Bollocks!

This is designed to make older women feel more constrained. It’s also something that pushes them into buying far more expensive “timeless,” “classic” pieces that they may or may not even like.

It’s just marketing for matronly brands.

And equally, if you’re in your 20s and like to shop at the same stores as your mom, that’s fine.

Ok, so in some cases, designers only make clothing up to a size 10 or 12. Forget them!

Attitudes are changing in the fashion industry and we’re starting to see women of all sizes and shapes (as well as skin colors and abilities) in clothing once reserved for only the lithe and seemingly elite.

Christian Siriano really paved the way for high-fashion of all sizes when he started dressing famous women of every age and size for events. People started to see that the old ways were unfair and women were ROCKING the new “rules.”

From luxurious cashmere from Vince (that goes up to a size 24) to newer brands like Universal Standard (whose clothing runs from size 00 to 40), everyone can wear what they like.

You’re no longer confined to cheap cotton pieces if you’re rocking a body that fits into a size 20 (or 40)!

Women just can’t win sometimes. We’re constantly bombarded with ideas about what we should look like, even by people who are technically trying to empower us.

Take the guidance you like and throw away the rest!

If you feel confined in tight clothing, don’t wear it. You’re not obligated to show anyone your figure or “flatter it” according to someone else’s idea of style.

If you like big and billowy pieces, wear them – with gusto! Or just wear them and live your life. But don’t ever assume you can’t be stylish in big and baggy clothing.

Ok, great-grandma.

We get it, women used to feel confined to rules. But rule-breakers are the ones who helped change things.

This is an old rule plenty of people still follow. And it’s fine if you just can’t decide what to wear.

But go ahead and mix it up if that’s what you want.

This is one of the myths about how women can look too “loud” and draw unwanted attention.

People’s attention is their own responsibility and it’s up to them, not you.

Even if you’re wearing something extreme, everyone has the option to have a thought about it and carry on with their lives.

And while monochromatic outfits are lovely and some colors go wonderfully together, you should never be afraid to live your life in color – and lots of them.

Bright colors are for people who like bright colors and that’s that.

Rock whatever color palette you like.

And if we’ve learned anything from the ability to see everyone’s “outfit of the day” (or OOTD) on Instagram, it’s that there are women of all sorts making bold looks work for them.

Why? Is there even anything bad about being temporarily mistaken for a man?

Who really cares?

From formal tuxedos for black-tie affairs to borrowing flannel in the winter, women look amazing in men’s and gender-neutral clothing.

Clearly this “rule” was written by someone who didn’t realize that keeping up with greys is a full-time job.

Plenty of women have embraced their grey hair, which is amazing. But you also have every right to color your hair purple until the day you leave this mortal coil.

Grey hairs are stubborn. And they look perfectly fine when they pop up. So don’t break quarantine for coverage. If blondes with roots can be stylish, so can incoming greys.

It’s all about how you rock it (even if you just do it temporarily).

Somehow we got the idea that women over a certain age had to start following rules about their hair.

Sure, hair thins as you age and it can be complicated to keep it long – there are practical matters here.

Alas, there’s nothing tacky or that screams “I’m desperately trying to hold on to my youth” about long hair on women over 40 or 50 or 60…

You should feel confident in what you wear, end of story.

If you put on some extra pounds – as we all tend to do at some point – that’s no reason to reach for the big sweaters unless you want to.

There are plenty of fashionable women wearing form-fitting clothing of every size.

True navy can look a lot like black until you get into the right light. And perhaps that’s part of the reason why people try to steer clear of this color combo.

But breaking this rule has resulted in some really great outfits, and it just doesn’t apply anymore – even to the darkest blues.

Leather clothing has been called everything from “too cowboyish” to “trashy.”

Sure, there’s some edgy leather clothing out there, but plenty of the leather (and leather alternatives) available now are really stylish pieces in classic cuts.

So whether it’s a leather A-line or pencil skirt or faux leather leggings, you’re good to go.

Some people are masters at creating the coolest looks out of vintage clothing.

And while we don’t all have that skill, you shouldn’t let the idea that something will make you look unstylish – which is completely subjective anyway – get in the way of your vintage fun.

