We quizzed our fave fashionista Olivia Palermo on her style rules and have come up with this year’s top 10 style commandments

We caught up with Mango’s new face, Olivia Palermo, to find out what her top style tips are and have devised a handy list of rules to help you navigate S/S11’s top trends. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Don’t forsake your old favourites
We love nothing more than a trend at InStyle but there’s something to be said about hanging on to those old favourite pieces. If an item suits your shape, is comfortable and makes you smile, then forget the rules and keep a few basic faves in your wardrobe. In Olivia Palermo’s case: “I love my French Sole flats, Stubbs and Wootton slippers, and anything from DVF.” 

2. Orthopedic footwear is not a fashion statement
Comfy, yes; stylish, no. We agree with Olivia when she says: “I would never be caught wearing Crocs or Birkenstocks.”

3. Ask advice but ultimately go with your gut instinct
Olivia told us that she was very hands-on on her latest Mango shoot (alongside her boyfriend Johannes Huebl). “When I'm on a shoot I like to make sure it’s a collaborative effort between myself and the stylist on set. Ultimately, I always have the final say on what I wear!"

4. Embrace colour
This season is all about bold shades, from gem-tastic hues as seen on the Marc Jacobs and Jill Sander catwalks to the neon brights of Christopher Kane’s new collection. Being the savvy fashionista that she is, Olivia has long embraced colour and claims this as her ultimate style tip: “DVF always said color is important and I couldn't agree more!”

5. Make your wardrobe work hard from day to night
Invest in Olivia’s closet staples and your wardrobe will be ready for action, no matter the season or time of day. “Every girl should own a Valentino, Giambattista Valli or Marchesa dress, two great pairs of pants (one  wide leg and one cigarette), and a fabulous piece of costume jewelry that she can have forever.” 

6. Invest in statement jewellery 
Make like Olivia Palermo and dress up a classic outfit with a stand-out piece. She says: “I love statement pieces, most of my jewellery is one-of-a-kind, but at the moment Lulu Frost is one of my favorites.” 

7. Mix high street with designer

It’s the cardinal rule of fashion – avoid wearing a single designer head-to-toe. Olivia cleverly mixes high street basics with stand-out designer pieces for a look that’s elegant, original and comfortable. Her favourite labels? “Mango, Giambattista Valli, Marchesa, Valentino, and DVF.”

8. Clear out your closet
Olivia says: “You don’t always have to buy something new to look amazing. Take the items that you already own in your closet, then try out different combinations that you’ve never worn before. If your lacking inspiration, browse through fashion editorials or check out Boutiques.com for new ideas.”

SEE MORE STYLE PHOTOS OF OLIVIA PALERMO

By Maria Milano