A few days ago, we re-opened our Formspring account, which means we’re preparing ourselves for the usual barrage of questions from people who: a) Think we’re a shop and b) Think we’re Joan Rivers.(Note: we are not Joan Rivers.) We do tend to get some serious style-related questions, though, and here is the first of them:
Q: Can I wear maroon and teal together? I have a maroon shirt and teal shoes that I’d like to wear together, but I’ve heard it’s a bad combination. . .
Well, the good news here is that, thanks to the ongoing trend for colourblocking, you can wear pretty much ANY two colours together and call it FASHUN. If people look at you funny, simply put you nose in the air, toss your hair, and tell them it’s DESIGNER and they obviously DON’T UNDERSTAND.
If you dont want to be a fashion victim, however, we think you could still make this work, although personally we probably wouldn’t: it’s an unusual combination, and not the most natural of colour pairings. Where there’s a will, there’s (probably) a way, though, so if you really want to wear the two together, what will help in this case is the fact that the items in question are a shirt and shoes, so they won’t be right next to each other and will, instead, be separated by whatever you’re wearing in between, be it skirt, pants or shorts. If you make that middle item neutral enough, the teal shoes could just provide an interesting contrast, although we’d still be tempted to just wear them both with something else.
We’ve no idea what the items under discussion actually look like, of course, so we tried to just imagine what an outfit consisting of a maroon shirt and teal shoes might look like:
Hmmm.
Well, we wouldn’t arrest you for it, but we don’t love it either, and we can’t help but think that both of those items would look an awful lot better worn with some other colour.
We don’t want you to take our word for it, though, so we’re opening out the question to the ladies and gentlemen of the Fashion Police jury:
Can you wear teal and maroon together? Advise your fellow citizen in the comments section…
Click on the thumbnails to view the products features in this post:
One thing we’ve noticed in the years we’ve been policing the world of fashion is that certain style dilemmas tend to come up time and time again, so we thought we’d take a few minutes to re-visit some of our most frequently asked fashion questions…
Wearing black to a wedding is no longer the fashion faux-pas it once was, although if you’re really worried about it, you may want to set your mind at rest by asking the bride (or the maid of honour, or someone else connected to the wedding party) whether they’re likely to be offended by it. Chances are, they’re not going to care what you’re wearing, as long as you look like you’ve made a bit of an effort: and as long as you don’t look like you’re trying to upstage the bride (this is why white, cream and most related colours are out). The key to wearing black to a wedding is to make sure your black outfit has a festive feel rather than a funeral one: try using some whimsical or colourful accessories to keep things light.
Well, you CAN, of course: luckily The Fashion Police aren’t actually real, so no one will come and arrest you for it. Personally, we feel that sheer hose with open sandals isn’t a great look (many of those who commented on this post seemed to agree with that): sandals are designed to be worn with bare feet, and that’s the way we prefer to wear them too, although this issue is a bit of a hot potato, and you’ll find plenty of people who disagree, and feel that stockings and open shoes is perfectly fine.
We actually thought it was a joke when we started getting this question a lot, but it turns out that a lot of people believe that Crocs are organic, and can therefore be boiled and eaten. While we’d rather eat them than wear them, the official line from Crocs is that no, you can’t eat them. Bummer, huh?
And here are a few of the not-so-frequently-asked questions we’ve had, which we thought we’d answer for your anyway. We’re all heart.
First up: we REALLY want to know where this person works. We can’t really imagine many jobs in which Heelys would be appropriate wear: in fact, we can’t really imagine many situations AT ALL where Heelys are appropriate wear for adults, but of course, without knowing what your office dress code is, we can’t really give you a definite answer on that one. Oh, what the hell, we’ll give you one anyway: NO.
Can I wear a playsuit to a wedding?
Why, for the love of Gaga, would you want to wear a playsuit to a wedding? Is it a wedding between toddlers? Are YOU a toddler? Then no, you can’t wear a playsuit to a wedding. Or, OK, you probably can – it really depends on the wedding – but for the most parts, weddings require fairly formal dress, and playsuits don’t really fall into that category, do they? (Are there formal playsuits out there? Interesting.)
Can I wear high heels while working in a hospital?
If you’re working on the reception: probably. Maybe. OK, sure. If you’re a nurse, doctor, or other patient-facing person? No, no, no. Imagine us saying “no” a few more times. Did you get that? NO. No heels in the hospital. Save the sexy nurse costume for your Halloween costume. (And maybe not even then, actually.)
I read your post about Fashion Myths recently and was happy to hear you don’t think short women need to stay away from maxi dresses, because I’m 5″2 and live in them! I was wondering what you think about midi skirts, though? I love them, but keep reading about how they’re unflattering on short people because they hit at the wrong part of the leg. Is this true?
