Quick answer: The worst fashion advice, according to former Ford model Nikol Johnson, is any rigid rule that tells you what you can't wear. In this video she pushes back on six classics — don't mix metals, only buy practical pieces, chase trends, no denim on denim, always match your shoes to your bag, and never pair brown with black. Her take: break them, experiment, and dress for yourself at any age.
Key takeaways
- Mixing metals — silver, gold and rose gold together — is a look, not a mistake; fashion magazines run editorials on it.
- Skip fleeting trends and invest in classic, timeless pieces, because those styles keep cycling back onto the runway.
- Denim on denim works when you pair a lighter wash with a darker one and add a scarf or jacket.
- Your shoes don't have to match your bag — forcing everything to match can read as cookie-cutter.
- Nikol's number one styling trick: photograph or video yourself to see how an outfit actually reads on camera.
Hey ladies — some of the most confident-sounding fashion advice out there is also the most limiting. In this video, Nikol Johnson rounds up the "rules" she has been told over the years and explains, one by one, why she happily breaks every single one of them.
What is the worst fashion advice Nikol has ever heard?
Instead of naming one villain, Nikol walks through six rules she thinks are worth ignoring — and shares exactly what she does instead:
- Don't mix metals. Nikol mixes silver, gold and rose gold freely. She recalls a stranger correcting her at an event and simply shrugged it off, noting that a major fashion magazine was running a beautiful mixed-metals editorial that very month.
- Only make practical purchases. She keeps a little "mad money" for pieces that light her up — suede pink heels, a bold statement necklace, a cocktail ring, or a vintage find she pulls out for the right occasion. Not everything has to be practical.
- Buy into trends. Nikol calls trends a waste of money. She invests in classic and vintage pieces (often on consignment) because timeless styles keep coming back, so you stay "on trend" without chasing every season.
- Don't wear denim on denim. She loves it. The trick is mixing a lighter wash with a darker one rather than going head-to-toe in one shade, then breaking it up with a scarf or a jacket over the shoulders — the way brands like Ralph Lauren style it.
- Always match your shoes to your bag. Matching a belt to a shoe can pull a look together, but forcing every accessory to match gets taxing and cookie-cutter. Nikol would rather switch it up.
- Never wear brown with black. She thinks that rule is crazy — she pairs brown with black (and brown with navy) all the time, because the subtle contrast creates interest instead of reading as flat.
Why do these old fashion rules stick around?
Most of these rules share one theme: they tell women what they can't do rather than teaching a principle. Nikol's instinct is the opposite — anytime she is told not to do something, she wants to try it and see if she can pull it off. Some experiments work and some don't, but the point is to develop your own eye instead of outsourcing it to a magazine, a stranger at a party, or a video on the internet.
How can you tell if an outfit actually works?
This is Nikol's number one styling tip: photograph or video yourself. An outfit can look amazing in the mirror and completely different on camera, so snapping a quick photo helps you catch what isn't working before you commit. She recommends doing it right in the dressing room while shopping to avoid mistakes, and she used the same trick to choose her own wedding dress. She's honest that not everything lands — she describes a recent attempt pairing sequin trousers with a billowy button-down that simply didn't come together (a reminder that even consignment finds sometimes need a trip to the tailor). Experimenting, photographing, and editing is how you build real style confidence.
The bottom line
The worst fashion advice is the kind that shrinks your options. Nikol's counter-message is simple: embrace your style at any age, experiment with patterns, textures and colors, and listen to yourself instead of the rule list. Break the rules, take the photo, and keep what genuinely feels like you.
A polished face finishes any rule-breaking outfit, and that is Nikol's own signature — a groomed brow with the Skinny Brow Pencil, a quick wash of BB Cream, and a few coats of Volume Up Mascara. Explore more of her go-to essentials in Classics, browse the Best Sellers, or shop the full Face edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the worst fashion advice Nikol Johnson has ever heard?
Nikol doesn't name a single culprit — she rounds up six rules she thinks are all worth ignoring: don't mix metals, only buy practical pieces, buy into trends, no denim on denim, always match your shoes to your bag, and never wear brown with black. Her overall message is to stop following rigid rules and dress for yourself.
Can you really mix silver and gold jewelry?
Yes. Nikol mixes silver, gold and rose gold freely and has for years. She points out that fashion magazines regularly feature mixed-metal editorials, so the "don't mix metals" rule is more habit than fact. If combining metals feels right to you, she says wear it with confidence.
Is wearing denim on denim actually okay?
Nikol loves denim on denim. The key, she says, is to mix a lighter wash with a darker one instead of going head-to-toe in one shade, then break it up with a scarf, a jacket over the shoulders, or other accessories. Done thoughtfully, it looks polished rather than dated.
Do your shoes have to match your bag?
No. Nikol thinks matching a belt to a shoe or a bag can pull a look together, but forcing every accessory to match becomes taxing and can look cookie-cutter. She prefers to mix things up so an outfit feels personal instead of overly coordinated.
What is Nikol's number one styling tip?
Photograph or video yourself. Nikol says an outfit can look great in the mirror but read completely differently on camera, so snapping a quick photo — even in the dressing room while shopping — helps you catch problems before you buy or head out. She used the same trick to choose her wedding dress.
