When I first thought about this poll it was a no brainer. Team Mismatch all the way. After a little more thought I realized it wasn’t as simple as that.

Generally, I prefer a mismatched look.  When putting together an ensemble, I prefer it when the colours don’t match perfectly. If I wear more than one green in an outfit, for example, I prefer them to have slightly different hues. I also don’t like to match the colour of my shoes, belt and handbag. Not only with each other, but also with the top in my outfit. I don’t think that I have ever repeated the same bright colour more than twice in an outfit (if red lips don’t count). Recently I’ve even taken to mixing metals.

Then again, there are some situations when I do like to match the colours in my outfit! I like to match my scarves with my gloves, or handbag. For fancy occasions I often match up red shoes with a red clutch. I enjoy wearing champagne pearls with chestnut boots. I love wearing my white watch with white specs and white Dr. Marten boots, and occasionally I wear the same colour belt and shoes. And of course, best of all, I adore bookending my outfits with cream shoes.

Hmmm. Well, after some serious thought I’m staying on Team Mismatch because I mismatch more than I match. But choosing a Team was harder than I thought it would be.

Over to you. Are you Team Match or Team Mismatch? Tell us why. The Holidays are over so absolutely no batting for both Teams. If you match and mismatch the colours in your outfit equally, I’ll see you on the bench at half time.

With this seasons 70’s fashion revival I expect to see many soft, pretty and easy to wear blouses in stores very soon. From peasant and ruffled looks to empire cuts, dainty neck ties and pussy cat bows.

I’m kicking off the New Year with a fun selection of pussy bow blouses because I’m already sick of wearing Winter knitwear and desperately need something sheer and feminine to look forward to sporting as soon as possible.

Pussy bow blouses are a personal favorite because they always look dressy. Because I am both on Team Dressy and on Team Blouse, my wardrobe is usually stocked with a few pussy bow blouses – and I always welcome more.  I prefer the bow to tie right up against my neck, but this is not a must. Plenty of pussy bow blouses tie with V-shaped neck openings and furthermore, you don’t even need to tie a bow. Knot the ties and leave the ends lying flat against the chest instead.

1. Fletcher by Lyell Tie-Neck Chiffon Blouse: I’m Team Pink so I’m all over this one.
2. ASOS Tie Neck Military Blouse: I like the unexpected combination of hard edged military detailing with soft fabric and bows.
3. Purple Neck Tie Blouse: This is for Team Purple.
4. Broisi Bow Blouse: Very Chanel and just up my alley.
5. Gap Floral Tie-Neck Blouse: Perfect for warm weather Spring dressing.
6. ASOS Pussy Bow Ruffle Blouse: If earth tones and burgundies are your thing, this might tickle your fancy.
7. ASOS Coast Stacey Jacquard Pussy Bow Blouse: This one is particularly glam and and I can already see it tucked into black slacks worn with heels.
8. ASOS Mango Pussy Bow Print Blouse: A sweet low colour contrasting geometric print.
9. Tory Burch Bow Blouse: Stunning.
10. ASOS Animal Print Pussy-bow Blouse: This one really screams 70’s and I want it. Doubling up on cat love with this one.
11. Ellen Tracy Blouse, Long Sleeve Printed with Bow: Fresh and sophisticated.
12. Bebe Button-Up Sash Top: This one might be a knit and I really like the sheer stripe and wide cuffs.

You don’t need to tuck pussy bow blouses into skirts, shorts, jeans and trousers if you are not a tucker. They can we worn un-tucked if the shape and length is just so, and belting can do the trick too. Pussy bow blouses can also be layered underneath jackets, waistcoats and sheath dresses. Versatile.

Who is purring at pussy bow blouses?

Now that flared leg jeans and trousers are all the rage for 2011, there has been apprehensive talk on our forum about whether skinnies and straight legs have become passé – especially from members who have only recently embraced the look. From my point of view, absolutely not. And here’s why:

• Slim cut jeans and trouser legs are basic mainstream silhouettes, and mainstream silhouettes do not die over night. Remember that bootcuts stayed mainstream when tapered legs took centre stage!
• NY Fashion Week 2011 showed as many tapered leg silhouettes as flared legs. The two styles live harmoniously side by side so that there is something for everyone. Love that.
• Even if designers stopped showing skinnies and straight legs all together, fashion buyers would keep on putting them in retail stores because consumers would buy them. Skinnies sell because they are extremely practical and easy to wear with boots in bad weather. Fashion Magazines told us that leggings were a fad. Well, here we are five years later and they are stronger than ever because the public took a liking to the silhouette. The trend continues.

So when Vogue and Elle tell you that skinnies and straight legs are dated, for what it’s worth, I’m telling you that they are not. I think the more important question is – how soon will wide leg jeans and bellbottoms look passé?

If you followed New York Fashion Week in September last year, you’ll know that we’re in for a resurgence of 70’s fashion in Spring and Summer 2011. Think Charlies Angels, Three’s Company, Welcome Back Kotter, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, One day at a Time, Love Story and The 70’s Show for a vivid impression of 70’s looks. Very fab!

Flared hems on jeans (and trousers) like bellbottoms and wide legs were huge in the 70’s. 90’s fashion introduced more modern interpretations of flared jeans: boot cuts and trouser jeans. Also very fab and definitely my favourite styles of flared denim.

The difference between different types of flared jeans are subtle yet important, and is achieved by changing two aspects of the design:

1. The width of the hem of the flare
2. The position on the leg where the flare begins

Here’s a rundown of the main flared styles:

• Wide Leg Jeans are cut wide from the thighs down and do not taper in on the knee. The hem widths are normally also very wide. See the Gap wide leg jeans with pintucks, and the “Ginger” wide leg jeans below.
• Bell Bottoms, also referred to as bell legs, are cut narrow from hip to thigh and flare out quite a bit from knee to hem, resembling the shape of a bell on the lower part of the leg. See the “Adriane” and “Martini” bell bottom jeans below.
• Bootcut Jeans taper in at the knee and are usually the least flared at the hem of all flared style jeans. As the name suggests, bootcut jeans are flared just enough so that you can comfortably fit a pair of boots underneath them. Some bootcuts are barely flared at all, whereas other styles are more flared.
• Trouser Jeans are more like a combination of wide leg and bell bottom jeans. They are fitted on top and flare out at the bottom, but aren’t as tapered at the knee as bellbottoms and not nearly as wide on the thigh as wide legs. See the Hudson Flare Leg and Banana Republic trouser jeans below.

Stores are already full of sorts of flared jeans. I’ve never been a passionate wide leg jeans or bell bottom girl so I won’t be rushing out to wear the silhouettes. First, I like the look best with really high heels and since I don’t wear those it seems silly to compromise the look. Second, I feel huge and uncomfortable in wide leg or super flared pants, like I’m going to take off and fly. There is just too much fabric swooshing around at my feet and I feel like I can’t get on with the tasks at hand. But I do like subtly flared jeans like bootcuts and trouser cuts, which I wear with low heels. And I never stopped wearing those styles, even when skinnies were at their peak and my preference was for a slim cut.

In the same breath, I have learnt to never say never when it comes to fashion and style. So if you see me sporting wide leg jeans or bell bottoms later this season, it won’t be the first time I’ve had to happily eat my words!

Over to you. Do you like flared leg jeans and will you wear the look?