So I was just sitting here on my fire escape – well, technically it’s a balcony but it’s so tiny it barely counts – drinking a matcha that honestly tastes a little bit like grass today. Sometimes you win with the local coffee shop, sometimes you don’t. Anyway, I was scrolling through my phone, looking at some old photos from a few years ago, and I had the biggest jump scare. The outfits, girl. The outfits were a choice.
It got me thinking about all those random fashion “rules” we all grew up hearing. You know the ones. The rules our moms and magazines drilled into our heads since we were like, twelve. I realized that the reason my style used to feel so stiff and boring was because I was following all these imaginary laws that don’t actually make any sense. Fashion is supposed to be fun! It’s supposed to be an expression of who you are, not a math test where you have to get the formula exactly right.
Me and my friends were talking about this at dinner last week. We literally wasted so much time stressing over whether our belt matched our shoes perfectly. Which is honestly wild if you think about it. So, I decided to put together a little list for us. These are the top 7 style rules you should absolutely break this year, and what you should actually do instead to look amazing and effortless. Let’s get into it!
1. The Rule: Never Mix Black and Navy
Okay, whoever came up with this rule was just afraid of looking too mysterious, I swear. People used to act like wearing black and navy together was a fashion crime that would get you arrested. They said it looked like you got dressed in the dark and couldn’t tell your colors apart.
But honestly? It is one of the chicest color combos ever.
What to do instead: Layer them on purpose.
The trick here is to make it look intentional. If you just wear a faded navy t-shirt with faded black leggings, yeah, it might look a little messy. But if you mix your textures, it is a game changer. Try wearing a chunky, rich navy blue knit sweater with some sleek black leather trousers. Or a tailored black blazer over a silky navy slip dress. It gives off this very moody, sophisticated vibe that is just so cool. You feel me? It’s like you’re a cool art gallery owner in New York.
2. The Rule: You Can’t Mix Metals
This is a big one, and it’s something I struggled with for a long time. Growing up, my auntie gifted me this stunning, heavy silver cuff bracelet with a huge Kingman turquoise stone in the middle. It’s beautiful and it means the world to me. But for years, I wouldn’t wear it if I had my everyday gold hoops on. I thought I had to be a “gold girl” or a “silver girl” and never the two shall meet.
What a total lie that was!
What to do instead: Stack them up!
Mixing metals is actually the easiest way to make your jewelry look collected and personal, rather than like you just bought a matching set from a department store. The secret is bridging the gap. Wear a ring that has both gold and silver in it, or stack a silver watch with a couple of thin gold bracelets. Now, I wear my traditional silver and turquoise pieces right alongside my dainty gold necklaces. It looks so much more authentic. It tells a story about who you are. Don’t let a silly rule keep your favorite pieces sitting in a jewelry box.
3. The Rule: Dress Strictly for Your “Body Type”
Ugh, don’t even get me started on this one. For decades, fashion magazines told us we were either an apple, a pear, an hourglass, or a rectangle. First of all, I am a human woman, not a piece of fruit in a grocery store. Second of all, these rules were always about “hiding” your flaws and creating the illusion of a tiny waist.
It’s so toxic. If you want to wear something baggy on top AND baggy on the bottom, you do it.
What to do instead: Dress for your mood and proportions.
Instead of trying to shrink yourself or hide parts of your body, play with proportions because it looks cool. I used to be so scared of oversized clothes because I’m not super tall. I thought I would drown in them. But last winter I bought this massive, floor-length wool coat. I pair it with wide-leg jeans and chunky boots, and I feel so powerful. It’s not “flattering” in the traditional sense, but it is a total vibe. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident in your own skin. The “rules” about what flatters your shape are totally subjective anyway.
4. The Rule: Sequins and Sparkle Are Only for Nighttime
We’ve all got that one sparkly piece in the back of our closet that only sees the light of day on New Year’s Eve. Maybe it’s a sequin skirt or a metallic top. We keep them hidden away because society says daytime is for boring matte fabrics. It’s honestly a tragic waste of a good outfit.
Life is way too short to save your fun clothes for three nights a year.
What to do instead: Dress down your statement pieces.
I have this amazing silver sequin midi skirt. A few weeks ago, I was having a really blah Tuesday. I just felt gross and unmotivated. So I decided to wear the sequin skirt to go grab my iced coffee. The trick? I paired it with an oversized, slightly distressed graphic tee and my beat-up Converse. It completely changed the energy of the skirt. It went from “red carpet” to “cool girl running errands”. I actually got stopped twice by people asking where my outfit was from! Just mix your super glamorous pieces with your most casual basics. It balances out perfectly.
5. The Rule: Never Wear Double Denim
Ah, the classic Canadian Tuxedo. For a long time, the only image people had of double denim was that iconic early 2000s red carpet moment with Britney and Justin. Because of that, everyone got scared and decided denim on denim was tacky.
But we are well past that era now. Denim is a neutral, and you can absolutely wear it head-to-toe.
What to do instead: Play with washes or go totally monochromatic.
There are two ways to nail this without looking like a throwback Halloween costume. You can either mix your washes – like wearing a light wash oversized denim jacket with dark indigo straight-leg jeans. Or, you can go super tailored and monochromatic. I’m talking a dark wash denim button-down shirt tucked into matching dark wash jeans, paired with a sleek belt and a nice pair of boots. It actually looks incredibly polished and put together. It’s one of my favorite go-to looks for when I have no idea what to wear but still want to look stylish.
6. The Rule: Sweatpants Belong Inside the House
Listen, I get it. Pre-2020, wearing sweatpants in public kind of signaled that you had given up on the day. But the world has changed! We realized that being comfortable is actually a priority.
We are never going back to hard pants every single day.
What to do instead: Elevate your loungewear.
You can absolutely wear sweatpants out, you just have to style them intentionally. I have this one pair of heather gray sweatpants that I practically live in. Last Sunday, I was super hungover from a friend’s birthday party the night before – like, head pounding, need a breakfast sandwich immediately kind of hungover. I put on my gray sweats, but instead of a messy hoodie, I threw on a crisp white t-shirt, a classic beige trench coat, and my favorite sunglasses. I added some simple gold hoops. Suddenly, I didn’t look hungover anymore. I looked like an off-duty model dodging paparazzi. The contrast between the tailored coat and the lazy pants is what makes it work. Try it next time you are too tired to function!
7. The Rule: Your Bag Must Match Your Shoes
This is probably the oldest rule in the book. If you wear black shoes, you carry a black bag. If you wear brown boots, you need a brown purse. It’s very safe, very predictable, and honestly? Very boring.
Matching everything perfectly can sometimes make you look a bit rigid, like you tried way too hard.
What to do instead: Deliberately mismatch for a pop of interest.
When you let go of the matching rule, getting dressed becomes so much faster and more creative. Let your accessories be completely independent of each other! If you’re wearing an all-neutral outfit with black boots, grab a bright cherry red handbag. Or if you have some fun leopard print shoes on, carry a muted olive green tote. The goal is to coordinate your outfit as a whole, rather than matching specific items piece-by-piece. It gives you that effortless, cool-girl aesthetic where things just magically go together without looking forced.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Frida
