The Return of Tom Ford! Tom Ford Sunglasses
The Return Of Tom Ford
Tom Ford sunglasses are the business. Always oversized and generally rocking a retro vibe they are the celebrity’s shade of choice. Universally loved by Hollywood’s leading ladies (and men), Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have all been snapped modelling Tom Ford shades in recent months.
Nicholas Hoult has become the poster boy for Tom Ford sunglasses, since starring in Ford’s Directorial Debut, ‘A Leading Man’. Alongside his female sidekick Carolyn Murphy, his face is regularly splashed across the fashion glossies and billboards. It’s certainly been an interesting career trajectory since his geeky turn in Nicholas Parson’s ‘About a boy’!
Tom Ford is primarily known for his menswear and accessories but this year he shocked the fashion world by throwing a surprise ‘Cocktail Party’ which was in fact designed to reveal his first womenswear collection in 6 years. Top fashion folk were invited to the ‘Cocktail Party’ which was held in New York and had all the hallmarks of a Fifties couture show. Ford asked women that inspired him to model his spring/summer ‘11 collection, among them were; Beyonce Knowles, Julianne Moore, Daphne Guinness, Lauren Hutton and Amber Valetta. Ford commented “I want to concentrate on real women and the real customer. It’s all about individuality, individual style, different body types, women who have their own style.” One official photographer was present to avoid press leaks and its rumoured photos of the show will not be released until January next year!
Such secrecy has created even more of a buzz about Tom Ford. If this story is anything to go by then every woman in the fashion-know is going to have Tom Ford on her radar! As is always the case designer clothes are way beyond our budget, but thankfully with a little scrimping and saving, designer sunglasses are not! With this year and next, seemingly obsessed with all things vintage, Tom Ford sunglasses are the perfect label to hit the retro mark. There are so many different styles and most of them are beautifully oversized which was such a common trait in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.
Thankfully the sun hasn’t disappeared just yet and there’s always the need for the perfect pair of shades to take you through the winter. In order to be bang on the money for next year’s big trends we’d suggest investing in a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses and you won’t be disappointed!
Put on a Show with DSquared!
The fashion label DSquared was founded in 1991 by Canadian identical twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten. The brothers decided that they wanted to relocate to an area which was more vibrant, fashion orientated and inspirational and therefore relocated to Milan to work on their designs and launch the brand. They showcased their men’s collection in 1994 which was very successful and in 2003, they felt confident that the DSquared style could transcend into women’s fashion and launched a women’s collection and also a men’s underwear collection. DSquared Eyewear is a new range launched in 2009 which comprises of men’s, ladies and unisex style sunglasses. Like the other collections, the style is very much bold and statement and designed to be noticed and worn with attitude.
DSquared is renowned for its highly energetic and impactful fashion shows that convey energy, innovation and 
sex appeal which is a general theme of the brand as a whole. A runway show in 2005 for example, ended with pop singer Christina Aguilera stripping male models of their clothes and in September 2007, the DSquared fashion show in Milan featured R&B singer Rihanna elaborately entering the stage in an American muscle car which was then followed by a runway walk presenting the collection. The DSquared catwalk shows are always the talk of Fashion Week and these are designers who dare to be bold and are always striving to create the next step in fashion as opposed to following.
DSquared sunglasses take much inspiration from the 1970s hip-hop culture and can therefore be described as very retro in appearance. Most of the designs are oversized but the brand experiments with different variations of the oversized look to create a completely different dynamic for each style. DSquared uses elements such as colour, shape and theme which ultimately makes one oversized style completely different from the next. One distinctive design choice which is evident in most of the sunglasses is the use of contrasting colours. Some of the designs feature a strong colour at the top half of the frame for example and a contrasting or transparent colour on the lower section. A selection of the men’s frames also vary between softer edge frames and in direct contrast, frames that incorporate sharp angles for a defined and statement look.
The DSquared sunglasses for ladies include dramatically oversized frames that are perfect for a high fashion look with angular and wide frames and big rounded lenses, which definitely adds a strong sense of glamour. Some are also slightly more sports orientated and incorporate more of a wraparound style but with the outside edges angled outwards to keep the look chic and sophisticated. The colours tend to be warm with the use of autumnal tones such as red and deep brown as well as brown and bronze tortoiseshell patterns. Knowing that classic black is a staple and highly versatile colour that never goes out of fashion, many of the sunglasses also feature black frames.
DSquared is a brand that coveys self confidence and is geared towards those who like to make a bold style statement and revel in the theme of exaggeration and drama. Celebrity fans of the DSquared brand include Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson, all of whom are renowned for their diva-esque style and personality!
DSquared is definitely the brand to be wearing into 2010!
