TAJ BURROW’s 50 RULES OF STYLE

Style is a tough one. Put in too much effort and you’re labelled a princess. Too little and you’re out of your league. I don’t claim to know anything about fashion but I’m starting to know what I like. I’m no peacock but after a year of sitting in design meetings and having design swatches stuffed under my beak, I feel like I can point you in the right direction. Here’s what I’ve learned about style…

1. Unless you’ve got chunky stilts like Jules Wilson, steer clear of springies in the brine.
2. You spend your days in puffy skate shoes, tone it down for a more fitted kick after dark.
3. Avoid hoodies and big puffy jackets on a night out.
4. If you’ve got busy boardies, pair it with a plain tee. You can do a button up in the tropics, too. That kinda works.
5. Similarly, a busy tee can work with plain boardies.
6. Plain with plain and you’re looking old, I reckon.
7. If you’ve got the chance to suit up, do it. As surfers, you spend your life dressed down. May as well step it up when you can.
8. I don’t like to stand out too much. I also don’t like to be washed into a sea of anonymity. If you’re going to a party where every cat is dressed in denim, chuck on pants.
9. Denim shirts? Pretty mad, if you can pull it off. Wear over a rock tee.
10. And, please don’t wear sneakers with a suit unless they’re real high-end like Common Projects. Converses with suits? Yawn.
11. Jeans and thongs? Please, no. Didn’t the Y2K bug wipe you out?
12. Boardies at airports? Not that cool. And, I don’t think I’ve ever been on a warm plane.
13. Shoes and surf boardies. I know, Bruce Irons can do it. Not me, probably not you.
14. An open shirt over a tee is a simple look that’s pretty simple.
15. Ridiculously long boardies look exactly that. I’m not keen to get my thighs out but right on the top of the knee is more than acceptable.
16. Big wallets bulging with receipts and cards and coins? All you need are a few notes, a credit card and a licence. Drop the coins in your car or a tip jar.
17. That suit you just bought? I can guarantee it’s a size too big. Take it to a tailor. For an extra hundred bucks, even a cheapish suit’ll look awesome.
18. Learn how to tie a tie. It ain’t that hard and it sure impresses a girl. Ain’t nothing lamer than a grown man having his woman or mum standing behind, twisting his flaps around.