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Dear More Magazine,
I love you, and I’m one of your biggest champions. As a woman who loves style but could be the mother of many of the models in Lucky Magazine, I appreciate More for featuring articles and models that I can relate to. However, a web article from 2012 you shared yesterday on Twitter disappointed me greatly.
With style icons like Diane von Furstenberg, Julianne Moore, and Helen Mirren, we all can see that style doesn’t end at a certain age, and that the dated fashion rules have been thrown out the window. Maybe you shared this piece to add some controversial fodder to your social media feed, if so you have accomplished it. As soon as I saw it I had to offer a rebuttal. From your 21 “What Not to Wear, EVER” pieces, I only agreed on four, and that is because they were so ridiculous and obvious, no one would likely disagree. But I’d like to share how the rest are passé fashion rules, and pieces that can be worn by any woman, no matter her age.
Pleated Slacks. When I started this blog in 2007, I agreed with this rule wholeheartedly. No matter your size or age… heck no matter your gender, pleated slacks were a fashion no-no. No woman wants to add girth to her lower abdomen, no woman wants her legs to look shorter than they actually are, and such a detail was dated.
However, the trouser has improved in the past several years, and I must say I have been admiring pleated styles the past couple of seasons. Be they wide leg and higher waisted to create a Katharine Hepburn look, or slouchy and cropped, modern pleats are stylish, flattering, and quite wearable. As a curvy woman, I like the slouchy look, balanced with single-sole pointed pumps and a tailored blazer or a silky drapey tucked-in top.
Micro Mini Skirt. I must say, as I get older my legs do look far better with a skirt that is near the knee, but that doesn’t mean such skirts must be reserved for the under-25 set. Look at Jennifer Aniston, Diane von Furstenberg, or Sheree of the blog Not So Deep to see that women over 30 can rock a short skirt. And for those who are not long and leggy, a shorter flippy skirt can be far more flattering to a petite curvy woman than a knee-length pencil. The key to making this work is knowing your body, and that the best skirt is one that ends at one of the slimmer parts of your leg.
The Color Orange. I actually began my reply tweet to you as soon as I saw this choice. Orange is a statement color, one that makes the wearer stand out in a crowd. However, it can add a glow to one’s complexion and really make a positive impact. If you like orange, wear it as you would a bright shade of pink or red. Pair with charcoal gray or olive green for a fresh and modern take on the color, and orange looks fabulous with all washes of denim.
Orange is my favorite color, it was even our wedding color. I regularly wear orange on my blog to prove that the old rules are wrong and that it’s a color to embrace all months of the year, by women of all ages.
Acid Washed Denim. It was popular in 1986… but it has come back en vogue in the past year. I do believe that if you wear a trend the first time, you may be better off not wearing it the next go-round, but I have seen some very chic looks of recent incorporating this wash of denim that make me think True Fashionistas could actually carry it off in 2013.
Capped Sleeves. Some people look far better in this sleeve length, especially if they have a large bust. Most short sleeves end right at the widest point of your chest, making one look wider. A variation can actually slim the figure.
Wide Horizontal Stripes. I could go on and on about how you should dress to have fun, not to force yourself into a little boring box where all you wear is clothing to make you look thin but I won’t (though you can read my thoughts on stripes here).
As a woman who LOVES herself some stripes (I own over a dozen striped shirts), I think if you wear the stripes intentionally, and there’s a light ground, the look can be quite chic. Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, and Brigitte Bardot are all style icons for a reason, no?
Heels with Shorts. Again, incredibly dated advice. Yes, a decade ago anyone who wore heels with shorts was seen as tacky or desperate, but since then shorts have become almost as commonplace as skirts.
Be it an elegant take on a romper, a pair of black leather shorts with a blazer, or with a matching jacket for a summer suit, shorts are for more than just barbecues and they look best with equally stylish foot wear.
Christmas Sweaters. Well, duh.
Overalls. See acid washed denim. You won’t see me wearing them, I can still recall the last time I wore them. It was a Creed concert, I paired them with a white ribbed tank and a bandanna tied kerchief-style over my two pigtails.
I won’t go back, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t in style and women such as Leandra Medine and Miroslava Duma have made them look downright chic.
