What old fashion rules still apply? Which are outdated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting so far… for all the self-identified WASP posters, do you judge women if they are breaking these rules? Any rule more than others?

I'm the long winded 12:08 PP

As I mentioned in my post, I strongly support women dressing in a way that makes them feel good and confident. If you like blue glitter eyeshadow, more power to you!

These rules apply to a subculture, not the general public.

I would notice and yeah, probably judge, a woman with visible bra straps and purple hair at an event at a country club. It would be a tone deaf way to present oneself and not appropriate to the venue. If she wanted to wear that to a Pride parade it would be fabulous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full disclosure, I'm a WASP from Chevy Chase and I grew up with a lot of fashion and etiquette rules that the rest of the country had dropped at least a generation before. Even now, if I showed up wearing a white dress to lunch with my 80 year old father in, say, October there is a 100% chance he'd make a comment about it. I still follow a lot of these rules for my own personal style, but I have lots of friends who dress totally differently and I love that for them. I'm 42 and a stay at home mom.

-I love black tights and wear them all the time in fall/winter. I also like colored tights sometimes. I do actually wear pantyhose but only to church when it's chilly outside, like today. Most people at my church are over 60 anyway.

-I don't wear diamond jewelry in general. I prefer solid gold pieces.

-I don't mix metals. All gold (usually) or all silver tone. This includes handbag hardware. If I'm wearing colored pieces then they should coordinate with the rest of the outfit. For nicer occasions I'd also make sure my nails coordinate.

-Nails are short and should be polished only in light pinks, nudes, coral, red, or burgundy. I might do fuchsia for vacation. No brightly colored eyeshadow or flashy makeup. My grandmother is long dead but she strongly disapproved of red or burgundy lips or nails.

-I don't wear white after Labor Day. I do wear winter white frequently but winter white is a different color than true white.

-I don't mix brown and black. To be fair, I rarely wear brown anything.

-Foundation garments are crucial to looking put together. I wouldn't leave the house without a proper bra and I am evangelical about proper bra fitting. No visible bra straps or lace peeking through a thin shirt. No VPL. Slipshorts are great for under dresses to prevent VPL and for modesty if there is a sudden gust of wind.

-Sneakers should be worn for athletic activity or with athletic clothes. Skirts and dresses should be paired with a proper shoe or a sandal in the summer or spring. Sandals require pedicured toes so I don't wear them very often.

-I don't care about having styled hair. My hair is straight and I don't think it makes much of a difference if I blow dry it or air dry it. I don't dye it but I probably will when I start getting gray hairs.

-Synthetic sweaters are yuck. Real wool (merino, cashmere, etc) only. I would not wear fake leather shoes or bags. Of course cloth or woven shoes and bags are fine.

Writing this has kind of made me realize I might need some therapy.

This is amazing, and I adore you.

I'm not a WASP, but I'm 55, so I'll weigh in from an old lady perspective.

Traditional rules I follow
I don't wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, unless it's winter white.
I don't mix silver and gold jewelry (though I don't wear much jewelry).
I don't mix brown and black clothing.
If I wear a tight top, I'll wear a looser bottom, and vice versa.

Traditional rules I break
I don't care if my bag and shoes don't match.
I'll wear athletic shoes with dresses & skirts (LOVE this trend).
I'd wear diamond studs during the day if the opportunity arose.
I'll mix red and pink.
I've got bitten nails well below the quick, and I don't care how it looks (poorly-kept nails).

I'm not sure where this would fit in, but I've stopped coloring my hair. It's been 6 months since I last dyed my hair, and it's coming in 100% gray/white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perfume is not only outdated, it instantly brands the wearer as completely clueless. Only tweens and old ladies wear perfume.

I'm neither and I am not giving up my perfume. Call me any name you like, the perfume stays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the old rich ladies have ruined this thread.

OP, I am American of South Asian ancestry. I wear far more diamonds than these ladies can even imagine. I don't understand why wealthy white ladies feel like they should hoard their jewelry instead of wearing it. So dumb!! If you own it, you should wear it, no rules!!