Maybe your boss makes you cover your tattoos. That’s one thing you may not be able to get around.

But there’s no reason to hide your tattoos in any other situation. Over 30% of Americans alone have a tattoo, so it’s becoming far more common and draws a lot less negative attention than you think.

For the most part, the worst it can get is that people will inquire about them – to which you can always say “that’s personal.”

Nothing that potentially painful should ever be mandatory for being stylish.

And, frankly, stilettos only look good if you know how to wear them.

Luckily, things like the kitten heel and block heels have made their way into formal footwear, so you now have lots of options.

None of these color rules make sense anymore.

We’ve seen too many amazing outfits combine the so-called clashing colors and look amazing.

Throw it out the window and go with the look you love.

Even television anchors now wear sleeveless clothing.

It still looks a little jarring to those of us who have had this “rule” reinforced so many times, but unless there’s an actual policy against it (say, at work), you have the right to bare arms.

Again, this rule might be written into dress codes that simply haven’t been updated in decades.

If it is, challenge it! There’s nothing a piece of nylon does to make the office more professional. It’s simply an old-school tradition that makes some people feel more comfortable.

Wear stockings if you’d like, but unless you’re risking your job, there’s no reason to bind yourself in silk or nylon.

And there’s no reason to tan your legs either – unless you want to.

There are etiquette rules that you may want to follow out of respect. For example, any baseball cap or hat worn for warmth is often removed for the national anthem.

But if you’re wearing a fashion hat, you don’t need to remove it unless there’s some sort of dress code.

Plus-sized clothing is often baggy everywhere and covers everything, but that’s neither necessary nor practical. If for some reason it makes people feel more comfortable with your body, so what? You can’t babysit other people’s feelings.

If you want to flaunt your curves, go for it.

Heck, bare a little belly while you’re at it. It can look great!

Not only are there plenty of menswear styles in the women’s section, but no one is stopping women from buying men’s clothing.

Heck, it’s usually cheaper! Buy that men’s cashmere sweater, girl! No one will know.

Just because they’re on two different sides of the store doesn’t mean you can’t cross the line.

Frankly, the rule should be “never throw away a good dress just because you’ve already worn it to an event.”

We’re all better off if we cut down on waste, and clothing makes up a HUGE amount of landfill.

If you really do need a new dress for an event, consider renting it or buying it secondhand.

Even Princess Kate has been known to recycle a dress!

The matchy-matchy days are behind us.

And as soon as you see how great you look mixing jewelry metals (even right next to one another), you’ll wonder why you even believed this “rule.”

It can look like a bit much, sure, but plenty of people pull off double denim and look great.

You can even mix tones and colors and get away with it.

Just look at J-Lo rock the look.

This myth is easily dispelled by looking at the sheer number of professionals rocking a facial piercing.

A little nose ring never hurt anyone. So unless your dress code bans it, there’s no need to remove it during the day.

While some folks simply hate the way they look in horizontal stripes, if you wear them well, then they don’t make you look wider – in fact, they can flatter you!

Next time you’re trying on clothes, give the pattern a go (and do it in a few different styles) to see if it works for you.

There’s some great clothing out there in this print.

This is usually more of a convention than a hard-and-fast rule.

And while most skirt suits fall at the knee, plenty rise above and there’s really no problem with it as long as you’re not showing off anything inappropriate when you sit or bend down.

But this is one place where you can probably still expect people to look at you differently if you go too short.

Mixed prints are very 21st century. We’ve been breaking this rule for a while.

You might need more-than-average confidence to pull this off on your own, but you can even find single pieces with mixed prints, so it’s safe to say the “rule” has been thrown out the window.

After all, men do it all the time with ties, shirts, and suits!

You may hate how it looks, but the truth is socks and sandals are currently “in.”

There are still dorky ways of wearing this style, but there are plenty of fashion-forward ones too.

Usually, the key is to have the rest of your outfit be pretty on-point, style-wise.

Girl, do whatever you want with that top button!

If it’s not squeezing your neck, it can often make an outfit look really pulled together.

This is especially true of vintage pieces.

We’ve largely put this rule to rest.

As long as your makeup looks neat and clean, bold colors are just fine. And, in fact, they can make you look even more serious.

