Not only “if that is not what you need”, but often makes one look downright silly. We take an idea like “diagonal lines in footwear elongate the leg” and push the pendulum way over till we’re wearing shoes that look like costumes. We’re now shooting down the slippery slope of “nobody in the world can take you seriously”. It’s hard enough for women to be taken seriously and look tastefully decorated without moving over to the theatrical (which is why many women won’t even attempt it, who can blame them). The marketers would gladly have us vandalize our own credibility to sell more magazines and clothes. Why is it so hard to tell the difference between what’s elegant and when they’ve played us for suckers? As the French say, there’s no discussing tastes and colours.
I appreciate advice like yours that offers women choices that do not undermine their strength and plausibility. Options for using trends attractively are badly needed out there.