Two opposing trends dominated the catwalk at this season's fashion shows: matching and loud, and clashing. So which side are you on? KATE CLARKE reports.

THERE'S a lot to be said for clothes that make your life easier. And this season's trends fall into two distinct camps: clothes that require zero brain activity, i.e. those that match. And clothes that require time, dedication and an artist's experimental nerve with colour, proportion, and silhouette, i.e. clothes that are either brash or ones that clash.

There are two types of people who will pull off The Clash successfully: the innately stylish with a hotline to the fashion hub, and the kind of feisty teen or twenty-something (I'm thinking of Kate Nash, or a Geldof girl) who can breathe some ironic, youthful life into a chartreuse shagpile coat, footless knee-socks and summer sandals in the winter.

But I prefer to be kind to myself, and anyone who catches sight of me. I figure it won't do any harm to try for elegance over irony. And going for matchy needn't mean settling for matronly.

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These are clothes to feel properly dressed in, so it's no surprise that along with the matchy trend, come skirt suits and elegant, belted waists.

If that sounds like too much effort, don't be alarmed. Looking matchy is merely about moving on and, in some instances, growing up.

In contrast, clashing styles have emerged as a key look on the catwalks.

The Clash look is about people who want to take fashion to a new level: a way for people to take control of what they wear — and show that they are cooler and different.

The true point of clash dressing, after all, is to show off your superior fashion intelligence in the ability to throw together a conceptually "ugly" outfit with apparent nonchalance and still look fabulous. But be warned, this is possibly the most difficult look to achieve that the fashion world has ever created. Ever. Get it wrong and you will look like a bag-lady!