7 Fashion "Rules" I Plan on Breaking in 2019

As I glance ahead and try to plan out as much of 2019 as possible, the fashion editor in me can't help but prioritize my wardrobe. Which trends will I be buying into? Any major investments I need to make? Should I clean out my closet again? Among my laundry list of personal fashion-related questions, I pondered the idea of fashion "rules"—something we discuss a lot here at Who What Wear.

Me, a major rule follower, had a few issues with these so-called "rules" I had been abiding by for quite some time, and figured there was no time like the start of a new year to address them all. Ahead, read up on the list of fashion "rules" I plan on breaking in 2019—rules I've followed for way too long. My hope in going against the grain that barely anyone follows anymore is that I will further my wardrobe creativity and foster inspiration, one small rebellion at a time.

"Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off."

The great Coco Chanel is credited with saying before you leave the house, you should look in the mirror and take one thing off. While that used to be something I really did live by (especially since I have a tendency to overdo it), it's a "rule" I plan on breaking in 2019. This year, I want to push the boundaries and wear what I want to wear, even if that means showering myself in seven clashing accessories at once. 

Shop accessories you should always keep on:

"Neutral colors are boring."

The S/S 19 runways showed us that, yes, color is great and all, but neutrals are the new palette we should be dipping our toes into. With what I once considered a rather boring approach to dressing, I decided that this year I am going to invest in more quality neutrals and see where my wardrobe takes me. 

Shop neutral items I love:

"Only show off lingerie in the bedroom."

The idea that lingerie is meant to be reserved for the bedroom and special occasions is not a new one, by any means. However, it's one that I have yet to find myself being truly comfortable with breaking. This year, I am vowing to break the traditional "rules" of lingerie and wear my favorite pieces as ready-to-wear staples, including slip dresses, bras under blazers, and much more.

Shop lingerie that deserves to be shown off:

"The men's section is for men only."

I started to dabble in the men's section more and more this year, and it's a shopping hack I plan on continuing well into 2019. While most women are turned away from the men's section in fear that the clothes won't fit and the pieces are irrelevant, I'm here to tell you it's all about what you're searching for. I have found that sweaters, outerwear, and T-shirts, for example, are oftentimes much cooler when found in the men's section. 

Shop menswear items I'm eyeing:

"Petites shouldn't wear oversize clothing."

At a height of just 5'3", I have often been called petite, but I never find myself shopping in the petite section. When the whole oversize clothing trend started to bubble up and became quite the phenomenon, I remember my mother telling me oversize clothing drowns petite women, and she wasn't the only one who thought that. Did I listen? For a while, but I plan on abandoning this "rule" along with all other guidelines that categorize your clothing according to your body type. 

Shop my picks:

"Dress codes are always meant to be followed."

White tie, black tie, cocktail attire—you know the drill. You get that invitation in the mail, and suddenly all sense of personal style goes out the window as you find yourself constricted to the confines of the dress code fine print. As I've seen celebrities on the red carpet break these traditional dress codes in front of millions of viewers, I don't see why I can't too. Whether it be by raising hemline or selecting nontraditional footwear, formal dress codes are basically begging me to break them this year.

Shop nontraditional formalwear:

"Clothes can only be worn one way."

Maybe you bought that sweater with one intention in mind—to wear it as a sweater—but if there's anything the creative street style set has taught me over the past couple of years, it's that clothes are meant to be experimented with. This year, I plan on wearing my sweaters crossbody, my shirts backward, and so on and so forth. Because why not?

Shop items that can be worn multiple ways:

Next up, shop the three best bags to invest in this year.