No black and white or navy and white combinations.

Soft colours near my face.....
Blusher always used ditto eyebrows defined....

No loud pattern jackets which shout 'here comes Chottie in that jacket again'.

The right underwear under clothes - no VPL ever

2catsandadog · 01/01/2017 19:19

No clothing out of context. So if I am in the shops in pyjamas, either my house is burning down or I have been kidnapped.

Never navy and black or purple and either colour because I look like a bruise.

Tits or legs, never both.

No skirt shorter than just above my knee because it looks tarty and I have a big arse so its unflattering.

Leggings ONLY with long tops to cover the arse and preferably not when going out in public.

I LOVE jewel colours and red is definitely my colour. But I can rock monochrome and grey too.

Make up must be modest and not obvious so I don't look like a painted whore.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 01/01/2017 19:22

Wilbur - yes, it was something someone said on a thread years ago that made me think about not always having wear the same top with the same skirt because that was the only 'bottom' it went with! Fine for a cheap top/skirt, but anything more than £30 has to earn it's keep!

everythingis · 01/01/2017 22:52

No any kind of sports wear worn with shoes that arnt uggs or trainers. High heeled boots with a hoodie looks awful and lazy.

Either cleavage or legs out but never both - looks over done.

neveradullmoment99 · 01/01/2017 23:06

I agree with no long boots [ knee length] with short skirt. I do however quite often wear a calf length boot with a short skirt and it looks fine. I cannot wear mustard/lime/yellow undertones next to my sallow skin but have worn it as a skirt which has been fine. I cant wear earrings and a necklace together. It just looks OTT on me.

neveradullmoment99 · 01/01/2017 23:07

Oh and kickflare jeans or bootcut with converse type shoes and not any type of other footwear.

Mominatrix · 01/01/2017 23:11

I love diversity and dislike generalised style rules, but for myself:

  • stick to simple, well tailored lines
  • no large prints as I am short
  • as I get older, I am softening my colour palate. More greys now instead of black
  • expensive purchases have to be either very classic or very original but not trendy
  • no shirts/jumpers with slogans. I just feel ridiculous and can't pull off style irony.
  • if every blogger is wearing an item, I generally avoid it
  • never compromise on fabric quality
  • no obvious logos.
SleepFreeZone · 01/01/2017 23:12

Nothing too tight as you will be readjusting it all day and it will ruck up and drive you mad. Don't wear stupid shoes if you can't walk in them or wear them and have some flats in the car as trying to shop in agony is miserable.

blueistheonlycolourwefeel · 01/01/2017 23:30

Slash neck, square neck or v neck tops for me. Never scoop or round.
I avoid bulking up around my massive arse, so no peplums or similar....

LockedOutOfMN · 02/01/2017 01:37

No double breasted

If it looks crumpled, bobbly or generally shit on the hanger, it'll look worse in the future. Don't buy it.

No linen (similar to above).

Nothing tight.

LockedOutOfMN · 02/01/2017 01:38

No tights with open toed shoes

29redshoes · 02/01/2017 08:21

For me, it's;

  • No black on the top half. I also can't really wear mustard, yellow, camel, lime green or coral.
  • An outfit needs to be warm enough on its own merits. A few years ago my work wardrobe was full of short sleeved dresses and blouses, all of which I loved. But I would freeze thanks to the air conditioning in my office. So I'd always have to wear a cardigan which ruined the look. These days all my work clothes have sleeves!
  • No heels above 3 inches, I just don't see the point (on me).
  • I don't ever wear jeans unless I'm going somewhere really casual (eg the supermarket). They just don't look good on me.
  • If in doubt, always better to be overdressed than underdressed.