How to Look Polished: 8 Fashion Rules to Break Now

1. Match your shoes with your bag

When matching your shoes and bag, you can appear more classic, serious, and conservative. This is okay to do if you intend to look this way.

I suggest looking at your day ahead and deciding if you want to look this way before matching my shoes and bags. It all depends on the image you want to portray.

2. Don’t mix silver and golden jewelry

Out with this rigid rule. The more you pile your pieces in different metals, the more fun you add to your outfit composition.

3. Dress your age

If you’re wondering what you should wear at a certain age, the answer is always to dress for your body type and the occasion.

Hot pants are a generally no-no, but if you have great legs, wear a shorter skirt and dresses. 

Pair them with sweaters or jackets to counterbalance the shorter bottom half.

When it comes to length, three inches above the knee is the sweet spot as it’s the flattest part of your body apart from the ankle.

Uncomfortable showing skin? Pair your skirt with opaque tights to look timeless and sophisticated.

Or, if you want to take it to the next level, layer it with fishnet stockings to be cool and modern.

4. Take off one accessory before leaving the house

Accessorizing will always depend on the outfit composition. If you’re wearing a basic, neutral outfit, you can afford to wear more accessories like a beautiful stack of bracelets or layered necklaces.

Refrain from pairing a bold pair of earrings with a bold necklace or scarf because they’ll compete with each other.

Instead, choose one bold accessory at a time—either the neck area or the earrings.

If you want to add more drama to the outfit, choose your arms for more embellishment.

5. Only wear one bold color

Color blocking is one of the most interesting styling techniques out there.

For it to work, you need to place your best colors around your neck area.

If you’re undertone, place warm colors around your upper body and cool colors around your bottom half. The opposite is also true. 

6. Don’t wear black and navy

Truthfully, whether you’re wearing a single garment or a head-to-toe look, there’s nothing more sophisticated than navy and black.

They look extremely chic together, and they’re a favorite combination of many European designers. 

It’s dark without being gothic, and sleek without being stuffy. Black on black can be extremely harsh on the face at an old age, making you look tired and washed out.

Navy blue lifts the skin tone, especially for those with gray hair. So, be a rule-breaker for this one.

7. Wear just one print

It’s much easier to make an outfit composition with plain colors, but adding the print to your outfit with caution can add a lot of interest to a mundane outfit.

The trick to getting it right is adding classic prints together. Polka dots with paisleys. Checks with stripes. 

Stick to two prints, preferably within the same tones. Elect one print to be the neutral and act in a starring role.

8. Don’t wear leather in summer

Gone are the days when leather would be very heavy.

Nowadays, leather is more supple so why not wear a maxi dress in the cooler summer and spring days? 

Lightweight jackets or waistcoats can be worn again and again, and are excellent for breezy summer nights.

How to look polished

There you have it! These are some fashion rules that I think we should start thinking of breaking when we’re considering how to look polished with our wardrobe.

Let me know which of these rules you’re eager to break or have already broken in the comments below.

Next, learn How to Elevate Your Style: 6 Easy Hacks.