The Break Room: Fashion Rules Rule No More!

As Labor Day approaches, I lament having to put away all my white clothes. You know the old rule someone, somewhere made a long time ago that you (well, women) shouldn't wear white after the last long weekend of the summer.

But then I read an online article -- from Reader's Digest, no less! And it said I can wear white after Labor Day.

Reader's Digest, my fashion liberator!

"It's time to stop thinking of fashion in terms of the 10 Commandments, and start thinking in terms of the Golden Rule," the article said. "As What Not to Wear's Stacy London puts it, 'It's not about should I wear it, it's about, does it look flattering on me?'"

Here are 10 fashion rules you can break, according to the fashionistas at Reader's Digest.

1. No long hair after 40. Wear whatever flatters your face now, not when you were 16 or 26 or 36.
2. Match your belt, bag, and shoes. Apparently, Matchy Matcherson is a sure sign of being dated. Even my daughter knew this at an early age. When she was four, she wore red patent leather shoes with every outfit she had. I finally said, "Margot, those shoes do not go with that outfit." She simply shook her head and replied, "Mommy, red shoes go with everything!" Well, there you have it.
3. Don't mix black and navy. I was always told that you would look like a bruise. However, nowadays you can mix black, blue, and brown, as long as your intent is to match… Yeah. I don't get it either.
4. Stay out of the sun. Yeah, we both know that's not gonna happen. Just wear sunscreen (and/or take an aspirin).
5. As your age rises, your hemline falls. A good rule of thumb is anywhere from three inches above the knee to right below the knee. Not all of us have had liposuction on our knees (Demi Moore), so rocking the mini-skirt is out.
6. No white after Labor Day. As long as your whites are in "seasonally appropriate" material, you're good to go!
7. No open-toe shoes and hosiery. As long as the toe isn't reinforced, the seam isn't showing, and the toe opening is peep (not sandal), you can show your hose.
8. No cross-metalling. It used to be you couldn't mix your metals. However, now you can "blend your bling," because it makes you look uber modern.
9. No red lipstick in the daytime. I didn't even know this was a rule! According to the fashionistas, "You can wear red lipstick -- or black eyeliner -- by day. You just can't wear both at once."
10. If it doesn't fit, put it back on the rack. If it doesn't fit, it can be altered by a tailor. It's about flattery, not fit. But as a reminder, some things can't be altered. If you're a curvy girl, skinny jeans can't be fixed to fit you. Respect you body type!

Now, go put on that white dress with a hemline three inches above the knee, pair it with red stockings and peep-toe shoes, and accessorize with bronze and silver jewelry. The fashionistas have deemed it OK!