Michael Kors Watches – A Combination of Luxury & Style
Michael Kors always maintained a strong passion for fashion and began designing clothes at the age of 19 whilst studying fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. In 1981, Kors launched his very first Michael Kors womenswear line at Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue among a number of other stores and the collection was so progressively popular that Kors was named the first ever women’s ready-to-wear designer and in 1997 went on to became the Creative Director for the French fashion house Celine. Here, Kors proved his credibility as a designer and as an industry business professional who just seemed to have that natural strong instinct regarding what consumers wanted. Kors left Celine in October 2003 to concentrate on his own brand and launched his very first menswear line in 2002 and then proceeded to launch the Michael Kors runway collection, the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines in 2004. The MICHAEL line has a more casual yet wonderfully elegant approach to style and includes women’s handbags, shoes and accessories.
Numerous celebrities favour the exquisite Michael Kors style, these including Hollywood stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Garner who wore a stunning Kors custom dress when presenting the Academy Awards in 2006. Many Kors dresses and garments have been featured in iconic films, such as Bandits whereby Cate Blanchett’s character wore a Michael Kors piece. Most recently the super stylish Michelle Obama wore a Michael Kors black
shift dress in the first official photographs taken after her husband was elected the new US President. The stars love the sophisticated yet simple glamour conveyed in Michael Kors attire and the brand has that element of luxury with a laid back, comfortable feel.
Watches are an incredibly strong part of the Michael Kors accessory collection and like the remainder of the products within the brand, are reflective of an exquisite sense of style, immense quality and fine craftsmanship. Michael Kors watches depict the essence of decadence and luxury and comprise of some fantastic on trend watches with key fashion features for this season as well as some more classic and elegant styles.
A style which is new for the forthcoming season is the Michael Kors MK5198 watch which has a funky stainless steel multi panelled bra
celet strap and a baby pink face. Delicate but edgy this ladies watch is perfect for a younger brand fan and is highly on trend but retains that Michael Kors refined sophistication. This design is also available with a pink polycarbonate strap for the ultimate girly accessory. The new MK2165 ladies watch also captures the leather strap watch trend with two bolts either side of the dial for a touch of a harder edginess. There is also a cute charm feature attached to the watch with the MK lettering logo which again, adds a high trend feminine element to the whole design. The MK2153 watch captures the chunky layered watch trend with a wide cuff style leather strap with layered buckle detailing. The elegance is maintained in the petite and minimal dial and this is an incredibly visually striking watch, still with that element of Michael Kors luxury. Other Michael Kors watches include distinctive features such as tortoiseshell bands – the MK4046 is a great example of this. Other defining features include shell fi
nish style patterns, super feminine chain bracelet styles and the incorporation of warm autumnal colours including fawns, browns and creams. These neutral soft colours enables the watches to suit a variety of skin tones, particularly if you are pale skinned and therefore find that some watches may look too harsh for your colouring. Michael Kors watches have achieved the perfect balance by remaining classic yet incorporating strong hints of current trends.
As a designer and business man, Michael Kors understands that to run a successful label with longevity, you have to maintain a unique brand style but inject contemporary edges to keep up with current trends. Celebrities adore the refined style of Michael Kors clothing and accessories and whilst his garments are perhaps a little out of reach for the average lady on the price scale, a Michael Kors watch will allow you to feel that sense of designer luxury in true A List style.
Classic and Sleek – Michael Kors Watches
Michael Kors is renowned for his sophisticated and super chic fashion designs. On the catwalks for autumn 2009 we have seen his collections representing pieces which are simple yet glamorous. Unlike some designers which go for almost theatrical looks that only appropriate for the catwalk and not necessarily wearable for real-life, the Kors collection was extremely ready-to-wear, classic and sleek with a strong emphasis on sharp tailoring.
The same can be said for that of the designer’s new range of watches. Sleek, chic and feminine the watches look great season to season and the classic styling means that they bypass trends and will look great regardless of the current fashions. Like the new clothing line, Michael Kors watches are perfect for the office yet look fabulous when dressed up with a cocktail dress for an evening out.
Many Michael Kors watches use neutral colouring such as gold, cream and brown tones and 
some incorporate patterns on the bands or subtle jewelled embellishments. The range of timepieces have a rather soft yet unique look to them and are definitely considered one of the more refined style of watches making for a polished look that can be easily dressed up or down.
Many celebrities love the groomed and timeless Michael Kors style including Jennifer Lopez, Joan Allen and Jennifer Garner and many of his dresses have even been featured in films including Possession and Bandits. Keep looking out on the Shade Station site for exciting new additions to the wonderfully exquisite Michael Kors watch collection!
Versace Sunglasses – Sexy and Bold
Versace is arguably the best known luxury designer brand. The label is widely known to be glamorous, beautiful, sophisticated and luxe. Headed up by Creative Director Donatella Versace, who took over the family business following the death of her brother Gianni in 1997, Versace has gone from strength to strength under her guidance.
Perhaps best known for their daring, plunging eveningwear, Versace is comfortable in the limelight and the headlines, as movie stars and musicians clamor to wear the latest designs from the Versace collection. Elizabeth Hurley is a fantastic example of a Versace Woman. Elevated to fame on the arm of Hugh Grant whilst wearing THAT infamous safety pin dress, she has since gone on to star in numerous Versace campaigns and has been a great supporter of the label and a good friend to Donatella. Similarly Jennifer Lopez is a big fan of Versace. If you had to think of one image of J-Lo, I’m guessing it would be of her wearing the green tropical, slashed to the navel, attention grabbing dress at the 2000 Grammys, early in her career. That dress was the topic of conversation for many months after and as such Versace enjoyed another red carpet smash.
