On the international scene, we’ve seen Bella Hadid and her sister, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Zendaya, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner dictate what clothes are in style and how to wear them fashionably.
In Nigeria, the celebrity fashion queens and designers are not left out as they play major roles in ‘sanctioning’ the Owambe style for the season.
Getting fashion inspo from the people we look up to can be helpful for beginners who are looking to find out their own unique fashion style. However, it is good to keep in mind that fashion has no rules and while it is okay to borrow a leaf from the style pages of your favorite fashion icons, nothing beats your personal, unique style.
To help you find the style that best resonates with you, I have compiled some of the rules of fashion you should totally ignore because in the long run, they really do not matter. Here they are below:
1. Shoes and Bags Should Match
We’ve all heard from our mums and big aunties that our shoes and bag should absolutely match. While this fashion rule may apply for Owambe parties, it is not a general rule of thumb as it can restrict and block creativity when styling yourself. In 2024, the goal should be making sure the shoes and handbags (or purse) match our overall fit. Doing this will help you make more unique and personalized decisions when next you dress up.
2. Silver and Gold Jewellery Shouldn’t be Paired Together:
Whoever made the rule about not mixing gold and silver jewelleries together must not have been fun at parties. Not only is mixing these metals fun and interesting, they also add depth to your look. Very few things scream “I know my fashion” and make a bold statement like forgoing this outdated rule.
3. Skinny Jeans are Out of Style
There are several fashion accounts on TikTok and Instagram dedicated to slandering the skinny jeans we had all once adored, calling them outdated and out of trend but recently, this fashion item made a resurgence on the runways of Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen.
4. Patterns Shouldn’t be Mixed with Prints
Experiment with matching patterns and prints to find what works best for you. The more you do this, the more you’ll excel at it. Don’t limit yourself, try out everything from plaids, stripes, florals and animal prints and keep in mind that harmonious color schemes tie the matches together.
5. Special Outfits are Only for Special Occasions
If you have the bad habit of saving your cute dresses or tops for whatever special occasion that you’ve imagined in your head, the time has come to dig them out from your wardrobe and dust them off.
To help you with ‘breaking’ this rule, try contrast dressing eg pair a dressy gown with something casual like sneakers.
6. There Should be a Definitive Aesthetic:
Mixing different aesthetics and styles in your wardrobe can be a fun and creative way to express your unique fashion sense and there are several ways to do this;
- Balance proportions— If you’re wearing a bold, oversized jacket from one aesthetic, pair it with more fitted pieces from another fabric to create a balanced silhouette.
- Blend your accessories— For instance, you can pair an old school hat with modern sneakers or mix fine, elegant jewelry with chunky boots.
- The little details matter— Fashion pieces with unique patterns, textures, and embellishments that represent the aesthetic you’re going for can be incorporated into your outfit.
