DRESSING up can sometimes be really stressful, at least for me, especially when it comes to mixing and matching.

I always worry which colours go well together and which ones don’t, and hopefully I get it right most of the time. Through the years, thanks to magazines, TV shows and fashionista friends, I’ve learned several useful lessons when it comes to dressing up.

Getting it right is never really an issue. Getting it wrong however can be disastrous as people are quick to notice mistakes.

You could be wearing a great outfit, but if you have one tiny but noticeable flaw, your look could be completely ruined!

Here are a few definite no-nos, when it comes to dressing up. Read and learn!

Webbed toes

Stockings and open-toes are a no-no!

Leggings and stockings are everywhere. They’re especially great for dressing up a simple dress or hiding unshaven legs.

You can wear them with almost anything, but make sure you avoid the web-toed look when wearing full-length stockings.

Wear your leggings, stockings and pantyhose only with closed-toe shoes. If you do wear leggings in nude with open-toed shoes, make sure your leggings too are open-toed. Webbed toes just look weird!

Undergarment bloopers

There's a reason why they're called 'under'garments

Heaps of women dress like this: White top with black bra. White top with pink bra. White top with polka-dot bra. Please don’t! It’s tacky and there’s a reason why undergarments are called ‘under’ garments.

White tops look best when you can’t see what’s underneath them. Wear a nude bra, and bear in mind that white on white make your undergarments look whiter, so try and avoid that.

Bra straps, too, shouldn’t be visible. If you’re wearing a tube dress or a racerback top, go with a half-cup bra. Those ugly plastic rubber straps, too, are a bad mistake.

Of course, the ultimate faux pas is the dreaded VPL (visible panty-line). Black thongs with white pants are hideous, as are too-tight panties that show through. Remember the rules – tight bottoms go with thongs, and loose, flowy skirts with boy-shorts.

Matchy-match

Kim (right) does it right with a pair of nude shoes

If you have a bright-coloured dress, do not match your shoes to it. This goes for bright anything: red, pink, yellow and so on.

The same goes for blinged-up, heavily accessorised dresses or dresses with tassles and other embelishments. You should wear these with neutral coloured shoes.

Remember that even though it might seem the right thing to do, your accessories don’t always have to be in a matching colour. Wearing red earrings, necklace, belt, shoes and finishing off with a red bag would just look too weird.

Avoid pairing too many different primary colours together, and make sure you only have two stand-outs pieces.

For example shoes plus necklace, or shoes plus bags, or shoes plus top. Keep it simple everywhere else.

Short skirt, low heels

This is one rule I hate to follow, important as it may be. When wearing a skirt/dress more than an inch above the knee, go low on the heels.

Yes, I know some of us are short (I am!), but unless you’re going out clubbing or to a theme party that requires skanky dressing, go easy on the skin-showing.

Balance the short skirt or dress with a lower heel or flats.

If you simply refuse to wear low heels (like me), perhaps a top with lots of coverage will help balance it out. Just don’t pull a Mariah Carey and show off everything.