The Rules of Style
Sure, if you want to truly “have your own style”, you’ve got go out and break some rules! But first you have to know what every fashion designer out there knows: You’ve got to know the rules, so you can break them properly!
Rule Number One: Just because it’s in, does not mean it’s necessarily for you!
Not everyone can wear that one shade of lime green that’s so “happening” right now. Nor can everyone wear “skinny” jeans! We all have different skin tones, body types, hair, face shapes – we are not a herd of fashion models! On the whole, very few people are! Just blindly adopting a style without seeing if it’s “you” is the fashion equivalent of “If everyone jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, would you do it, too?!?” It’s always a good idea to look before you leap. That’s why they have mirrors in dressing rooms! (Though we’re not too sure about that lighting sometimes…)
Two: Know What’s Happening Now!
Be aware of the current trends! Check out:
• Fashion magazines (this stuff here trickles down in wearable form to us)
• TV ( the O.C., need we say more?)
• Movies (where do you think all those H.P stripe-y shirts and round glasses suddenly came from?)
• Red carpet coverage (the prom dresses of the future)
• And most of all: Everyone at school! Teens create a lot of the newest and hottest clothing trends at school and on the streets! By paying attention to the trends in all the groups in school (not just your clique), you can find ways to mix up styles and create something all new and all your own!
Three: It’s In the Details
• Color: Get in tune with what colors are hot, and what combos too, and which of them look good on you!
• Cut: Is the look your going for baggy? Does it have sharp lines? Is it body hugging? You can mix and match different cuts in one look, but they can clash just as much as any bad color mix, so test them out first!
• Fabric: Different fabrics are what make a cut work well, or not. It’s not impossible to make jeans out of t-shirt material, but you won’t get the look you were expecting! Fabrics tell a story, too, so be aware of what they are saying!
• Costumes: By this, we mean those cliché looks that everyone is familiar with: “schoolgirl”, “cowgirl”, “rockstar”, “hippie”, “preppie”, “sporty”, “hip-hop”…it’s good to know what makes these different looks “work”. Then you can play around with these types in your own fashion-y way to get a whole new take on them! Also, you can now be aware of what your day-to-day costume is telling others about you…Do you really want to say that about yourself?!?
Four: Logos
Beware of logos! The main reason they’re hip, is because of advertising put out there aimed directly at you! Don’t get suckered! On the other hand, there are some way cool logos out there, too, that can help you express things you want to say…so what’s a girl to do? How about this: never wear more than one logo or “message” bearing item (like a t-shirt, jacket, hat or bag) at one time. That way, you only say one thing at a time, and your message gets across! Otherwise, it’s like your clothes are shouting at people! And someone really ought to be paying you for all the free advertising you’re giving them! ☺
Five: Patterns
We are in the new age of mixing patterns, which was only recently a big fashion no-no! The best way to go about it, is to make sure there is at least one element of style that runs throughout the entire outfit: a color that appears in each pattern, a similar cut or feel to the differently patterned pieces, or patterns that belong to the same style family. In general, mixing patterns is only for the extremely fashion forward among us! The rest of us should treat patterns like logos: One at a time! Please!
Six: Your Own Comfort Level
Have you noticed that Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana dress very differently? Every individual has to decide for themselves how much is enough, and what feels like just too much! If coziness is your highest priority, you won’t be happy with that new tube-top everyone is wearing! You’ll be tugging on it all day long! What you wear does affect how people see you, and if the look you’re going for is big, be prepared to get a big reaction from people! Bold choices will embolden people around you to make comments, so be sure you’re ready to deal with defending your fashion choices!
Seven: Quantity vs Quality
Did you know that you can spend anywhere from $2 to $42 for basically the same tank-style undershirt?!? It’s always wise to go bargain on the basics. Then, you might have a little extra left over to splurge on that super jacket or pair of shoes that will keep your look unique for the rest of the year! Another good way to save, is to go to tag-sales or second-hand shops. There you can find truly one-of-a-kind pieces, which can become, with a little love, or even a needle and thread, the show-stopping centerpieces of your wardrobe! These are things you can be sure no one else will show up to school wearing!
Eight: Rules Change
There was a time…when nobody wore white after Labor Day, when a t-shirt was a piece of underwear – and for men only, when jeans were worn by hard laborers, and when a woman would never wear anything even remotely like pants! Times change, rules change, but not very quickly! They’ve been trying to make skirts for guys since the 1960’sat least, and outside of Scotland and Thailand, where they’ve always worn them, the idea still hasn’t really caught on. And those high-waisted jeans that Beyonce and Fergie are sporting – still haven’t seen them at school! Just be careful about what you swear you’ll never wear! Chances are, as fashion changes, your view of it will change, too.
Why not let life be like a big game of dress up! You’re putting something on, why not let it be something you like?!? And why not play?!? Armed with these rules, and a good sense of fun, you should be able to wow your friends with your very own super personal style!
(images: Mischa: Janet Mayer/PR Photos; Claudia:© Insidefoto/PR Photos; Jilliain: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos; Emily, T-Squad:© Chris Hatcher/PR Photos Lily: © Solarpix/PR Photos
