Psst…may I interrupt your endless doomscrolling on TikTok for a minute? I recently came across a few videos on the social app discussing the idea of fashion faux pas and shut my phone with a feeling of pride. We all know the app can bring as many fun and sustainable trends, like Utah curls and underconsumption core, as it does questionable (Mamma Mia hair trend, anyone?), so turning a few fashion don’ts into dos lights a fire under my belly. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fashion hack to help me get dressed in the morning just as much as the next girl, like the CST rule and three-color rule. But there’s a handful that need to get the boot. Here are five outdated fashion rules TikTok is calling out—and I say, “good riddance!”
TikTok Is Calling Out these 5 Outdated Fashion Rules (and I Couldn’t Agree More)
Redemption for mixed metals
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Published Oct 10, 2024
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1. Outfits Must Be Flattering
First things first, every outfit you wear doesn’t have to be “flattering.” Fashion continues to be a nuanced medium in which you can showcase your individual personality or freedom of expression, if you will—not necessarily your body. So, you don’t always need to create an hourglass figure, cinch in your waist or stick to a bodycon sheath when you dress. Many fashionistas and fashion houses—namely, Balenciaga and Saint Laurant—have toyed with the art of styling, playing with the proportions of oversized tailoring and voluminous silhouettes. “Fashion is supposed to be fun,” says @glowupu in her TikTok video. “If your husband hates your outfit, you’re probably doing something right.”
As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, unflattering-but-comfy outfits will vary depending on taste, though it may look like baggy jeans and an oversize sherpa jacket, clashing prints or basketball shorts and a large graphic T-shirt a la Adam Sandler. Even layering lots of pieces, like a blazer with a tulle dress atop jeans can read too much for some but just right for others. As long as you feel good, then that’s all that matters.
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2. Logos Are Tacky
Not to blatantly point the finger, but I blame the quiet luxury trend for circulating this belief. Well, either that or our logo mania craze of yesteryear (millennials know what I’m talking about). The good news if you love to name check your Miu Miu sweater or Adidas socks (I’m looking at you, Gen Z)? TikTokers @everydayelegant and @glowupu both agree that sporting pieces with branding, whether it’s a handbag, jeans or jacket, isn’t considered tacky anymore. It brings to mind loud garbage, or quiet luxury’s antithesis, a term which PureWow’s former Associate Editor of News and Entertainment, Joel Calfee, coined back in 2023.
Many stylists I follow suggest keeping the logos to a minimum, meaning you’ll want to limit or edit down the number of garments you wear at one time that brandish the labels. A good rule of thumb is to break branding up with basic pieces. For example, you can pair your Gucci kitten heels (the ones with the Gucci print) with a dark denim, then wear your logo embellished belt or bag for a more balanced approach.
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3. You Can’t Mix Metals
Thank goodness we’re nixing this outdated fashion rule because my indecisive self can’t ever seem to make a decision between bronze and nickel. Yep, according to @everydayelegant and @glowupu, you CAN mix metals gosh darnit! It’s even changed the hearts of some disbelievers, like TikToker @mananamariee, who yapped on about her love for the mixed metal combination. In fact, many jewelry labels are embracing the combination of gold and silver tones. Think: the celeb-favorite Heaven Mayhem seen on Hailey Bieber and MÉGA, created by celebrity stylist Dani Michelle. The key is to use metals in multiples, so if you’re wearing gold earrings, a gold-accented belt and a purse with gold hardware, then incorporate more than one silver piece to make the combination look intentional rather than accidental.
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4. Basics Should Be Expensive
Is this another byproduct of the quiet luxury years? Maybe, but I’m here (with the support of TikTok) to debunk the whole “your basics should be expensive” rule. Lately, my For You Page has been video after video of reels that are titled, “Guess which outfit is more expensive?” in which strangers analyze two women—both of whom are dressed in nearly identical outfits—and decide which is designer and which is the affordable alternative. Spoiler: most often, everyone gets it wrong (me included). This just goes to show that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to prove you have style.
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5. You Can’t Wear Sneakers with Dresses
This one came as a bit of a shock to me, possibly because I’ve never been afraid to wear sneakers with anything. (Hey, I’m a Zillennial and will always opt for sneaks in place of high heels on a night out!) But nevertheless, I’m happy social media is saying goodbye to shunning a sneaker and dress combo. If New York-based stylist and Vogue contributing editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson (pictured above, left) rocks it herself, what more affirmation do any of us need? And before you come back with a “Well it looks off,” as a retort, I implore you to brush up on the one-palm rule for wearing sneakers with dresses discovered by Fashion Editor Abby Hepworth.
