The EditThe Rules
How to dress well, and when to break the rules.
Photograph: Olu Eletu. CC0, via StockSnap
Why rules
Good dressing has fewer laws than fashion pretends. The Rules sets out the ones that hold, the ones that have lapsed, and the pleasure of knowing the difference.
Each piece is practical first: what to buy once, what to tailor, and what to leave on the rail.
The seven rules
01Spend on the outer layer
A coat is seen before anything else and worn most days from October to March, so it repays its price over years.
02Tailor what you buy
A good alteration turns a decent garment into one that looks made for the wearer.
03Learn your proportions
Know where a jacket should end and where a trouser should break, and advice is rarely needed again.
04Keep a short list of colours
A wardrobe of five shades goes together without effort.
05Buy fewer things, wear them more
Cost per wear is dull arithmetic, but it settles most arguments.
06Care for what you own
Shoes resoled, knitwear shaved, hems mended. Well-kept clothes look expensive at any price.
07Break one rule on purpose
A rule that can be named can be broken well. The unexpected colour, the borrowed jacket and the very old shoe are where taste shows.
The story
The seven rules are set out in full in our story, with the reasoning behind each.
The story is with the editor.
None of this requires a large budget. It requires attention, and the patience to leave a good thing on the rail until it is right.