Women's Fashion Faux Pas
How to Avoid Mistakes — from Visible Panty Lines to Turtlenecks
Whilst breaking the fashion rules has become fashionable in itself these days, there are still a few "Fashion No- Nos" when it comes to dressing with style.
No matter what age or shape you are, there are some timeless fashion mistakes which should be avoided. However well intentioned, fashion faux pas can happen to the best of us, even celebrities, and one of the most common is not dressing for your age:
- Mutton Dressed as Lamb. Reaching your 40s and 50s doesn’t mean looking frumpy, but in an effort to keep up with fashion it’s important to get the balance right. More mature women need to avoid showing too much flesh; you want chic and classy not tarty and cheap. If you are wearing a hemline above the knee then balance it out proportionately by covering-up on your top half. Also don’t be a slave to fashion by wearing harsh, bright colors or young-girlie prints, as this will age you more. It is useful to remember that, in trying to hard to look younger, you can come across as just that!
- Turtle Necks and Tapered Pants are two items of clothing women should never wear, according to stylist Emily Neill in her book Wardrobe Secrets. Shapeless turtlenecks do nothing for a woman’s figure and hides one of her best features, her décolletage. Tapered pants just serve to make hips look even wider, emphasizing them disproportionately, says Neill. So unless you have a boyish figure avoided tapered-leg styles at all costs.
- Visible Panty Line is a classic no-no. Whether it be briefs, granny knickers or thongs – avoid showing them off through tight-fitting clothing or exposing your G-string above the waist of your jeans. Avoid builders bum (butt cleavage) with low-cut trousers by wearing boy shorts underneath. Choose a pair with a V-neck waistband if at all possible. Try to avoid wearing coloured knickers under white trousers or shorts, go for a nude or beige color instead.
- Following Too Many Fashion Trends with one outfit can look like you are trying too hard to be fashionable. Instead of creating a fashion-forward look, you may come across as backward, if you tick-off too many boxes. Go for subtle rather than obvious, like a white blouse with a bow or ruffle, and a cinch-waisted belt – three trends in one block, but integrated in such a manner that they look as if they were made for each other.
- Black Bras Under White Tops spell tarty and brassy. If wearing white, believe it or not, a beige (skintone) bra will be much less noticeable than a white one. However, "the faint shadow of a lacy white bra under a crisp white shirt has a certain European sexiness about it," says Karen Homer, in her book, Things a Woman Should Know About Style.
- Decorated like a Christmas tree. Whilst everyone should have a statement piece – a man’s watch, a beautiful cuff or a flashy embellished headband – avoid wearing too much jewelry. Three pieces maximum should be the rule of thumb. If you are wearing chunky eye-catching earrings then give the necklace a miss, but go for a bold bracelet instead. Choose 1 or 2 key pieces to lift and enhance your outfit. Less is more to avoid looking cheap. A woman’s décolletage (the space between her neck and breasts) is a thing of beauty and if you want to attract attention away from the bits you'd like to hide, then use jewelry to its maximum effect in this area.
The copyright of the article Women's Fashion Faux Pas in Women’s Fashion is owned by Gill Hart. Permission to republish Women's Fashion Faux Pas must be granted by the author in writing.