Wear whatever color makeup suits you!

Buck tradition by choosing whatever suits you best.

Diamonds are incredibly expensive and not always a wise investment.

Not only are there alternatives that look like diamonds, but colored stones are now perfectly normal to see on that ring finger.

Sparkle whenever you want to!

Sure, daytime sequins draw attention, but unless you’re wearing a ballgown to work, you can rock this look.

Try pairing it with a more conservative second piece in the pre-cocktail hours.

High-waisted jeans are great no matter what your body type. And they come in everything from skinny to wide-legged.

No longer “mom jean” or retro territory, they look great on all shapes, sizes, and ages.

Just like you can flaunt what you want, you can cover whatever you want.

In fact, the buttoned-up look can be super-stylish.

Long skirts and long sleeves? Why not?

Clothing can be art.

And even if you’re not the avant-garde type, there’s really no rule against trying out a new style or inventing your own.

If people take a long look at you, it might just be because they’re trying to figure out how to pull off your unique look.

Wear all the jewelry! Then add a hat.

Don’t forget your face mask!

If you like your sparkle, just go for it.

There’s no prize for wearing minimal jewelry. It all depends on what you like.

If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that casual wear can be worn fashionably.

There’s nothing wrong with an elastic waist, especially if it’s more comfortable.

And to top it off, it allows you to wear your clothing wherever it looks best on your hips or waist.

First of all, eccentric art teachers are great! We don’t even know why you’d want to stay away from that look.

Multiple long items are just fine and fashionable.

If you’re worried about looking dowdy, accessorize wisely with fashionable shoes or other accessories.

There are so many bright and cheery outfits out there and so many of us are in need of a little color in our lives. So why reserve fun patterns for the young ones?

Bright, bold patterns look great on skirts or dresses, no matter what your age.

Why wait for others to catch up if you’re on the cutting edge of fashion? Someone has to wear it first!

Be a trailblazer and others will look at your confidence and follow.

After all, some of us don’t want to wear what everyone else is wearing.

Some people dress to be looked at, but we should never assume that’s the case just because we see some cleavage.

Whether you prefer tight clothing or low-cut tops, it’s fine to dress for yourself and tell others to stop staring.

If someone points out that you always wear the same thing, they’re just being rude.

Some people have small wardrobes for sustainability purposes while others just have a “uniform” that they feel comfortable in.

You can absolutely be fashionable while sticking with one look.

Formalwear comes in all sorts of styles and there are no rules about what to wear at a certain age.

There are not only high-fashion formalwear styles that come in two pieces, but even that mother-of-the-bride look works for multiple occasions and people.

Ever since redheads realized they look great in pink, we’ve seen this color combo come to the fore.

And it’s all for the better. It looks super-stylish and it’s perfect for those who like pops of color.

Welcome to the world of “winter white.” From creams to bright light whites, you’re good to wear this color whenever you want.

This rule was a silly way to tell snobs who was “old money” and who was “new money.”

Now you can wear white no matter what you have in the bank.

We’ve always been told that long skirts swallow us up and make us look even shorter.

But what about the days when you want a skirt that you can sit in comfortably, even cross-legged?

While petite women might have a harder time finding skirts that don’t drag, hemming them is no big deal.

So midi or maxi, rock whatever skirt you want. They’re your legs and you can hide or flaunt them as you wish.

Your trenchcoat doesn’t need to be Burberry. You might not even like trenchcoats!

From ballet flats to button-ups, we’re often told that buying fewer items means we need to invest more in them. But you should always stick to your budget.

After all, it’s not always the case that the $400 cashmere sweater will pill any less than the $70 version.

Capsule wardrobes are about simplicity – and there’s nothing simple about paying off credit card debt from a pricey wardrobe item.

Not only should you feel free to wear what’s comfortable, but pairing sneakers with dresses is totally “in” these days.

There’s even a whole class of “dress sneakers.”

Whether they’re stylish white tennis shoes or big dad sneakers, you can pretty much wear them with whatever you want these days.

Not every women needs a $500 trench coat or $300 ballet flats.

Maybe you hate crisp, white button-ups or even denim.

There are so many articles telling us what women “must have in their closets,” but it’s all just talk.