It’s a pet peeve of mine—and, frankly, a dated fashion rule—that people feel their bag must match their shoes in color. As a fashion editor, I’m here to debunk this once and for all because I believe it’s what separates an outfit that’s “good” from one that’s “great.” My main point is that when following this “rule,” either the bag or the shoes often becomes an afterthought rather than an intentional accessory, resulting in a look that lacks dimension and interest. I know I’m not alone in this; my fellow editors at Who What Wear agree, and I’ve noticed that the best dressers in Paris—both locals and visitors—consistently ignore this idea.

I recently saw Halle Berry execute this non-matching color-styling trick perfectly while she was visiting Paris. The actress wore a polished winter denim look: medium-wash straight-leg jeans, a gray double-breasted coat, and a gray scarf. For her accessories, she consciously paired black pointed-toe heeled boots with a brown croc-effect purse. Someone still adhering to the old “rule” might question why she didn’t choose a black bag or brown boots. Yet it’s this deliberate clash that elevated her outfit, making it look elegant and interesting.