HERE AT HIS & HERS, WE RECEIVE A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT HOW TO DRESS TO SUIT YOUR BODY SHAPE. AND WE CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT PEOPLE WRITE A LOT OF ‘FASHION RULES’.
There’s rules for what you should wear. There’s rules for what you shouldn’t wear. Then there’s the rules within the rules, that break things down even further– for example, you could wear a garment, but only on the 12th Friday of the year and the humidity is exactly 45%.
Okay, so perhaps not quite that specific, but the fact that fashion tends to involve “rules” is undeniable. However, there is a fresh school of thought that suggests that while the “rules” may exist, there should be absolutely no onus on anyone to obey them.
Why do “the rules” exist anyway?
Every so often, an article will be published that suggests a new set of rules for fashion. These are often age-related, though body shaming is often a feature too. The basic premise is always the same: you can’t wear these things if you don’t fit into a very specific demographic.
Have you ever wondered why these rules exist? Who are they actually benefiting? It’s not clothing manufacturers; you’d think they would be quite happy for anyone to wear their clothes, as it would mean they sell more. Perhaps the rules are benefiting the fashion industry to an extent, justifying their existence as they provide the insight to guide people through “the rules”… but that’s not really a sufficient reason to alter how you dress on a personal level.
Ultimately, the rules are meaningless, and more and more people are beginning to embrace this. For example, the fantastic #IwillwearwhatIlike collates images of people wearing exactly what they want to wear. Whether it’s women over the age of 40 refusing to dress “modestly” or plus-size women embracing fantastic lines such as Taifun in an effort to take their style to the next level, the key component of these looks is the same: I like it, and that’s all that matters. If you have ever felt restrained by the fashion rules, then you may want to consider embracing the “I will wear what I like” philosophy too.
Embracing a rule-free life in your own fashion choices
If you decide to follow along and break free of “the rules”, then you’ll open up an exciting new world of fashion choices. However, it’s important to be realistic, and you may find yourself struggling to embrace the concept of rule-free fashion quite as wholeheartedly as you would have hoped.
The reason for this is simple: you’ve spent years, perhaps decades, playing along with the rules. Breaking away from these can be terrifying, even when you acknowledge the rules are counterproductive and limiting. There’s a certain safety in following the pack, so choosing to go your own way can feel extremely challenging, and you’ll likely worry there is a fashion disaster or two in your future.
So, go slowly. You don’t have to immediately embrace a new world of completely abandoning the fashion rules; just make small adjustments, and apply your newfound sense of daring to new purchases only. In time, you should find yourself naturally leaning towards trying new things and pleasing yourself with your fashion choices first and foremost– and the rules will be forgotten once and for all.
We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with Chesca Clothing.
