Rules of Style: Kris Van Assche

The man behind Dior Homme shares the views on his rules of style...

1.A lot of fashion houses design for the catwalk and not the street—then you see the clothes on a regular guy and it's a mess. Don't disguise your personality behind labels; impose it on the clothes.

2.Wearing a pair of high-tops with a suit deconstructs the look, and that's important. I like the way high-tops and pants act together. It's like the effect of rolled-up sleeves for your trousers. Just make sure the socks match your sneakers, not the pants. If you like black high-tops, wear black socks. White, white.

3.I don't really think I know a man who wouldn't look good in black. Black is always good. It's the basic.

4.You can wear a white shirt to work, to dinner, to visit the grandmother, to the opera, on vacation, at the beach. It's the true get-away-with-anything item.

5.There's definitely an age limit for wearing leather pants, but not for wearing leather jackets. A standout fashion leather jacket can look great on a young guy. And there are a lot of suedes that men can get away with at any age.

6.Don't just copy an outfit. Look in the mirror and do a reality check. It's all about making the good match. You'll know when something is right. And if you don't, just walk down the street: If people look away from you, then you know you've done something wrong.

7.We've had beefy guys and we've had—well, skinny isn't really the right word, it's more like scary. Now men should be athletic, healthy. Today it's about having a balance in life—having nice clothes, good food, and respecting your body.

[source: details.com]