I am sure you have all heard the following:

• Before you leave the house, take one thing off
• Don’t wear white after Labor Day
• Don’t mix prints
• Wear gender specific clothing
• Dress for a specific body type
• Don’t wear horizontal stripes
• Be Modest (Don’t show skin)
• Be Sexy (Show lots of skin)
• If you have a flat chest, wear ruffles
• If you have a large chest, never wear ruffles
• Don’t wear heals if you are tall
• Don’t wear flats if you are short
• If you are big, wear loose fitting clothing
• Match your shoes, belt and purse

Frankly, toss this all out the window. The one true rule for fashion nowadays? Wear what works for you.

Auntie Zia’s  fashion tips:

• Try on three sizes, not just one – Sizing can be a bit arbitrary.
• Take a friend shopping, but one who will be brutally honest with you. Not a “yes” friend. It is better to have your feelings a tiny bit bruised with a “Do you really think that is a good idea?” than to wear something and have people look at you funny.
• Comfort rules. If you feel uncomfortable, no matter how hot you look, you will not look good.
• If you find a look that works for you, stay with it. (I would also advise checking in with that honest friend.)
• Have a “little black dress”, in the best color for YOU. (Mine is a dark sapphire blue.)
• Dress for the way you want to feel. If you are feeling kind of slobby, but want to have a boost of sex appeal, pop on a little bit of sexy lingerie underneath. It makes a difference. If you are working from home, don’t always wear PJ’s or sloppy sweats. ESPECIALLY if you are going to be talking to someone on the phone.  Trust me, it makes a difference.
• Dress for yourself. Not for anyone else. (Unless you have to wear a uniform of some sort)

Now a brief comment about women’s sizes.  They suck. Seriously, they really do. They are completely arbitrary.  A size 8 at one store can be a size 12 (or larger) at another. They have changed (and continue to change) over time. A size 8 dress today is roughly the equivalent of a size 16 from 1958. (Something to keep in mind if you shop at vintage or Goodwill stores.) Also, the modern woman is, well, more built than the woman of yesteryear. If you love that vintage find from the corner antique store, be prepared to have the sleeves (and possibly other areas) altered so it will fit your more muscular frame.

Go out there, be bold and wear what you want.

-Auntie Zia