Fashion New Style Rules By InStyle Editors InStyle Editors Instagram Twitter InStyle's mantra is "Everybody's in," and that means anyone who finds their way to our stories should find themselves reflected in them. We prioritize bringing the right writer to every story and sometimes collaborate as a team to ensure we're including points of view across race, gender expression, body size, skin and hair type, and more. Our editors and writers comprise decades of expertise across the beauty, fashion, lifestyle and wellness spaces in print and digital. We prioritize journalistic integrity, factual accuracy, and also having fun with every story we share. For more about our team, click here. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on August 1, 2008 Pin Share Tweet Email Photo: Marc Susset-Lacroix/WireImage New Style Rules 01 of 21 Let Your Roots Show Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Sipa Press A dark part used to mean you missed a salon visit. But imperfection can be cool, provided roots are only a few shades away from your highlights. At left: Gwyneth Paltrow 02 of 21 Go Short for Black Tie INF Goff Yes, you can wear an LBD in a formal setting, but choose one with a beautiful detail such as a giant satin bow or a graceful tulip hem. At left: Charlize Theron in Christian Lacroix 03 of 21 Stay in Sandals Jun Sato/WireImage No need to retire them yet. Strappy footwear looks great for fall withdark stockings (as do peep-toe pumps). At left: Lucy Liu in Dior shoes 04 of 21 Grow Out Your Hair at 40 2008 RockinExposures/Elevation Photos Buck the trend to trim yourtresses. But condition so yourlocks are as lush as Halle Berry's (at left). Welike Pantene Pro-V BeautifulLengths conditioner, $4;at drugstores. 05 of 21 Go Sleeveless Steve Sands/Bauer-Griffin It's time to rethink thejacket for fall-3.1 PhillipLim, Diane von Furstenberg and CalvinKlein all showedsleeveless ones as abold new option. At left: Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of Sex and the City. 06 of 21 Don't Match Your Stockings to Your Shoes Maria Valentino/MCV Photos Last year: matching tights and ankleboots. This season: different hues foryour heels, tights and-perProenza Schouler-your gem-tone shift. At left: Proenza Schouler, Fall 2008 07 of 21 Pick a Print That Makes You Look Slimmer Time Inc. Digital Studio Especially if it comes in the form of a flirty little camisole with strategically placed panels to streamline your figure. At left: Silk Blackberry patched cami, Rebecca Taylor, $250; 914-793-0737. 08 of 21 Step Out in Colorful Lace Michael Caronna/Reuters/Landov Fashion insiders normally find it tacky, but on the fall runways of Prada and Jean Paul Gaultier, the styles looked chic in orange, teal and chocolate hues. At left: Maggie Gyllenhaal in Gaultier Paris 09 of 21 Mix Your Metals Time Inc. Digital Studio That old adage of wearing only silver or gold is gone: An armful of bangles in both-the shinier the ores the better-suddenly feels right. At left: 18kt-gold Horsebit bracelet, Gucci, $3,990; gucci.com. Matte sterling-?silver Regal bracelet, Gorjana, $170; gorjana.com. Leather cuff, Juicy Couture, $58; 646-336-8151. Vermeil Drop It bangles, Jules Smith, $237/2; 10 of 21 Fret No More About Hemlines Dan Herrick/Zuma Mom alwayssaid a coat should hit right ata dress?s hem, but for once she?swrong. Designers have beenflouting the rule with renewedvigor this season-andyou should too. At left: Katherine Heigl 11 of 21 Let Your Brows Go Natural Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic Overly arched is out: The look is thicker but wellgroomed, like Camilla Belle?s (at left). Try Trish McEvoyBrow Builder gel pen, $32; nordstrom.com. 12 of 21 Marry Prints and Tweeds Maria Valentino/MCV Photos Think Edwardian heroinemeets British schoolboy and wear chiffon rufflesalongside gray glen plaidwith abandon. At left: Chloe, Fall 2008 13 of 21 Don Sequins During the Day Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images A sparkly cami underyour pinstripes justmakes work more fun. At left: Taylor Swift 14 of 21 Line Your Lower Lash Line Steve Granitz/WireImage But not in black: Gofor a charcoal, taupe oreven a mossy green.Try Pop Beauty In-Liner,$16; at sephora.com. At left: Nicole Richie 15 of 21 Match Your Necklace and Bracelets Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images Sounds old-fashioned,right? It?s not when youput giant cuffs with awow-of-a-necklace. At left: Balenciaga, Fall 2008 16 of 21 Tease Your Hair Tall Eamonn McCormack/WireImage Smooth, flat-ironed hair has been the rule for years, but big hair looked fab on therunways at Christian Dior, where John Galliano orchestrated back-combed 'dos,and at Moschino, where curls were teased into beehives. So grab your fine-toothedcomb: You want the lift at the top and back of the head, teasing roots outward severalinches. The look is sixties retro, so modernize it with soft curls below the uplift. At left: Victoria Beckham 17 of 21 Be a Free Spirit Time Inc. Digital Studio ...with fragrance, that is. The concept of having just one signature scent is a tad dated. What's fresher is to put your favorites in rotation-one day a citrus, the next, a floral. At left: Daisy Marc Jacobs eau de parfum $72/1.7 oz.; at Bloomingdale'sBurberry the Beat, $62/1.7 oz.; nordstrom.comMiller Harris Le Petit Grain, $220/3.4 oz.; at Saks Fifth Avenue 18 of 21 Swap Your Skinny Jeans for Pleated Trousers Johns PkI/SplashNewsOnline.com Try on a pair of fall's tailored pants and notice how the lower waist and trim legs are more flattering than you would think. 19 of 21 Belt Everything But Your Pants Fame Pictures Cinch a narrow belt over an evening jacket (as seen on fall runways). At left: Claudia Schiffer 20 of 21 Rock Pastels All Year Time Inc. Digital Studio Soft blues, pretty pinks and minty greensaren?t only for spring. Designers suchas Chris Benz and Marc Jacobs switched upfall?s predictably dark palette with woolbeauties in sherbet hues. Wear the softstuff in eighties-inspired silhouettes like thisvoluminous coat. Or go "sexy secretary"with a pastel bow-front satin blouse. At left: Tropical-wool coat, Chris Benz, $1,175; at Neiman Marcus. 21 of 21 Wear Horizontal Stripes on Top Marc Susset-Lacroix/WireImage Release them from their bad rapas figure detractors: In a fittedtop, with leggings and heels, theydo good things for your curves (and have classic cool too). At left: Mariah Carey Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit