I can’t remember whether “fanny packs”, “bum bags” or “moon bags” were a late 80’s or early 90’s thing. Either way, they’re a fringe statement for Autumn, only this time round they’re called waist bags, belt bags or hip bags.

The writing was on the wall when models sported waist bags in the Fall collections during New York Fashion Week in February this year. It’s really fun to see the accessory trickle down to stores so fast.

Some of the styles are more refined than what we saw 20 years ago while others look just the same. I didn’t wear a waist bag gracefully the first time round but am determined to do so now. I love a fashion challenge so I’m in and vote yay. That and I’m all over the utilitarian integrity of the accessory.

I have the studded MK pouch with belt below on order and I can’t wait to experiment with the look. I plan to wear it over sheath dresses, shirts, jackets and jeans. I’ll keep you posted on my efforts. What’s your take on the waist bag? Is it a great hands free solution or an awful abomination?

For me this is the most difficult poll to date. For my style I rely heavily on the high contrast combinations of black, white or cream, but also love to wear bright pops of saturated colour. More than ever I want to bat for both teams. Decisions!

I’m going with Team Neutrals for two reasons. My wardrobe would not function without black, white and cream, AND, I consider red to be a neutral. So while I love, love, love bright colours like citron, apple green, turquoise, coral and fuchsia, I could not live without the timeless, mod, strong and graphic combinations of black and white. I’m a Chanel gal at heart and probably always will be.

For this poll Colours refers to any shade: muted, pastel, jewel toned or bright. Neutrals refer to black, white, cream, grey, brown, tan, navy, ink blue, caramel and red. Are you Team Neutrals or Team Colours? Tell us why and regretfully, you have to pick a side.

Under certain conditions I can appreciate this look on someone else, but I’m not a huge fan. Rolled up cuffs cut the leg line and so do pants cropped at an unflattering length. Before you know it, you’re sporting a leg shortening look, which isn’t as attractive as a more proportional or leg lengthening one. So please proceed with caution when you roll up or cuff long  pants and jeans.

Here are a few ways to lengthen the leg line and balance out the effect of the cuffs:

1. Keep the hem width tapered: Rolled up wide widths seldom work because they are too horizontally cutting. Keeping the silhouette sleek reduces the horizontal integrity of the cuff and is infinitely more flattering.
2. Keep the roll at the ankle or above the widest part of the calf: The post I wrote last year on boyfriend jeans illustrates this point. It’s the in-between length that can result in a dumpy silhouette.
3. Choose a low contrast cuff colour: Dark stone washed jeans have high contrast cuffs whereas light stone washes and pants create low contrast cuffs. Low contrasts are less visually horizontal which in turn elongates the leg line.
4. Choose a low contrast shoe colour: Keeping the shoe colour low contrast or close to the colour of your skin tone visually extends the length of the leg.
5. Add a waist cinching belt: Creating a defined waist with a belt elongates the leg line above the crotch point thereby extending the leg even further.
6. Add heels: Unless you have super long slim legs, it’s best to wear this look with a relatively high heel to balance out the effect of the horizontal cuff and the dangerous length of cropped pants.

In some cases you’ll apply all the guidelines at once whereas in others you will use only a few at a time. Personally, the only bottoms I feel good rolling up are clamdiggers, which end on the knee after they’ve been rolled. I find this length flop proof because a break at the knee doesn’t shorten the leg line. I can wear my flats and still feel fab. As for rolling up long pants, I’m passing on that look for now.

Are you cuffing and rolling long pants and jeans?

These are rolled and cuffed pants/jeans and shoe combinations I find flattering. The lengths are more or less in the right place and the footwear is high-heeled (apart from one pair of oxfords) and low contrast against the foot.

I came across these bohemian hippy numbers recently and chuckled. This is not  a mainstream look by any stretch of the imagination. And I still don’t know whether these bellbottoms are supposed to be a beach cover-up, an item of loungewear, or something eye-catching to wear whenever it tickles your fancy.

Whether you like them or not, there are gals who will pull this look off perfectly well. I’m not one of them – are you?