Hair Accessories that Match Your Outfit. I don't even know where to start with this one. Part of me wants to offer another “duh” as I did with Christmas sweaters, but the other part of me begs to differ. A turquoise paisley bow to match your turquoise blazer is surely passé, but such a look is rarely seen any more as such hair accessories are quite hard to come by, even in Claire’s. However with the Royal Wedding and Gossip Girl series, fascinators and headbands have come back on the scene and can really complete a certain type of ensemble. I also think of True Fashionistas (Zoe of Girl with the Flower immediately comes to mind) who totally rock matching hair accessories.
Boxy Jackets. Actually… today’s chic jacket shape is not just one silhouette. Tuxedo-inspired, slouchy boyfriend, tweed riding jackets, tweed professor blazers, oversized leather biker or denim jackets… you name it and the silhouette is pretty hot. If you’re not sure how to wear volume, a good rule of thumb is to pair boxy with slim, structured with slouchy to have some balance and show there’s a figure under all that fabric.
Flannel Night Gowns. Another duh, though really I find such a nightgown far better than your husband’s stained and ratty tee with flannel pants decorated with cartoon characters.
Clothes That Are Too Tight. I fully agree. If you don’t like the size on the tag, cut it out. Too tight clothes will kill all your style and destroy your figure.
Nude Pantyhose. Thank you Princess Kate for bringing back nude hose!
While I don’t wear them, they have become acceptable again for conservative work environments and more formal affairs. For us women of a certain age, it’s a blessing that will help cover veins, age spots, and the like and is far less messy than self tanner!
Stockings With Sandals. Another dated rule that has been broken by the most stylish women on the planet. While I wouldn’t condone anyone wearing their canvas espadrilles with opaque tights, all the hot footwear designers have been creating winter styles that have peeptoes, slingbacks, and plenty of straps and cut-outs to purposefully expose tights.
Look at Olivia Palermo and Corinne Bailey Rae to see how sandals and hosiery can be a match made in sartorial heaven.
Chipped Nail Polish. Another duh, but with the return of grunge fashion, I do expect many a style icon to purposefully rock chipped black polish in the next couple of months. I myself will leave this to the True Fashionistas.
Leggings as Pants. With this rule, you and I agree. I don't care how many hours you spend in the gym, leggings are not pants!
Wide Wale Corduroys. I don’t believe in writing off an entire fabric or trend. While I do agree that wide wale corduroy adds bulk, so does velvet, thick wool, and many other popular fabrics. This isn’t really a fabric that is on trend or that has been for women for a couple years, so I don’t think it’s really an issue, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes back in style (I could see it as a narrow pant with riding boots and a fitted blazer or silk bow blouse). As for the sound, this is one reason why corduroy hasn’t been in my wardrobe since I was a tyke.
Logos. While I find the wearing of blatant brand logos to be a surefire way to lose class points, sports-related attire is quite trendy right now and not just for courtside. A quick look at street style blogs and photographs of NYFW attendees will show that this rule has been broken by many a stylish woman. I personally think such a trend is best suited for the sporting event attendee or a True Fashionista, but I can’t rule out all logos.
Your Husband’s Anything. I chuckled when I read this for this very weekend I saved a blue J. Crew dress shirt from my husband’s donation pile because I felt it could look quite chic cinched over a leather skirt with ankle booties. With “boyfriend” jeans, blazers and sweaters available in every store, it’s clear that you can indeed raid your partner’s closet and look quite stylish. There’s a huge difference between sporting your husband’s college sweatshirt and rocking an oversized button-front a la your example image of Rhianna. The key is to make it your own – cuff, cinch, belt, knot to show the look is purposeful.
Muffin Top. I think we’re all aware that this look is not only unflattering but uncomfortable. Thank goodness pant and jean trends are becoming more forgiving to those who are not 16 and a size 00.
I love you More Magazine, I really do. But before you post such pieces, I wish you would really look at who your audience actually is. We’re intelligent, we’re aware, and we desire real-world fashion advice, not rash judgement and outdated style rules. If you desire a fashion writer, you know where to look!
Sincerely,
Alison
I have a “vintage” corduroy skirt and I plan to use it.