There are a lot of old wives’ tales and myths everyone’s heard. You shouldn’t go swimming right after eating, hold your breath when driving by a cemetery, if you drop a fork, company’s coming and more. Well, just like these tired tales, fashion has its own myths.
1. Don’t wear white after Labor Day – This myth is perhaps most popular in the South, but in the end, it’s nothing more than a myth. White can be a chic option for many different occasions, especially dinner parties. White linen slacks (a huge faux pas according to Southerners) work amazingly well with a black top and heels for a night out. By maintaining a neutral palette, you can be the focal point. White shoes, while harder to pull off, can also be a fun pop in your outfit. Because white is so bright, avoid going the P. Diddy “White Party” route and make one or two pieces the center of attention.
2. Black and brown don’t go together – Not true. Because black and brown are both dark neutrals, they go exceptionally well together. In fact, one of my favorite winter combinations is a pair of fitted black jeans with lush knee-high brown boots. Black and brown is an elegant pairing that everyone can pull off, no matter your skin tone, height or weight. The browns can be any shade— caramel, cappuccino, chocolate, russet — and you’ll have no problem. This is a great option for guys who want to clean up too.
3. Don’t mix your metals – You can’t wear silver with copper, or gold with titanium. Again, there’s about as much truth to this as tossing spilled salt over your shoulder. In fact, mixing metals is one way to add some contrasting color into your outfit without having to over do it. For those of us who have a more simple style aesthetic, mixing metals brings a pop of metallic to an ensemble without becoming gaudy. And for you more brave souls out there who relish in neons and patterns, mixing chunkier metal pieces plays up your personality, while adding a classic touch to your clothes.
4. Don’t clash patterns – Okay, there is some truth to this. Don’t clash your patterns too much, lest you look like a carnival sideshow. But, clashing patterns in a subtle way gives an outfit depth and gives the onlooker something to marvel at. Simple patterns, like pinstripes or even regular stripes, and virtually any pattern work well together. Similarly, pairing a pattern with a different pattern can work just as fabulously. The key to clashing patterns is to pay attention to your palette. It’s critical that your palette is complimentary for two opposing patterns to work. Think about it: pairing black and white striped skinnies with a pinstriped blouse would look great. Pairing pink and green striped skinnies with a blue and red blouse would look ridiculous.
5. Don’t wear open-toed shoes in the winter – Your feet won’t get cold because you can wear socks. Of course you shouldn’t wear socks and sandals (gentlemen), but wearing a chunky platform with thin cotton socks is very acceptable and can be quite cute. The trick is to keep the socks thin in relation to the shoe. If you’re wearing wool socks with your favorite summer heels, it will definitely look off. Think about thread count for this trend, and make sure it isn’t too cold that day, because then, yes, your feet may get cold.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Gymnastics team ties for only 5th time in more than 500 meets
In season’s first lost, Tide baseball team drops series finale to FAU, 3-0
