clearly clashing

Sorry for the late friday fashion questions--as it's now more like tardy sunday fashion questions, but better late than never! Here they are:

This is not the most clever question, but one I have struggled with occasionally over the years: In any type of fashion combination, can you ever wear brown and black together?

mj: This is actually a question that a lot of people worry about every season. As simple as the designers make it look, it's easy to miss the mark. While there are no hard and fast rules, it's easier to tie a brown and black look together by keeping accessories like shoes and handbag in the same color, contrasting with a black/brown print.


Hot right now: Derek Lam's Spring 07 dress

Can you ever wear blue and black together?


Signature look from Thakoon's hit fall 07 collection

mj: This is an even harder look to carry off, but as Thakoon proved, it can be done. When a dark navy and black are worn together, it can just come off as sloppy dressing. But as you can see in the photo above, when there is more contrast, like electric blue paired with black, the combination can be beautiful.

Is it still considered a fashion faux-pas to wear white after Labor Day?


Ralph Rucci's fall 07 collection

mj: A lot of people wrote in with this same question. The rule about not wearing white past Labor Day has become an outdated etiquette rule. All I can say is Ralph Rucci is considered one of the great, if not the only living American couturier. Who am I to question his taste? My mother, being from the south, used to fuss about it when I was a kid--but I haven't heard her mention it in years. When it comes to wearing white after Labor Day, times have changed.

Before I sign off I want to thank Ruth Furtado again for helping me tranform my HerStyle*HisStyle logo into color. You can check out more of her work here.