~ Louise
As with the maxi dresses, this has more to do with proportion, and with body-shape than with height. Yes, short women can wear midi skirts or dresses – you just may have to shop around for a petite fit, or have a regular one altered to make sure it has the same proportions on you as it would have on someone taller.
If you look at the photo at the top of the page, for instance, you’ll see that the skirt hits just below the model’s knee, rather than at the widest part of the calf, (This actually means that it’s not a true “midi” length, but this is the length most retailers seem to be referring to when they use the word “midi”, so it’s the one you need to worry about) which is perfectly flattering.
Thanks to ASOS and their diligence in recording their model’s heights and dress sizes (something we really love them for, because it can be so helpful when you’re trying to work out what length something is), however, we know that the model pictured is 5″9. That means that on someone whose 5″2, say, that skirt will look much longer, and will possibly be more like this kind of length:
Which can be a little more problematic, especially on a petite frame, which can easily be swamped by all that fabric, making you start to look like you’re in some kind of costume drama.
The answer to this issue is to look for midi skirts made specifically for people your height – or to have a skirt altered to the right length. Of course, this isn’t the easy option: as petite people know, ranges designed especially for us are hard to find, and tend to carry a limited selection, but check out places like ASOS, Topshop and Dorothy Perkins (if you’re in the UK), all of which carry Petite lines. Alternatively, it’s not hard to take a hem up, and if you can’t do it yourself, it shouldn’t cost too much to pay someone to do it.
There is one other issue in all of this, however, and that’s body shape. The reason many people are wary of midis is because if it hits right on the widest part of the calf, it can have a shortening effect, which will draw attention to the calves and will possibly (although not always) make them look wider. If you really don’t want to draw attention to your calves, but also really want to try a midi, the key is, once again, to mess with the hem, so it doesn’t land where you don’t want it. Basically, you want to avoid the “stumpifying” effect of drawing the eye right to the widest part of the leg, and adding or removing an inch from the hem can help you do that.
One other tip for you: wear heels. Heels elongate the leg, and create the illusion of height, and that’s exactly what you’re looking for if you’re a petite person looking to wear a midi skirt. As an added bonus, the demure length of the skirt gives you the perfect excuse to break out your tallest, most outrageous shoes: not that The Fashion Police need that particular excuse, mind you…
What do you think? Are you petite? Do you wear midi skirts/dresses? Tell us!
I’m headed to Europe this summer, and it’s my first time abroad, so I’m looking for advice. I think I know what I want to take with me, but what do I wear to travel? I know it sounds silly, but I’ve never flown before and I don’t know what to expect! Help!
~ Michelle
OK, well the first thing you need to know is that this kind of thing?
Doesn’t actually happen.
Well, not for the majority of us, anyway. It does happen for Victoria Beckham, obviously, but she’s fond of saying that the airport is her runway, and trust us, once Mrs B gets on that plane, even she slips into something more comfortable before climbing back into the stilettos to disembark on the other end.
What you’ll find is that most people at airports tend to look something like this:
It’s Britney, bitch
Or like this:
Eva Longoria: Uggs and sweats at the airport.
And honestly, by the time you roll off the end of a long-haul flight? You really won’t care WHAT you look like.
Still, you’ll be happy to know that there IS a middle ground. We think it looks something like this:
(She’s Daisy Fuentes, just in case you’re wondering…)
Here are our suggestions for what to wear to the airport:
1. Comfort comes first
Unless you’re going business class, flying isn’t particularly comfortable, so while it may be tempting to take tips from Victoria Beckham and make the airport your runway, you’ll soon come to regret that when you’re cruising at 30,000 feet, your feet are swollen in your stilettos and your tailored dress is crushed to pieces in your tiny airline seat.
Of course, comfort means different things to different people, so it’s really up to you to decide what you’ll be most comfortable in for a flight. Personally, we favour trousers over skirts and dresses because we tend to find that skirts will ride up, twist round and get creased much more easily than a pair of pants, but a knitted dress that won’t lose its shape could be just as comfortable: up to you.
Consider fit and fabric very carefully, too. Jeans are great, but if the denim is stiff it can start to chafe when you’re cramped up in the same position for hours, and a long flight definitely isn’t the time to break in a new pair of jeans, or try to squeeze yourself into your tightest pair. Tight waistbands are probably best avoided here.
(We bet Kim Kardashian changed out of those shoes on the plane)
2. Layer up
Airplanes are subject to random changes in temperature, and it could be either freezing cold, stifling hot, or anything in between. Most airlines will provide you with a blanket, especially if you’re flying overnight, but some kind of soft, pashmina-like scarf could come in very handy, and it’s also a good idea to dress in light layers, so you can easily adapt to the temperature of the aircraft.