Happy to not be white so I don't have to follow your stupid white people rules!!!!

Oh, I see the I hate white women poster has shown up. You go on with your hate and hoards of diamonds. What a fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the old rich ladies have ruined this thread.

OP, I am American of South Asian ancestry. I wear far more diamonds than these ladies can even imagine. I don't understand why wealthy white ladies feel like they should hoard their jewelry instead of wearing it. So dumb!! If you own it, you should wear it, no rules!!

Happy to not be white so I don't have to follow your stupid white people rules!!!!

I wear tasteful diamond jewelry during the day and I eat off of my wedding china everyday. So you are wrong about white women. Please do not generalize.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised this has continued:

Don't wear the same formal dress more than once, unless you wear it to an event with completely different people. (I imagine this is hard nowadays with social media showing everyone what you have worn.)

This was a rule I followed as a teen/20s, and my teen daughter follows it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the old rich ladies have ruined this thread.

OP, I am American of South Asian ancestry. I wear far more diamonds than these ladies can even imagine. I don't understand why wealthy white ladies feel like they should hoard their jewelry instead of wearing it. So dumb!! If you own it, you should wear it, no rules!!

Happy to not be white so I don't have to follow your stupid white people rules!!!!

There are plenty of stupid South Asian beauty rules, which I’m sure you know. No ethnicity has a monopoly on this type of stupidity.

You only live once. Wear what you want. Don’t live with regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting so far… for all the self-identified WASP posters, do you judge women if they are breaking these rules? Any rule more than others?

Was wondering …
I’m a WOC & absolutely love Red lipstick - Dior 999 to be exact.

No wonder alllll the older YT woman say to me “ I could never pull that off “

[Anonymous]

The fashion rules I follow are the ones I create. Other people follow me because I have that kind of energy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting so far… for all the self-identified WASP posters, do you judge women if they are breaking these rules? Any rule more than others?

Was wondering …
I’m a WOC & absolutely love Red lipstick - Dior 999 to be exact.

No wonder alllll the older YT woman say to me “ I could never pull that off “

Ooooh...pretty!! I just looked up that color, and it's gorgeous! I'm white and pale, so I'm unsure if Dior 999 will work for me, but I'm going to give it a try. I've never been brave enough to wear true red lipstick (I stick to rose), but I'm taking the leap.

[Anonymous]

To the Dior 999 wearer - do you wear the satin or velvet finish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting so far… for all the self-identified WASP posters, do you judge women if they are breaking these rules? Any rule more than others?

Was wondering …
I’m a WOC & absolutely love Red lipstick - Dior 999 to be exact.

No wonder alllll the older YT woman say to me “ I could never pull that off “

Ooooh...pretty!! I just looked up that color, and it's gorgeous! I'm white and pale, so I'm unsure if Dior 999 will work for me, but I'm going to give it a try. I've never been brave enough to wear true red lipstick (I stick to rose), but I'm taking the leap.

Yess! Please do and share back on how it works out ❤️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the Dior 999 wearer - do you wear the satin or velvet finish?

Velvet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Dior 999 wearer - do you wear the satin or velvet finish?

Velvet.

Thank you! I'll definitely report back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am late 40s and grew up in a very WASPy family in (mostly) the South.

I still follow most of the rules that have been written here. I will add no Linen before Easter (white or not) and while I try not to wear mixed metal jewelry, I do wear my Dad's watch that is mixed metal so.....hard not to mix then. I'll also add (for mostly laughs) that I was taught how fabrics can really make a difference in how you look. I would never wear thin or shiny polyester (I think you will understand what I mean). Pretty much live in Poplin and Linen in the Summer.

I wear Diamond Studs (in a tasteful size) every single day. They were a gift from my husband and like my engagement ring, I appreciate them and feel they are classic and timeless. Not sure why people wouldn't wear them every day? I have friends that wear pearl studs every day.

Why do you oddly capitalize “Diamond Studs,” “Poplin” and “Linen”? Those aren’t proper nouns.