My Style Rules (and When I Break Them)

When it comes to dressing, I don’t follow many rules. Even those I do, sometimes get broken. Here are a few!

I don’t wear navy… except when I do.

For my dark neutral, it’s black only for me. I don’t want to limit what I can wear by mixing it up with navy, or looking like I don’t know what color I’m wearing by wearing them together.

But! I wear navy when it’s in a print. It started when I found the floral cami from J. Crew, and it’s a navy background and print with no black. I fell in love and tried it, and it’s one of my favorite tops.

And if you’ll notice, I’m never wearing black with it unless it’s also in the print. Also, I usually wear denim as blue and not as a neutral.

I don’t wear pastels… unless it’s lavender.

I just don’t like pastel colors. They don’t appeal to me. I prefer that the colors in my closet be bright and vibrant, or deep and moody.

But! Lately I’ve been really into a nice lavender and lilac color. It’s my favorite pastel, and has brought me joy. I wear it in prints (which usually feature other non-pastel colors) or color blocked with solids in a bright or neutral.

Will I eventually branch out into other pastels? Maybe. But for now, it’s just lavender.

I always emphasize my waist… except when I don’t.

Whether it’s a belt, a crop top, or a strategic tuck, I go for fits that emphasize my waist. They show off my figure in a way that I like, and give the illusion of the hourglass.

But! Sometimes I wear pieces that are totally floaty, loose, and not at all fitted around the waist. I feel comfortable and flattered in a wider variety of styles now because I’m more comfortable in my body.

Every body type is beautiful, and trying to look just one way all the time is limiting.

Mary KaltreiderComment