SALT LAKE CITY — New York Fashion Week is more than halfway over, Labor Day has marked the end of summer, and the air is getting cooler. While changes are underway, it can be tricky to learn how to dress for the cold after a summer of shorts and lightweight fabrics.

To help you transition are four fashion rules that should be broken already.

Don’t Wear White After Labor Day

Though purists may disagree, most fashion and etiquette authorities have given the go-ahead to kibosh this rule.

In recent years, Emily Post lifted the rule against wearing white after Labor day. The organization pointed to using appropriate fabrics for a climate’s temperatures, whatever the color.

“The true interpretation is ‘wear what's appropriate — for the weather, the season, or the occasion,’ “ the Emily Post website reads.

Fashion icon and designer Coco Chanel often wore white suits in the winter. Michelle Obama danced the night away in a Jason Wu gown to the 2008 inaugural ball. Celebrities from Jennifer Lawrence to Charlize Theron donned white for the 2013 Oscars.

The key, Bronwyn Cosgrave, author of The Complete History of Costume & Fashion: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day told TIME Magazine, is knowing how and when to wear it. "(White) looks really fresh when people aren't expecting it," she said.

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A winter white can be made of a heavier material than its lightweight summer counterparts, be off-white rather than a bright white, and be mixed with darker colors and patterns.

One Pattern at a Time

Likely, you’ve been told you should not mix patterns unless you are a clown. This season, however, mixing bold prints is kosher. In its fall 2013 collection, Chanel mixed plaid on plaid, argyle and tweed, stripes with lace, fair isle and check, among others.

If you’re not ready to mix your favorite bold floral skirt and wide striped shirt, try a subtler approach. Keep in mind that cable knits, tweeds and lace are all examples of subtle patterns. Find a lightly pinstriped top or bottom to mix with bold florals, paisley, polka dots and other patterns. The key is to keep scale and color in mind, mixing small and large scale patterns together for chic instead of over-the-top. Monochromatic or similar color tones will keep your patterns from clashing.

This fall, tough, tailored looks are in again. Keep your patterns from overwhelming your bodyshape by keeping pieces tailored.

Horizontal Stripes Widen

Mothers everywhere have told daughters to beware of the horizontal stripe, as it makes them look larger. But men and women can bend the rules and enjoy this year’s vertically striped fabrics.

A few tips:

• If you’re self-conscious about your waistline, define it with a belt or contrasting piece of clothing.
• Wear a jacket. Frame your big, bold stripes with an open jacket. Pair with a tighter bottom for a slimming, defined shape.
• Smaller stripes are more flattering. Instead of big, bold stripes, opt for smaller stripes, or stripes that variegate in size.
• Avoid heavy fabrics. This trend is best in a lightweight fabric that will define your figure, rather than stretch out or bag.
• Embrace simple color paletes. Black and white are especially in this season, but finding any simply colored stripe will appear classic. DKNY sent its models down the runway for the fall 2013 collection wearing a variety of stripes. While most were vertical, some of the pieces were broken up by direction, fabrics and contrasting pieces. Similarly, this dress by Alice + Olivia is a great example of variegated stripes. Don’t Wear Black and Brown or Blue Together

Designers across the board have accepted that this rule is long outdated. Much of the Elie Saab collection this year featured some combination of black and navy. Burberry mixed black, brown and camel in their timeless way.

Pull the look off by getting a little matchy, pulling the accent color in with other accessories. Though matching your belt, shoes and bag is no longer requisite, now may be the time to pull out the old-fashioned rule and pull your look together. Use a big block of one of your neutrals (say, a suit or dress) as a base and build upon it with your other neutrals as accents.

To keep your matchy look from looking flat, consider playing around with texture. Mix woven fabric with spun or knit fabrics. Use sheers or lace to complement leather and metallics. Faux or vintage furs and leather are especially interesting, in vogue materials this fall. Your fibers can match in color, but the texture will keep it interesting and multi-dimensional.

What other rules do you think should be done away with? What rules do you think we should keep?

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