The new codes of dressing

Rules were made to be rewritten.

Rules were made to be rewritten. The old ones about what to wear where, and at what age, have mostly gone. Here's what replaced them.

There used to be a rulebook. No brown in town, never mix navy and black, dress your age, save the good dress for best. Most of it was invented to sell more clothes or keep people in their place. Today the rules are looser and far more personal. That's freeing, but it also means getting dressed takes a bit more thought.

Office wear has relaxed

Since hybrid working, suits have become optional in most offices. That doesn't mean anything goes. The new code is smart comfort: good trousers with a fine knit, a shirt with clean trainers, a blazer over a T-shirt. The fabric does the work. A cashmere jumper looks professional in a way a fleece never will. Arket and ME+EM are good at this kind of polished ease.

Evening wear without the fuss

Black tie is rarer, and when it does happen it's often flexible. A sharp trouser suit, a slip dress with a blazer or a sequin skirt with a jumper all count. The rule now is to look like you made an effort, not that you followed instructions. Rixo and Self-Portrait are great for dressy pieces you'll wear more than once.

Age is a number on the label

The idea that certain clothes are off-limits after 40 has gone, and good riddance. Mini skirts, leather trousers, trainers and band T-shirts are worn by women of every age. What matters is fit and fabric. A beautifully cut piece looks right at 25 and at 65. The women who look best simply dress for the life they're living.

Mixing high and low

Nobody wears head-to-toe designer any more, and it would look odd if they did. The modern way is a Zara top with a vintage coat and one good bag. Mixing price points makes outfits look personal rather than lifted off a mannequin. It's also kinder on the bank balance.

The only real dress code left is wearing it like you mean it.

Rules that still matter

A few old rules are worth keeping. Clothes should fit. Shoes should be clean. Don't wear white to someone else's wedding. Read the dress code on an invitation and respect it. These have nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with manners.

Trainers everywhere

Trainers are now worn with suits, dresses and even at weddings. The trick is choosing the right pair. A slim leather or suede style, like Adidas Sambas or Veja Campos, looks smarter than a chunky running shoe. Keep them clean. Scuffed trainers undo a good outfit instantly.

The lines have blurred

Some of the best pieces in a woman's wardrobe come from the men's section. Oversized shirts, boxy blazers, knitwear and straight jeans often have a better cut and a more generous fit. The COS menswear range is worth a browse. Equally, men are wearing pearls and cropped knits. Wear what fits and feels right.

Rewearing is the new status

Showing off a new haul is no longer the flex it once was. Rewearing, repairing and buying secondhand are now signs of good taste. Being seen in the same coat for five winters says you chose well. Vestiaire Collective and Vinted make it easy to find quality pieces with a story.

Write your own code

Without a rulebook, it helps to write your own. Look at the outfits you feel best in and work out what they have in common. Maybe it's always a wide trouser, a certain shade of blue or a gold earring. Those are your rules. Stick to them and you'll never feel lost in a changing room again.

Our edit below brings together the pieces that work across every occasion, so you're dressed for whatever the day throws at you.

Dressing for weddings now

Weddings are where the old rules hang on longest. Don't wear white unless the couple ask you to, and check the dress code on the invitation. Beyond that, things have relaxed. A trouser suit is as welcome as a dress, black is fine for an evening do, and nobody expects a hat outside a church. Comfortable shoes are a kindness to yourself, because you'll be standing for hours.