Fashion Rules

I was chatting to a friend today and discussing my outfit for an upcoming event.I'd chosen a brown dress and was going to cinch it with a black belt;,my friend looked horrified and said (in hushed tones) that you never EVER wore black and brown together. I couldn't believe it.....really? I thought all these old fashion rules were long discarded, but they still seem to be lurking in the background of people's minds. Why do we place restrictions on what goes together? As I've gotten older I've accepted my style and also other's people's quirks and admire when people mix things up and do the unexpected. Do you guys have any rules?

Dree xx

hat Asos
shirt topshop
shorts River Island
clogs topshop
rings H&M
cuff urban outfitters