So many rules of fashion are so passé these days; it seems the only rule is that anything goes. No longer do the antiquated rules apply. (You know those rules. Only wear black shoes with black pants and brown shoes with brown pants; your belt should match your shoes; your handbag must match your shoes; never mix prints. Please, I don’t follow any of these rules anymore and neither should you.) There are, however, faux pas that everyone woman must avoid.
Rule Number One: A visible panty line is a no-no! I cannot stand seeing the outline on any woman, especially when there are so many undergarments on the market to eliminate this very issue. Invest in thongs, ladies; they aren’t nearly as uncomfortable as they are made out to be. Get the right one and they can be virtually unnoticeable. I personally love the Body by Victoria line at Victoria’s Secret. The triangle is large enough that it’s not the feeling of dental floss like a string can create. Cosabella is another line of intimates that celebrities swear by. I have never tried their products but would love to invest in a few of their “Never Say Never Cutie” thongs. They come in fun, pretty colors and are oh-so-cute. It’s right there in the title. It’s also cut for those pesky low-rise jeans. SPANX offers a wide array of unmentionables that not only make you Hollywood thin, they also don’t show signs of having anything on underneath your clothing.
Rule Number Two: Please stop wearing pantyhose with open-toe shoes! And sandals! Stop wearing pantyhose in general! If you need support, refer to SPANX above and their ability to make you thin. I can’t stand seeing a woman dressed for success or a formal event and remark on how lovely she looks … and then I see the dreaded pantyhose and open-toe shoe! If you must wear the hose, you must wear a close-toe shoe. There is no way around it. This is a cardinal rule!
Rule Number Three: Make sure your pants and jeans are long enough to cover the back of your shoes. Your pant leg should fall over your shoe no matter what heel length you are wearing. Please pay attention to this detail. You never want to look like you’re waiting for a flood! The hem of your pant should hit where the heel of the shoe meets the seam. Anything higher than that and you burn those pants. We should never see the top of your shoes, and especially not your socks.
Rule Number Four: A cameltoe, though comical when you see one, is so unattractive and a sure sign that your clothing is too tight. Let’s face it ladies, we aren’t the same size we were in high school or even in our mid-20s, so stop wearing a size that no longer fits you. Plus, it can’t be comfortable. Get thee to the mall and start shopping for appropriate-sized clothing immediately. As mentioned in a previous post on dressing for your age, going up a size is not necessarily a reflection of your weight. Not every designer uses the same fit model. Going up a size merely means your clothing will fit you properly and you will look more comfortable in what you are wearing.
Rule Number Five: This rule, based on my strict Southern raising, is never wear white before Easter or after Labor Day. Many fashion experts claim that you can wear white in the winter but really, wear it very sparingly and with great thought. There is such a thing as winter white, but that is really ivory. I do love the look of a wool, winter white suit. So rich and reeks of Upper East Side glamour. I own a sleek pair of winter white pants that I pair with cashmere turtleneck sweaters and rich-in-tone shoes to keep the look simple. And, last winter I also added a ¾ length, cream, wool coat with a beautiful pearl and crystal brooch to my coat-of-many-colors closet. Now, if you happen to live in the tropics, white in the winter is probably more acceptable; but until you live in those specific areas, store those white jeans, capri pants, and dresses for next summer.
I would love to hear what you consider to be a fashion faux pas. Again, these are my rules of thumb when either dressing for the day or shopping for myself and others. Invest in a full length mirror that you can hang inside a closet door and check yourself from all angles before heading out the door. I have mine hanging from inside the linen closet door and use it daily. I also rely on my husband for those areas I can’t see and trust me, he is very honest! If you can see them, others can too, and you don’t want to be the topic of their cattiness. (You know you’ve done it too when witnessing one of these for yourself.) Be honest with yourself, and to others if you’re asked, and those fashion mishaps will be a thing of the past!
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