WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

In an era where every scroll comes with a style suggestion, fashion has become less about self-expression and more about silent rules. These “rules” aren’t written down, but they’re everywhere: You need designer-branded items to look expensive. Dress your age. Minimalism means maturity. Prints are childish. But what if none of these are truths—just well-dressed propaganda? Ideas subtly (or overtly) pushed by marketing, media, and influencer culture that limit creativity and reinforce consumerism?

But a quiet shift is underway. Welcome to the era of “deinfluencing”—where style isn’t about buying more or fitting in, but about unlearning what never really served us to begin with.

YOU NEED DESIGNER TO LOOK EXPENSIVE

One of the most persistent ideas pushed by fashion media, brand marketing, and aspirational content creators is this: true style comes with a luxury logo. But this belief erases creativity, resourcefulness, and cultural expression. Looking expensive doesn’t have to mean being expensive—it can mean wearing what’s well-fitted, intentional, and personal. Some of the most striking dressers wear thrifted pieces, vintage finds, or local designs—because it’s not about the label, it’s about how you wear it.

Deinfluencing reminds us that value doesn’t have to equal price, and taste doesn’t have to come with a designer tag. Real style is curated, not consumed.

DRESS YOUR AGE

Another common narrative tells us that fashion must change as we hit certain milestones. Hemlines should drop. Colors should be muted. Playfulness should give way to "maturity." But this idea wrongly assumes that style must be linear and predictable, like a checklist based on age rather than identity. Style doesn’t come with an expiration date. If anything, age brings more self-knowledge—so why should your wardrobe become more restrictive?

Questioning this rule encourages dressing in a way that feels true to your current self, not just your birth year. If a 45-year-old feels powerful in a crop top and sneakers, and a 20-year-old feels at home in structured blazers and loafers, so be it. Style doesn’t expire, and neither should the joy in dressing. Wear what feels good on your body—not what’s been deemed age-appropriate.

FOLLOW THE TRENDS

Trends are fun. They can be expressive, playful, and exciting. Fashion propaganda, however, has convinced us that staying stylish means constantly chasing what’s new, even if it leads to a cycle of buying and discarding clothing. That cycle doesn’t just cost us money and time—it costs the planet, too.

Deinfluencing reframes trends as tools, not rules. You can try them, remix them, ignore them altogether. Either way, your style remains valid.

BLACK IS THE BEST

This long-standing style belief tells us that black is the ultimate "safe" choice—slimming, sophisticated, and universally flattering. And while black is undeniably chic and timeless, the idea that it’s the only flattering color discourages people from exploring personal expression through color.

Choosing otherwise challenges you to expand your style vocabulary. Black can still be beautiful, but so can emerald green, burnt orange, soft lavender, bold fuchsia, and crisp white. The most flattering color is one that makes you feel powerful, not one that hides you.

YOU CAN’T MIX PRINTS

This old-school fashion rule says mixing patterns looks “too busy,” “messy,” or “wrong.” It suggests that style must be neat, matching, and restrained to be acceptable or fashionable.

Dispelling this notion is about breaking away from rigid style rules and allowing fashion to be playful, personal, and free from judgment. Style is not about playing it safe—it’s about expression, experimentation, and personality. Mixing prints can look incredibly chic when done with intention: stripes with florals, checks with polka dots, abstract with animal print. If it feels like you, there’s no wrong combination.

YOU SHOULDN’T REPEAT OUTFITS

In a culture driven by social media and fast fashion, repeating outfits has unfairly been labeled as lazy, uninspired, or even embarrassing—especially if the look has already been “seen.” This mindset feeds the idea that every appearance, post, or event requires a brand-new outfit. The pressure to constantly wear something different promotes overconsumption, encourages waste, and disconnects us from what style really is: a personal expression, not a performance.

Outfit repeating isn’t a fashion crime—it’s a mark of sustainability, confidence, and authentic style. This moves fashion away from endless buying and toward mindful dressing. Many of the most iconic style figures in history were known for their signature pieces, worn again and again. If you love something, why wouldn’t you want to wear it more than once?

DRESS BASED ON YOUR SKIN TONE

For years, fashion advice has told us to stick to “safe” colors that supposedly complement our skin tones, while avoiding others that might “clash” or “wash us out.” While color theory can offer useful guidelines, treating it like a strict rulebook limits creativity and personal expression. It boxes us in, makes us hesitant to experiment, and can stop us from wearing what truly excites us.

You can start letting go of the idea that your palette defines your possibilities. Wear what energizes you, even if it’s outside the “recommended” range. Pay attention to how a color makes you feel, not just how it photographs. Sometimes, the most unexpected shade is the one that makes you light up.

To deinfluence isn’t to reject fashion—it’s to return it to its rightful owner: you. It’s about pausing before you add to cart and asking, “Do I actually love this? Or was I told to love it?” It’s choosing intentionality over impulse, authenticity over approval. Because fashion should never be a performance for someone else's gaze. It should feel like home.

So, let’s leave behind the outdated fashion scripts we never agreed to. Let’s wear the colors we love, regardless of our age. Let’s choose brands that align with our values, not our status. Let’s repeat outfits, mix old with new, and redefine what “stylish” means. Style isn’t what you’re told to wear—it’s what you choose to own.