12 Outdated Fashion Rules That Make Modern Women Smile

Modern fashion is very flexible. We mix styles, wearing sneakers with dresses and heels with trainers. Some people believe that in order to look stylish, they need to follow rules.

But in fact, if you want to look unforgettable, you need to know these rules and break them intentionally. That’s how you get to the sweet spot of really unique and unforgettable looks.

Gray hair doesn’t have to be dyed

So many women feel obligated to conform to the stereotypes that prevail in society, and, in particular, to dye their hair gray. But now mature beauty has been in trend for more than a season, and there are several not-so-obvious reasons for this. First, it demonstrates status. Secondly, women who are able to follow their own path, contrary to the imposed patterns, are worthy of respect.

Don’t be afraid of accents in your look.

Actually, stylists do not recommend complicating your look with too many accessories. There is a simple rule — 1:1, which allows you to easily maintain the correct proportion of accents in your look: for example, wearing only large earrings and a scarf at the same time or carrying a bright bag and wearing a necklace.

This recommendation allows you to look stylish and modest. However, to create a striking and memorable image, it is worth experimenting with accessories, decorations, and color accents. If you are not afraid of being bold\, you can come up with some truly interesting combinations.

Clothes with horizontal stripes are not slimming.

The belief that vertical lines make you look slimmer and taller has firmly taken root in our minds. However, scientists have proven that we are mistaken.

Scientist Hermann von Helmholtz discovered an illusion according to which a square made up of horizontal lines appears taller and wider than the same square made up of vertical lines. And this was confirmed during an experiment on three-dimensional figures. It turns out that, with the same body type, a person wearing clothes with horizontal stripes appears thinner than a person wearing clothes with vertical stripes.

Clothes of different styles can be worn together, and you’ll look great.

You can mix different styles of clothing. For example, you can wear classic straight pants and a jacket with the elements of an athletic style — with sneakers. A feminine dress looks great with a leather jacket, and a tracksuit can look great with a classic coat.

Bright “incompatible” colors can look good together.

There are color combinations that are recognized as unsuccessful, like brown with black or neon with “fuchsia.” Some look too dull, others too bright. But overall, there are no “wrong” combinations, and any of them can be used to your advantage.

For those who want to add more color to their lives, there are various cheat sheets like Itten’s color wheel. With their help, you can select color combinations that look good together.

Short girls actually look good in maxi skirts.

The rule that says short girls can’t wear maxi skirts doesn’t work. This comfortable and feminine piece of clothing can look beautiful on women of any height and body type.

Long skirts are at the peak of their popularity this year, with a great variety of styles, fabrics, and colors to choose from. So, if you don’t match certain imposed standards, it doesn’t matter. Just wear what you personally like.

You don’t need to hide your arms if you are over 50 years old.

50 is a wonderful age when you can wear whatever you feel like. And the rules made up by someone that says you can’t wear clothes that reveal your arms after this milestone are just silly.

A healthier idea is that you should know your strong points and highlight them when choosing an outfit. If you want to make your arms more elegant, choose French sleeves or 3/4 sleeves. A good idea is to wear tops made of lightweight, flowing fabrics that don’t cling to your body.

Trainers can be worn outside the gym.

Another outdated dress code rule states that we should only wear trainers when playing sports. But that’s a thing of the past. Trainers are comfy. Comfort is the main factor we should take into account today.

Besides, trainers today look very different compared to what they used to look like before. You can combine many different models and types with other clothes and wear them wherever you like.

You can wear crop tops even when you’re older.

Don’t just give up on crop tops because you’ve reached a certain age. They can look a bit frivolous, but when combined correctly, nobody will care how old you are.

Crop tops are best worn with something more modest, like jeans or high-waist pants, or a mid-rise skirt. Wear jackets and cardigans on top to make the look more balanced.

Leggings can be worn instead of pants.

Another prejudice regarding sportswear is the belief that leggings should never be worn as pants. It cannot be said that this statement is entirely senseless. Cotton leggings can indeed fit too tightly to the body and look provocative. Additionally, they quickly stretch out and wear out, taking on an unappealing appearance. There are other mistakes people make when wearing leggings.

However, no one is forbidding us from wearing leggings made of denser materials. The most important thing to do is find a size that fits you comfortably and has an optimal length. Typically, stylists recommend pairing leggings with an elongated shirt or jacket to avoid looking as though you stepped out without a skirt.

You don’t have to wear heels to look stylish.

Nowadays, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear sneakers, trainers, or any other flat-soled shoes with a dress. Even stars do this on the red carpet (but not always). The rule of always wearing high heels when going out is long outdated.

Sandals with socks — a stylish combination

The rule that cotton socks are not combined with elegant sandals has long been obsolete and can be safely violated. Shoes with an open toe, combined with bright and not very socks, have been on the fashion catwalks for a long time. In addition, with socks you definitely will not rub your feet.

Fashion and style have become much more humane: you can look the way you want and not sacrifice comfort for the sake of accepted standards. Also, there are ways to turn your uncomfortable shoes into something much better.