With so many confusing rules out there around clothing, how do you make decisions that will let you walk out your front door with confidence? It seems like the rules depend upon the person you ask... so how do you know the rules that are correct for you?
The answer is both simple and not simple.
I am not an advocate of clothing rules. The greatest service you can do yourself is begin to understand what works on you specifically, and what does not. It is absolutely possible that you may be able to pull off a look that breaks rules while the person next to you may not, and vice versa. Most of us can break a rule... we just have to find which one.
So how do you get there if you don't already know?
The answer is: play.
Your full-length mirror is your great friend. Think of it as the loving friend who will tell you what no one else will and not let you leave your home until you're dressed in a way that makes you feel confident. To do this, you must learn to play with your clothing.
When you have some time, pull clothes out of your closet that you might wear all the time, but pair them in a way you never do. And just see what happens... There are no mistakes because you're not dressing for the day. You're just playing. You're just giving yourself permission to try wearing your clothes differently.
When something doesn't work, you know it right away... but instead of immediately tearing it off, take the time to really look at it. Some of the largest lessons you will learn about what looks great on you will come from studying the mistakes, what doesn't look good on you, what to avoid.
Look at the parts. Is it the color, the pattern, the texture, the fit, the tone, the busyness or lack of variety, etc.? Rather than tearing it all off instantly, try removing just one item and replacing it with another. Did you replace the right piece? Put it back and try replacing a different piece. Repeat until you have a sense that something is coming together. If you feel like nothing is coming together, switch it all up again. Try, retry, play, have fun, and play some more.
Look and question until you feel yourself begin to understand WHY something doesn't work for you. Does it cut you at the wrong place? Does the color make your skin somehow look other than what you like? Does it make you look heavy? Or too thin? Is there line, or is it rumpled? Is there proportion? Is it drab, or interesting? Is it cautious, daring, or balanced?
When you're all done, put it away and try again tomorrow in a completely new way. You're training your eye, and over time your eye will come to know things your brain doesn't, and doesn't need to. You'll find your way to that internal click, that says, ah, that works.
You may even find that what looks good on you breaks a rule but that YOU are the person who can pull it off.
Play. Have fun. Repeat...
