At some point in our lives, we start wondering if we ought to start dressing our age.

It’s a feeling that strikes us out of the blue; suddenly, it seems as though our wardrobe seems inadequate.

Do you ever doubt your fashion choices? Does the expression “be yourself” in relation to what you wear seem a tad unrealistic? Should we dress the way everybody expects us to?

Of course there are valid reasons for dressing sensibly: some wish to be taken more seriously, some don’t wish to stick out like a sore thumb, and others would rather dress as young as they feel and not how old they actually are.

The truth is, there is no ‘proper’ way to dress. Forcing yourself to fit into the confines of other people’s expectations is not the way to live. Why try so hard to please everybody else but yourself?

Ultimately, being comfortable – physically and mentally – with what you wear ought to be what dictates your fashion choices. After all, if you don’t have the confidence to pull off your outfit, no matter how ‘proper,’ it’s going to look bad.

But does that mean you hit the town looking like a Christmas tree if your spirit animal is Lady Gaga? Of course not! Balance is key – while you don’t want to conform to a restrictive point of view, fashionably speaking, you don’t want to be overly adventurous as well!

Dress Me Up!

Here are the three styles that many people are afraid of exploring out of a misguided sense of propriety.

Crazy for Colours

We often hear about skin tone and compatible colours, but you’ll only know what colours suit you if you try them out. Don’t be afraid of clashing colours, either, as it’s a popular trend now. On a casual day out, mix your pinks with your blues or even oranges – although you should steer clear of brown-blue and red-green combinations. Have a meeting coming up? Instead of a drab black blazer, swap it for a powder blue one.

Prints, Please

Prints are pleasing, like a burst of fresh air. If you’re feeling adventurous, try mashing up two prints that clash, such as a polka-dotted cardigan with a striped t-shirt underneath. If you’d rather not risk it, the golden rule of thumb is to have only one item on you that has prints. Prints work well on accent pieces such as pocket squares and bowties.

More than Accessories

Add polish to your get-up; sometimes, they make the difference between simple and sublime. Your little black dress or plain black shirt can be transformed with the right necklace or bracelet. But that isn’t licence for you to pile on the trinkets! Again, balance is what’s required here: feel free to layer your necklaces, but take note not to end up looking like an accessory rack.

 

This article was first published on DUET magazine.