Throughout your life, you will have heard so many rules around fashion trends and what you can and cannot wear — so many rules, that it feels like you can’t break them. But the fact is, they aren’t rules, but myths. Here are the top 10 fashion myths that just aren’t true, so you can start living dangerously and mixing up your look!
Myth 1: You Can’t Mix Prints
Sure, you can’t actually just mix up any old prints and have it work out — but this myth might have you believe that you can never mix them, period. If you know how, then you can mix all kinds of prints. The key is to find prints that are in complementary colors so that they won’t clash when you put them together. You can also choose one print that’s bigger than the other to draw the eye to both patterns. If you want to try this out, pair a floral print with stripes to see how these clashing prints can go together.
Myth 2: Sequins Are for Nighttime Only
At first sight, this seems to make sense, as sequins are so dressy and can appear rather over the top. However, if you are the kind of person who loves glitter and sparkle, why should you restrict sequins to just nighttime looks?
“You can easily tone down sequins for daytime,” said longtime lifestyle blogger Anne Layton. “For example, you can pair a sequined jacket with a T-shirt and jeans.”
Myth 3: Horizontal Stripes Are a No-Go
You’ve heard this before. According to conventional wisdom, horizontal stripes make the wearer look larger. This just isn’t true, though. Some studies have begun to show that horizontal stripes can actually be more slimming and make the wearer
appear longer. That’s exciting to hear, as it opens up a lot more for you in terms of prints. It also means that you can experiment with different stripe widths and styles to see what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to go for those horizontal stripes, as they may be just what you’re looking for in your wardrobe.
Myth 4: You Can’t Mix Metals
There’s no real reasoning behind the myth that you cannot wear gold and silver together, but people still believe it. If you want to try to mix things up, try experimenting with your jewelry. Start by layering gold and silver bracelets together, for example, or wearing rings that are different metals together. As long as the style matches, you’re good to go!
Myth 5: Maxi Skirts Aren’t for Short People
If you are on the shorter side, you may feel as though you can’t wear maxi skirts, for fear that they will trail on the ground or make you look shorter than you really are. You can easily get around this, though, by wearing a skirt that sits at the waist, having a skirt turned up or simply by wearing higher heels. The key to wearing a maxi skirt as a shorter person is making sure that the fit is right for you. If you use any of these methods, there’s no reason why you can’t rock a maxi skirt!
Myth 6: You Have to Buy from Sustainable Fashion Sources to be Sustainable
When it comes to sustainable practices as a consumer, there are more ways to be conscious than trying to buy from sustainable providers (though this obviously does help, too). Taking care of the clothes that you already have is a big way to be more sustainable. Washing pieces on cold and having them repaired when needed is also helpful to the sustainable fashion movement.
Myth 7: High End is High Quality
“You don’t need to spend a fortune to get good quality clothing,” said Darren Bowman, a fashion writer. “Not all high brands make long-lasting pieces, so it’s worth shopping around and paying attention to customer reviews.”
If you do still want clothing from high end designers, then you can pick up pieces that are right for you from secondhand sellers online. Buying these items secondhand means that you get the luxe look at a fraction of the price. Plus, if the piece doesn’t last all that long, you didn’t lose as much cash on it.
Myth 8: Crop Tops Are Only for Those with Flat Stomachs
Not true at all! In fashion magazines and online, you’ll usually see only people with flat stomachs wearing crop tops, but anyone can wear them. It’s all about how you style them — there are many different styles of crop tops, so there’s one out there to suit you. If you’re not sure about them, try pairing them with a pair of high waisted shorts for a less cropped style.
Myth 9: You Should Choose Clothes That Minimize Your Size
Social conditioning says that thinner equals better, so therefore you must try to dress to look slimmer. The fact is, you can look amazing whatever your dress size — the key is to find clothes that fit you well and feel comfortable. If you’re wearing clothes that you love, your size is irrelevant.
Myth 10: Everything Should Match
Trying to match your bag with your shoes? You don’t have to worry about it! Rather than being totally matched, instead you can use neutral colors to pull an outfit together. For example, you can wear black shoes with an outfit, and they’ll work well with everything that you’re wearing.
There are so many myths around fashion that serve to restrict what you wear. Don’t believe these 10 myths, as they just aren’t true. Start branching out and trying to different styles to see what suits you and your look!
Michael Dehoyos is a lifestyle writer and editor, creating content for PhD Kingdom, Origin Writings, Academic Brits, Coursework Help, Write My Essay, Dissertation Help and other publications. He assists companies in their marketing strategy concepts, helping them to reach wider audiences.