3. Dress for the colder of the two climates you’re flying between
Airport dressing can be particularly challenging if you’re flying to somewhere either much hotter or much colder than your starting point. In these cases, our advice is to first of all take heed of point 2, and layer up, but to base your outfit around the colder of the two temperatures. You just never know how long you could end up waiting at the airport, and it’s easier to remove a coat or a sweater in the heat than it is to stand shivering in shorts and sandals in the snow! Bear in mind, also, that most airports are temperature controlled, so even if you’re flying to or from the tropics, you won’t be dealing with hot temperatures until you leave the airport.
4. Wear shoes you can slip in and out of easily
You’re probably going to have to remove your shoes to go through airport security. Lines tend to be long, so you don’t want to be having to fiddle with lots of straps and buckles, especially if you’re rushing to catch a flight. Your feet may also swell during a long flight, so wear shoes you know will be comfortable, not ones you’ll have to squeeze yourself into and then hobble around in. If you really want to wear fancy shoes, it can be a good idea to pop a pair of flip flops of fold-up flats in your carry-on, just in case they start to hurt: you can always switch shoes before you go through security or once you get onto the plane. A pair of warm socks can also be a good addition to your carry-on luggage, in case you get cold mid-flight.
(Even Gwen Stefani has to strip off for airport security)
5. Keep accessories to a minimum
Belts, buckles, necklaces and other accessories are all just more things you may have to remove and then replace for the security checks, and they’re more things to get in your way or make you uncomfortable during the flight. Keep it simple, and keep the accessories for when you reach your destination.
6. Ditto with makeup and hairstyles
Short flights are fine, but a long flight can leave you looking and feeling like… well, like you’ve just spent 10 hours in a cramped, enclosed space, breathing recycled air and probably not drinking enough liquid. (If you’re anything like us you’ll do your best to stay hydrated, but end up defeated by the long queues for the bathrooms and the state said bathrooms can end up in on a busy flight) You probably won’t be looking your freshest, and a thick coat of make-up can actually make you look worse. Your skin can get dehydrated anyway on a flight, and if you take a nap while wearing lots of eye make-up and lipstick, you probably won’t wake up looking the way you did when you fell asleep. Elaborate hairstyles, meanwhile, can be difficult to maintain mid-flight and are just one more thing to worry about. Again, keep it simple and carry moisturiser and chap stick in your carry-on to keep your skin soft.
7. Put a change of underwear and any other essentials in your carry-on
Unfortunately, air travel these days isn’t always straightforward, and if you end up facing a long delay, it’s good to know you have some clean clothes, plus essential toiletries and medication in your carry-on. Be careful to check what you can and can’t take on board before you fly, however: regulations exist on things like liquids, and sharp items, and are strictly enforced, so check these carefully before you fly.
Did we miss anything?
What do YOU wear to the airport?
(P.S. If you’re still looking for inspiration, check out our Celebrity Airport Style Gallery, below!)
Some fashion “rules” are repeated so often they come to be accepted as “fact”. We don’t believe there are any real hard facts about style (other than the ones which claim that Crocs are ugly, and harem pants will make you look like you just filled your diaper, obviously), so here are just five myths we’d like to bust:
We read this sage piece of advice frequently in fashion magazines and the like, but your flat-chested Editor-In-Chief is here to tell you it’s not true: on her, wrap dresses gape horribly and make her look like a badly-wrapped parcel (yes, even the much-vaunted Diane Von Furstenberg versions). In fact, we’d go so far as to say that there’s no such thing as a “universally flattering” piece of clothing, although if you believe you’ve found one, we’d love to hear about it.
2. Horizontal stripes will make you look fat
Yeah, tell it to all the girls wearing Breton stripes this summer (and last summer, and the summer before, and last winter, and… oh, you get the picture). Do they all look fat to you? Seriously, ALL of them? Of course they don’t. We’re not saying stripes will flatter EVERY figure (See point one, above), but nor do they look every single person who wears them look fat, either. In fact, there’s a school of thought which says that, actually, vertical stripes are more likely to create the illusion of “fat” than their horiziontal sisters. We know it sounds counter-intuitive, but we have to say, our highly un-scientific research convinces us there just might be something in that theory.
3. You can’t wear white after Labor Day
Newsflash: yes you can! And we promise nothing bad will happen to you: we won’t even arrest you, or anything. People will not point and laugh, and you will not have your “fashionista” card revoked. And sure, you’ll want to pay a bit more attention to the weather if you’re planning on white. If it’s wet and muddy outside, you’re not going to want to be trailing the hems of your long white pants along the pavement, and white linen won’t be the most practical choice when the temperature drops. It’s more about fabric than colour, however, and if you happen to look good in white, you won’t suddenly look bad in it the day after Labor day. So relax, and let your white flag fly!
