Last week, <a href="http://www.designmom.com/2011/06/book-of-the-week-parisian-chic/">Design Mom asked a question about personal style</a>, "Do you like style rules? Or do they stress you out?"

My answer? I don’t mind rules. They let you know know which ones to break when you want to stand out.

Gabrielle's question was in response to Ines de le Fressange's edict on earrings and necklaces -- in her opinion it's either or, never both. I suppose that's an easy enough rule to follow, unless of course you're going for full on glamour.

Like, say, Grace Kelly. Or Liz Taylor. Or, I don't know, the Cleopatra-like model in the Tiffany ad?

<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Van-Cleef_grace-kelly-pearls.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1605" title="Van Cleef_grace kelly pearls" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Van-Cleef_grace-kelly-pearls.jpeg" alt="" width="383" height="500" /></a>

<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Van-Cleef_grace-kelly-pearls.jpeg"></a><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Elizabeth_Taylor_Jewelry.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1603" title="Elizabeth_Taylor_Jewelry" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Elizabeth_Taylor_Jewelry.jpeg" alt="" width="203" height="275" /></a><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/jeisa-800x600.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1604 alignnone" title="jeisa-800x600" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/jeisa-800x600.jpeg" alt="" width="336" height="252" /></a>

Rules are comforting and make life easier. But don't be afraid to break them every once in awhile. Keep things fun.

This got me thinking about other style rules, and how to break them. Hopefully this inspires you to break some of your own.

<strong>Never wear white after Labor Day</strong>

<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Abbey-Lee-Kershaw-4-e1309193047944.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1613" title="Abbey-Lee-Kershaw-4" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Abbey-Lee-Kershaw-4-e1309193047944.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="735" /></a>

Tell that to Abbey Lee Kershaw (<a href="http://alltheprettybirds.blogspot.com/2011/01/abbey-lee.html">pictured outside the Hotel de Crillon, Paris in October</a>).

Winter whites are dreamy.
<h3>Never wear black with brown or navy</h3>
<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/59075_Celebutopia-Dita_Von_Teese_shopping_in_Hollywood-02_122_507lo-e1309192374858.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1620" title="Dita" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/59075_Celebutopia-Dita_Von_Teese_shopping_in_Hollywood-02_122_507lo-e1309192374858.jpeg" alt="" width="240" height="385" /></a>

<em>Dita Von Teese</em>

Really. Can someone explain to me why brown and black is supposed to be such a sin? It works for leopards. And blue and black? Dita looks perfectly fine here.
<h3>Never wear red if you’re a redhead.</h3>
<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/christina-hendricks-red-july-07-e1309192563432.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1621" title="christina-hendricks-red-july-07" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/christina-hendricks-red-july-07-e1309192563432.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="655" /></a>

<em>Photo from <a href="http://blog.delta.com/">Delta Sky Magazine</a></em>

Ms. Christina Hendricks shows anyone who believes redheads can't wear red the error of their ways.

<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">You must cut your hair short hair when going grey</span>

<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/kristenvogue11.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1626" title="kristenvogue11" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/kristenvogue11.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="706" /></a></span>

<em><span style="font-size: 15px;">image via <a href="http://models.com/feed/?p=11536">models.com</a></span></em>

<span style="font-size: 15px;">Grey hair is striking. Cut your hair short? Sure! But only if you want to.</span>

<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;">Never wear tights with open-toed shoes</span>

<span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/5003040632_bcd0af02ae_z.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1633" title="5003040632_bcd0af02ae_z" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/5003040632_bcd0af02ae_z.jpeg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /></a></span>

<em><span style="font-size: 15px;">photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zanathan/5003040632/">two cups of tea</a></span></em>

Yes you can wear tights with open-toed shoes. Just look at expert fashion rule breaker Erin Loechner from <a href="http://www.designformankind.com/">Design for Mankind</a>! Tuck the seam in under your toes and you're good to go.

<strong>What style rules do you break, my friends? </strong>

<strong>(Or does looking at these rule breakers make you break a sweat?)</strong>

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