Catherines

Back in the day, there were definite rules that governed the way we dressed for any and every occasion. A work outfit was more of a work uniform. Day events called for below-the-knee dresses and evening soirees meant long gowns. No sandals before Memorial Day. No white after Labor Day. Oh, yes! And your handbag better match your shoes. Your mother, and your mother's mother, and her mother's mother said that this was the way you should dress. We say…no way!

Out with the old rules and in with the new. The what-to-wear paradigm has been liberated (some would even say obliterated) and it's opened up a brave new world of fashion. So why settle for merely appropriate when you can be bold and fabulous? All it takes is a little myth-busting. Here, we focus on the four biggest fashion rules you simply must break if you want to step out of the dark ages and into the 21st Century.

Denim is for downtime only
Wrong. Denim is your new best friend that goes just about everywhere. Pair it with classic career knit tops and elegant georgette blouses to carry you effortlessly from errand-running to a girls' night out. Or add a casual knit tee and top it off with a statement jacket. Then there's career denim, featuring darker washes and tailored details that mirror the lines of suiting separates. Yep, it's denim that's made for the workplace.

Social events require a dress
Not anymore. From weddings to graduations to cocktail parties, the first and foremost rule to remember is that you've got options. You really can wear anything from suiting to a sundress, from traditional soft separates to fashion-forward printed pieces. So go ahead and wear black flowing pants and an animal print top to your next wedding. People might talk…but they'll be whispering about how fabulous you look!

Never wear black with brown or navy
Correction. Black, brown and navy are all neutrals, so you can wear them with just about anything, including each other. In fact, many of today's best prints contain these colors in various combinations. Think cheetah and woodblock prints, or how about the new graphic floral tops. The same rule applies to accessories. We love black shoes with a navy dress,
or a brown belt with head-to-toe black separates.

Shoes and handbags must always match
Bo-ring. Maybe our mothers who grew up in the 1950s lived by this rule, but we sure don't have to. These days, it's all about the statement bag. You know, that really cool handbag that you simply had to have because it came in the coolest shade of chartreuse? So here's a new way to think about shoes and handbags and such: just make sure your accessories work with your entire outfit, but don’t feel the need to be so matchy-matchy. In fact, the Everything Must Match rule is really outdated.

The new rules are all about options and versatility. At Catherines, versatile pieces are the mainstays of our collections. We offer fashions that not only fit well, but fit your lifestyle (and by lifestyle, we mean that non-stop, on-the-go blur that happens in between sleeping). You do not have to sacrifice style for versatility—or even practicality. We make clothes for plus size women like you who deserve to look good, feel good and feel good about how you look. Buy the right clothes from the get-go and you'll be able to go, go anywhere in style.

Get the look! Visit a store near you or shop online at catherines.com for the key pieces you need to break all the rules and put together a brand new you.