Style rules eg white trousers

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

So I’m following a French stylist who’s actually quite good.

She does have a few style rules re classic clothes and one of these is white trousers. No way I’d ever wear these for various reasons.

My main point though, would you follow style rules?

I'd like to be a bit more stylish as I've recently retired and just slob about in jeans and sweatshirts at home. I'd like advice on any Instagrammers who cater for my age group.
Is there an issue with white trousers? I only ever wear them abroad on holiday as I think they're reserved for really hot weather which we don't get here. My only rule is to remember to wear white knickers with them!

Nope!

In truth I wouldn’t even know what they are. I care about the artistic inspiration of actual qualified designers (though I’m aware there might be all sorts of sinister forecasters sitting at their elbow) and am always interested in both catwalk offerings and the more accessible stuff that filters to mainstream shops. But I don’t give a toss for ‘rules’ invented by random influencers on instagram.

But I don’t quite understand your question. If someone suggests wearing white trousers - that’s not in itself a rule, just a suggestion of an item. You can wear them how you like, surely? If you like.

Apparently French women wear them a lot as a style basic!

The only advice I can give for you is from my DM - when she retired as a teacher - almost all her "smart" clothes she didn't wear anymore, but she wasn't super smart anyway. I recall I was with her and said "don't throw out those blazers/jackets, they're really nice!" - she can rock a blazer/jacket far better than I can!

How tall are you? What will you do in your retirement? Jeans and sweatshirts are fine but they're very easy.

This French stylist insists a white t shirt is a staple but wears them with heels (god no!) and shirts (open), also another no no for me.

But she does say that belts are good which I sort of agree with and says about scarves too - I've never been into them unless for the cold.

Link to the French stylist, she does have some nice ideas. But she hates Birkies.

I used to follow style rules but I gave them up. I found they were making me hyper self critical and sucking all the fun out of getting dressed.

I always find it useful to look at what people are wearing for ideas and inspiration but the title alone would put me off that particular stylist.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain thanks - I was also a teacher so have a wardrobe full of smartish clothes that I rarely wear but don't want to throw out.
I have a John Lewis cream mac and an M and S camel 3/4 coat which I'd say are my best buys as I think I look smart when I wear those.

I'm 5 foot 5 and a size 12 but with large boobs which hinders me a little as I can't wear wrapover tops or dresses or anything that's gathered at the waist.

I'm 64. I don't own a white t-shirt. I've never owned white trousers.

I don't like the emphasis on dressing younger/ look younger. I don't wear anoraks and leggings not because I'm 64 but because I think anoraks and leggings are not attractive garments.

I don't believe in the "colours which suit you" schtick. Some of the rules seem to cover non existent items - floral shoes and floral pants? They might exist but shops aren't exactly heaving with them.

I don't like Birkenstocks.

Like Blossom I'm more inclined to place my faith in the design teams behind brands I like than an internet self appointed stylist

TBH I only follow the style rules that fit with how I dress....just ignore the rest!

You sound similar to me re figure and height.

What do you intend to do now you're retired? Walks, lunches out?

I'm not into 'colours' either though I did have a Colour Me Beautiful book a long time ago.

They'd probably tell me that I can't wear black (you're prising me out of black never ever!) and a lot of other rules. I love prints too.

I like white trousers and wear them in the summer. I spend a lot of the summer in France but haven't noticed a rash of white trousers.

I dress for my build and wear what I like.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I had great plans for lots of walks and joined a local rambling group only to be diagnosed with arthritis in my knee shortly after which really affects my walking some days. I go to the gym a couple of times a week when my knee is up to it and coffees and lunches out with friends.

I also have a gorgeous little grandson that I enjoy spending time with although he's not old enough to understand why nana isn't always able to get down on the floor to play with him - or if she does, it takes her half an hour to get back up again!

Love white jeans. It’s such a staple for me lol but it’s not brcause I follow any rules!

I have white jeans that I wear a lot. In winter with black chelsea boots, black belt and a grey jumper and in summer with a black, grey or beige vest top and sandals. In fact I have two pairs - one are a straight leg and the other are a cropped wide leg.
I don't follow any style rules, I just play around putting things togther until I feel they look 'right'.

I wouldnt pay attention attention to 'rules' what are these rules and how can there be a 'rule' about what to wear

Yes I like white trousers/jeans. Im looking for some now, I like white trousers with a dark top, or navy. Its hard to find some with the right material though otherwise they show all the celulite.

Honestly, from the first ten seconds of that video, I wouldn’t be taking style tips from someone whose signature look appears to channel Marcel Marceau.

I wouldn't be as harsh as that but a blue and white striped Breton top with a tailored navy blazer is hardly difficult or ground breaking. It's as safe as it's possible to be.

I wouldn't have watched the video at all from the title had OP not linked to it.

She is hilarious, thanks OP, very funny, I have subscribed!

I think it depends. For me it would be a question of whether following them would make getting dressed a joy or joyless.

I’m not trying to be ‘harsh’ in the slightest, and she’s a perfectly nice-looking woman but the lipstick, Breton and pointy finger immediately recalled MM.

Bloody hell - that video is pants!

Am I wearing brown? Hell yes! Partly because it’s been fashionable lately so there’s lots of it around in the online stores I frequent, but almost more because I’ve discovered it really works well for me. Do I care that Ms Breton Top excoriates brown? No. I do not.

And then the utter revelation that the way to discover if a colour suits you is to hold it up to your face. Now - this is world ending expertise. She probably studied for decades - under global masters of style - to come up with that. I’m so grateful …

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain you’re wasting your time (and all S&B posters) with this nonsense.

Some of her ideas actually aren't that bad. She is funny. What I do like about her is she suggests things to try. She's French obvs so some of their style rules are different to ours. Having holidayed (parents have a house there) in SW France, I can contest that not all French people are stylish, at all.

When she posted about wearing heels with trouser suits my plantar fasciitis prone feet screamed in pain!

To be fair to her, she targets women of a certain age (a lot older). She does look good for her age, but she's a 'type', she looks good with short, dark (dyed) hair, and red lipstick. I don't. I'm also not someone who sashays around in trousers and a jacket/blazer.

I’m over 60. She’d better not be targeting me. I’d show her the door.

I can't wear colours I don't like - green, brown, purple.

There was s fad at work of people going to this woman who would "Do your colours for you" - Colour Me Beautiful or something such.
Even if I'd been told I should wear those colours because I was a spring or autumn tupe, I couldn't. I actually bought some items to force myself to be more adventurous but hated how I looked and binned them 😁

It's a fallacy that French women are naturally stylish. Just like everyone else, some are, some not. In my experience a lot of French style is dull and conservative. I'd rather wear what makes me feel happy. Breton tops and white pedal pushers just don't do it for me.