November 6th, 2007
Fashion Rules on Trial: Mixed metallics
Even although we’re The Fashion Police, we’ve never been too keen on rigid fashion rules: rules, after all, were made to be broken, and sometimes the best, and most original looks happen when people throw out the rule book and dress however they want to. Not all the time, though. Sometimes, throwing out the rule book means that you end up looking like Britney Spears, and God knows, nobody wants to end up like that, do they?
Over the next few weeks, then, we’ll be taking a look at all those fashion rules we all grew up with, and asking you to help us decide which ones are worth keeping and which ones are just a load of old bunkum. Today, we’re kicking off with that age-old dilemma: is it ever OK to mix your metallics? Now I, personally, have always considered this a big no-no, so the idea of wearing a silver dress and gold shoes, as shown above, is anathema to me. Or carrying a gold bag with a silver shoes. Hell, I don’t even like to mix my metallics for my jewellery, although maybe I need to reconside that one, because I’m currently sitting here wearing a ring with a gold setting and a necklace with a silver one. Yes, it is troubling me, thanks for asking.
So, what’s the verdict? Will I burn in Fashion Hell for this minor misdemeanor, and, if so, will you be joining me there? Would you ever wear mixed metallics? And if so, when do you think it’s acceptable?
Well… The silver dress with the gold shoes would be a big no-no because in my opinion such a dress would always have to be teamed with discreet shoes and the same goes for the gold shoes. Generally speaking though, I think mixed metallics can look good. For instance, the Jaeger-Le Coultre Reverso wristwatch in with mixed metallics wristband I just bought looks oh-so good, I think…
I think the dress and the shoes would look terrible together. but mixing jewelery doesn’t bother me that much. i think it can add some interest if you layer things like bracelets or necklaces.
I should probably have made it clearer that I didn’t mean THIS dress and THESE shoes in particular – they’re just supposed generic examples of “a silver thing” and “a gold thing” to illustrate the concept
I responded with “sometimes” because I consider jewelry to be the exception here. My e-ring and wedding band are set in white gold, and right now I’ve got them paired with a silver watch, a leather bracelet, and bronze earrings…anything goes!