No white shoes after Labor Day, or What should I wear to the holiday party?

The classic rules of style have long been contested as people explore their own individuality and express it through clothes. Bowtie? Sure, bring it on. White shoes after labor day? Why not.

I'm not professing to be any kind of fashion maven, but I know what works for me. And, that's a good place to start, especially as the holiday season of parties is upon us:

Always be yourself. 

If you're comfortable in what you're wearing, it's age appropriate and it suits the occasion, you're going to feel confident. It's the Shakespearean "to thine own self be true, or it follows, as the night the day, thou canst be true to anyone" (or, more simply, 'always be yourself').

Don't follow trends.

Case in point: pirate shirt on Seinfeld. Nuff said.

Don't wear clothes that require a MySpace angle to look good on you.

Now, there are great blogs that dedicate themselves to following the antics of the Hollywood set. The rule of thumb here: If your outfit requires that you strike a Paris Hilton tilt down of the face or a Zoolander "Blue Steel" face contortion to pull off, it's not for you. And, even Corey Hart (gratuitous canadian reference there) shouldn't have been wearing sunglasses at night. Neither should you.

Ho-ho-hope everyone enjoys the holidays.