(Kate Middleton wore white after Labor Day and STILL got to marry a prince…)
4. Tall girls can’t wear heels
Like hell they can’t! Why should short woman get all the best shoes? One of the worst things you can do, style-wise, is to dress apologetically, or avoid wearing the things you love just because of some silly fashion “rule”. (Obviously there are exceptions to this. If you love wearing bondage gear, for instance, Tesco probably isn’t the place to do it. Some “rules” actually AREN’T meant to be broken…) Tall women look fantastic in heels. They also look fantastic in flats. And if the heels make you 7″ tall, but you still feel great in them, then more power to your stiletto.
Not just for short women…
5. Short girls can’t wear maxi dresses
It’s true to say that the petite amongst us need to take a little more care when approaching this trend, because long lengths and flowing material can threaten to swamp us. It’s all about proportion, though. Yes, if you’re short you may have to lob a few inches of the bottom of the dress to stop it trailing along the ground behind you, and you may also need to either make alterations to the waisline/bust, or find a petite line that fits you perfectly. If the dress is the right fit, though, it won’t look any different on you than it will on someone taller: trust us on this.
So there you have it. What fashion myths do YOU think need busting?
I’ve fallen in love with this white Closet dress, which I’d love to wear to my brother-in-law’s wedding this summer. Is it still considered bad form to wear white to a wedding, though, or is that no longer the case?
Thanks! Alison
Dear Alison,
We love this dress too, but bright, unrelieved white to a wedding? Only if you’re the bride, unfortunately. While many of the wedding-related “rules” have fallen by the wayside these days, the fact remains that if you turn up wearing all-white, no matter what you’re wearing, and how non-bridal it looks, people will still think that either a) you’re the bride, b) you wish you were the bride, or c) you’re trying to upstage the bride. And yes, this still applies even if the bride herself is wearing green/blue/fluorescent yellow with purple spots. Never upstage the bride.Never wear a white dress to someone else’s wedding. The Fashion Police hold these truths to be self-evident, but we’d like to know what YOU think, too, so please feel free to enlighten us in the comments section!
Q: What age do you think is the right age to start wearing heels?
A: First of all, we don’t necessarily think there IS a “right age” to start wearing heels: it’s something that will be different for everyone, and some people will decide that “never” is the right answer to this question!
With that said, heels are more damaging to your feet than some other types of shoes, so logic would dictate that you at least try to wait until your feet stop growing, although that’s probably not a realistic answer for many, as we all develop at different rates, and it can be hard to know when the growth spurt is at an end.
Let’s turn this one over to The Fashion Police jurors, then: what age were you when you started wearing heels (if you ever did, that is)? What age do YOU think is the “right” age?
Q. Is it acceptable to wear stockings with the seam line when wearing open toe shoes (or even peep toe for that matter) if you can’t find seamless stockings? Or should I risk letting my legs look pale and not so perfect?
A. We get this question fairly often, so let’s address it once and for all…
Although we call ourselves The Fashion Police, you might be surprised to know that in “real” life there are actually very few things that we’d consider an absolute “no”. Sheer stocking with sandals, however, is one of those things: particularly if the stockings in question are flesh-coloured, and the toe seam is highly visible. Toe seams aren’t designed to be on show. Strappy sandals and peep toes aren’t designed to be worn with tights. It’s as simple as that, and before a dozen or so of our male readers all rush to tell us that if we only knew how turned on they are by the sight of sheer tights and strappy sandals, we’d wear them all the time yes, we DO know. You’ve told us before. And we don’t care, because we still don’t like this look, and we don’t dress to please men. Sorry.
To address the “pale and not so perfect” comment: well, we don’t actually think there’s anything so very wrong with pale skin, but if you do want to take the glare off a little before baring your pins to the world, there are plenty of products available to help you do that: Pretty Polly’s Love Legs range, for instance, contains various types of wash-off “leg makeup” which is good for adding a hint of colour without turning you orange.
Just to confuse matters further, we’d like to add that none of this applies to opaque tights and peep toes. We actually quite like that look. Why yes, we ARE pretty fickle, aren’t we?
As with all of our “advice”, however, we feel we have to add the disclaimer that these are simply personal opinions. We know there are lots of people out there who really like the look of sheer tights in sandals (And not all of them are men determined to tell us what to wear, either), so let’s hear from our readers.
What do you think of stockings and sandals? Fashion crime, or absolutely fine?
Maroon and teal: should they ever meet?
