Top 10 Fashion Faux Pas (or No-Nos)

When stepping out, most of us would rather look arresting, than be arrested by the fashion police. Take note of the 10 worst offences and avoid a fashion felony.

10. Logomania - Just because you can afford to wear logos head-to-toe, doesn't mean you need to wear them for the entire world to see. We suggest keeping labels on the inside of clothes, but if you must brand yourself like cattle, keep your Tommys, Ralphs and LVs to one item of clothing only.

9. Over-trending - Much like Logomania, Over-trending is the opposite of a tasteful "everything in moderation" philosophy. We've all seen the over-trender, trotting down the street wearing every single "must-have for the season"—in one fitting. Trends come and go, and if you want your wardrobe to have any sort of longevity, offset one or two of the latest trends with classy basics.

8. The Gray Areas with Black and White - It's been over 20 years since Michael Jackson first donned the black loafers with those bright white socks. Just because someone sells millions of records, it doesn't necessarily mean he's a fashion icon. White socks work in one place and in one place only, and that's with gym shoes. Things don't get much better, even in reverse: black tights with white shoes. It's a rare occasion when an outfit can ever handle shoes that are lighter than the colour of your hose, but black tights with white shoes? That's the ultimate no-no.

7. Sandals and Socks - Birkenstocks not Birks'n'socks. We've all been there, those heady days at university where work socks and Birkensocks were the secret code to succeeding in an Ivy League setting. But we're in real life now, and there's a place for Birks 'n' socks—it's at the cottage, where no one can see you.

6. Leave the Floods for Noah - There's a general rule to follow when buying and wearing pants: make sure the hem of the pant falls at least to the top of your shoes. Anything shorter, and for that matter far longer, needs some adjusting. Crop too short pants into fashionable Capri pants. Long hems should be sent to your local tailor for a proper fitting.

5. Arresting Breasts - The bra needs to fit the boob! Head to a boutique that's known for its Melon Mentors: women with an almost eerie instinct for ensuring the right size. *Warning: they will "reach in" to adjust your hooters, and the price may make you gasp, but it's cheaper than cosmetic surgery. Next, make sure your wardrobe has four bra basics: black bra for dark clothes (and sexy nights out); white sports bra for workouts (and nothing else), a nude bra for your white and light coloured clothing, and a strapless (in either black or nude) for more revealing tops. Visible straps only work if you're Madonna or Gwen Stefani.

4. Workout Wear for Day - Speaking of the gym…that's where jogging suits belong. Young girls hip to the latest trends excluded, because they can still pull off wearing those cute, colourful track-pant inspired outfits. But for all of you out there longing to walk around downtown with "Juicy" splayed across your butt like some form of unfortunate bondage, take a deep breath and slowly walk away from the couture. Juicy is a word that describes fruit and not your ass. Oh, and for all you travel-crazed couples, leave the matching jogging/plastic walking suits at home, there's no need to convince the rest of the world of our bad fashion sense, now is there?

3. Toe-pas! The size of your feet might not change (unless your pregnant!) not all shoes fit the same. Don't assume that just because you're a size seven in Manolos, you'll be the same size at Nine West. Take the time to make sure the shoes fit right, and that your toes are comfortably nestled on the shoe and not hanging off the edges. When wearing anything open-toed, do us all a favour: wax or shave those hairy toes, and maintain pretty pedicured pieds. And PLEASE, we beg of you, don't wear sandals in frigid weather (we mean anything below 18º C)! You don't look sexy; you look cold, idiotic and trashy.

Oh, and just as an aside, cowboy boots belong on cowboys! If you're not planning on hopping on a horse, leave them in the back of the closet—forever.

2. Hook, Lip Line and Sinker - When it comes to make up, one must always look in the mirror and think WWTFD (What Would Tammy Faye Do), and then do the opposite. Of the many maquillage faux pas, engrave the most important in your brain: never, ever wear lip liner that is darker than your lipstick. That whole early '90s dark brown liner with frosty light coloured rouge over top trend must die. It makes you look cheap, gaudy, and like you've been diving into fudge all day.

1. What's my size? We're women. It's a statement of fact that we always want to be smaller; it's as if that tiny tag on the back of our clothes is a direct line to our psyches. But here's the thing: you always look better in clothes that fit. So go up or down a size until you get it just right. Buy clothes slightly larger and have them tailored to fit your shape (that's what the stars do!). Don't sacrifice looking good for feeling inadequate because your sizes have changed over the years. You can always cut the tags out of your clothes. The main message is that you wear the clothes, don't let the clothes wear you! Looking good can often equal feeling good, so avoid these no-nos and choose basics that will send the right impression-everytime!