Exactly how do you break fashion rules?

By Brian Maynor

 

Last week we looked at the major trend of discarding the old fashion rules perpetuated for years in favor of just being you, so this week I wanted to give some specifics on how to get started.

As we kick off Labor Day with major seasonal clearance sales for you to stock up on all the pieces you love and want, here are few classic rules to consider breaking as you celebrate:

1.    Labor Day marks the end of seasonal attire. For years, this holiday has marked the end for lightweight fabrics like linen and seersucker, all things white and bold, bright colors. We know the ‘no white’ rule is out the window, though I personally feel white shoes outside of summer look odd and fabric is more a locational choice rather than a seasonal one. Here in the South and even more so in the tropics the hot weather doesn’t end at the beginning of September. As for bright colors, even the color experts at Pantone include them in their Fall/Winter palettes.

2.    Clothes that cost more are better. Price has never been the indicator of quality, though it is often a good benchmark. While you can’t expect a $20 dress to have the same quality as a $200 one, the difference is relative to your need and budget. Fast fashion has worked hard to improve the quality of their pieces so they last longer than they use to, but there is still value in craftsmanship. The choice is yours and depends entirely on your goal.

3.    Investment pieces rarely give a return. Many people are abandoning the idea of investment pieces as a general rule and opting for off-price, vintage or consignment options to score designer pieces at a fraction of the cost because they do not have a monetary return factor. While that’s one way of looking at investment pieces, there is another. Investment pieces are those that mean something to you because you worked to acquire them, not because they will make you money in the future.

4.    Clothes have age limits. It’s true that clothes do not come with ‘wear-by’ dates, so you shouldn’t be afraid to branch out and try on things you consider ‘younger’. As long as you feel confident and comfortable in the pieces what more could you ask?

5.    The goal of dressing is to look tall and thin. From a fashion standpoint, we know that is not the case. Simply look around any store and you’ll find an array of odd shapes, boxy cuts and a general trend toward oversized. Dressing to look tall and thin is a personal choice and there are decisions you make to achieve it. Should it be your only goal when shopping? That again is completely up to you. If you simply love a piece but it doesn’t fit this goal you have to decide if you break the rules or not. After all they are your rules.

The fashion industry has been receiving a bad wrap lately for arbitrarily imposing rules on how we should dress, thus creating the new #breaktherules trend, but it’s not entirely their fault. No one has ever been prohibited from making a purchase or told what to buy. The choice has always been ours to buy into the rules or break them. The only difference is now we have a community of support and social media to help us feel empowered and not alone.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear some of your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and challenges. Please send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

 

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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