The laws of fashion

If you are serious about fashion, there are a few ground rules to follow. Never wear white after Labour Day (only for pusillanimous Americans), never be seen wearing the same outfit day after day, don't wear Stella McCartney unless you're a size 8, don't wear daytime glitter, do wear daytime glitter. The rules are endless, often confusing and sometimes conflicting. Yet there is one rule we all fear breaking: being caught wearing a trend that is on its way out.

According to fashion journalist Marilyn Kirschner pins and brooches are the latest trend to suffer this fate. And just when we had cottoned on to their trendiness! Although Kirschner condones the wearing of pins and brooches with a gallant "it all goes back to this: if you like pins- go ahead- wear and enjoy them", she is quick to proclaim their datedness. Her prediction for the next hot accessory is beads. Whether vintage, plastic, real, wood or bakelite, beads are on the agenda for the coming season. The December issue of American Elle features actress Nathalie Portman on its cover wearing vintage chunky Missoni beads around her neck. The look is fresh, young and colourful and works well in any setting, be it on a beach like in the Elle shoot, or as an accessory to brighten up a sombre winters day. So leave the brooches to your grandmother and invest in a couple of beads - if you don't want to risk following far behind the trends, that is.

For us mere mortals who are confined by our bank accounts to commit another crime of fashion - repeating outfits - Kirschner offers some solace. Socialite and former Vogue editor Helen Lee Schifter was recently caught wearing the same Proenza Schouler bustier three times in a row. Shock, horror! The fashionista delighted Kirschner with her simple response to the question "why". She loves the item so much, she wants to wear it as much as possible. And coming from someone in the know, this explanation is as acceptable as they come. According to Kirschner, this freedom to wear what you want, when and how often you want comes as a breath of fresh air and she applauds a woman's right to chose her own outfits. So, now it is time to chose yours.

Check out eBay or your neighbourhood vintage shop for beads and don't worry about wearing them day in day out till the next hot thing comes along.