Current fashion favourite, singer, Lady GaGa is renowned for her very bold choice of eyewear. The sunglasses that she is seen in, in every promotional shot, video and out on the town are widely acknowledged to be vintage Versace.
A bit like their uber sexy dresses, Versace sunglasses have an unmistakable injection of sexual prowess. Curvy and often over sized, with gold detailing largely on the arms and the instantly recognisable Versace logo, Versace shades are the accessory of choice for many a stylish woman. Although bling, Versace sunglasses never overstep the vulgar mark. Normally in black or tortoiseshell and available in many differing styles (wrap around, fly, square), Versace eyewear is definitely a stylish choice for fashion-forward confident women.
Click here to visit our Versace Sunglasses section
Stylish Mr Kors
It appears that Michael Kors has every media angle covered… Having just displayed the goods for his acclaimed Autumn Collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in the Big Apple, mid Feb, he can also be found on the judging panel for the television show Project Runway and as a regular contributor for Harpers Bazaar where he’s interviewed various Hollywood stars including Liz Taylor.
He certainly likes to keep himself busy! Kors’s stellar career bears witness to this. From the launch of the label in 1981, the designer has had his foot on the accelerator right up to the present day.
Known for his chic, luxurious all-American sportswear, Michael Kors began with a simple women’s collection and now boasts a very successful men’s line, and a stunning accessories range incorporating everything from handbags and belts to eye wear and watches.
The Kors label is very much focused on the fashionable jet set, with advertising campaigns depicting models like Carmen Kass on Safari in Africa, boarding a plane and kicking back on a yacht. The designers appeal is not lost on the A-list and an endless, glittering list of celebs have been seen clothed in Michael Kors – Glamazons such as Charlize Theron, Liv Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Anjelica Huston to name just a few. He also has a number of film credits to his name, designing clothes for Rene Russo in the fabulous remake of ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and clothing Cate Blanchett for the little known movie ‘Bandits’.
Like his clothes, Michael Kors watches are classy, elegant and fit for the A-list whilst always remaining faithful to the company’s high class leisure ethos. This year’s pattern ‘a la mode’, tortoiseshell, is prevalent throughout his recent collection and unlike some conventional brands, Kors’ timepieces are fresh and totally novel. Michael Kors evidently likes to play with shapes and textures and he is on fine form, splashing bone and snakeskin, textured gold and diamante across the collection. There really is plenty to choose from and should you be conscientious enough to purchase one, you can be assured of having the nattiest wrist wear this side of the pond.
Click here to visit our Michael Kors Watches section
Nixon in the spotlight
Nixon is submerged entirely within the hip US extreme sports culture – to such an extent that it fields it’s own Nixon Teams in all major board sporting events (surf/skate/snowboard).
In addition to being embroiled in skate culture, Nixon positively courts rockstars, sportsmen and celebrities, many whom have worked in collaboration with the company to design one-of-a-kind watches inspired by their own unique artwork. 
Known as the Nixon LTD Collection, this enterprise is in its fifth successful year. Past contributors include Tony Hawk, Anthony Kiedis and Jennifer Lopez. The most recent celebrity intake for the 2008 collection boasted stars like Hero’s Milo Ventimigila, Jack Black and Ringo Starr.
The lack of high quality performance watches on the market led to the creation of Nixon Watches – the company decided to plug the gap with watches that growled attitude and could deliver the ‘whole package’. And they certainly stayed true to their word, the collections are always innovative, fresh and of the highest quality. Words like ‘electric shock’, ‘futuristic’, ‘geometric’, ‘synergy’ and ‘bold’ are bandied around to describe the current collection. Nixon have cleverly managed to combine functionality with eye catching, 
colourful and slick design. However such style comes with a price tag to match and some of their watches could do some serious damage to your wallet. Shade Station however, stocks a huge range of affordable Nixon wristwear that even the light of pocket can enjoy!
Something a Little Refined by Michael Kors
Michael Kors watches are incredibly refined, distinctive and offer a beautiful range for ladies. What makes the brand so exquisite is the ability to make the manufacturing of the timepieces as discreet as possible, meaning that the watches are fantastically crafted and look aesthetically stunning. The watches are styled in such as way that they are elegant, sophisticated and classy, as great emphasis and care has been placed on the construction.
The range offers some fantastic tortoiseshell styles which add a bit of spark to the collection and something that many other designer brands do not seem to focus on. Tortoiseshell is great for jazzing up a plainer outfit such as a work suit and injects a bit of individuality. There is also a beautiful and delicate bracelet style watch in the collection which is wonderfully feminine. The watches are coloured in creamy and brown tones meaning they are versatile yet very unique.
Michael Kors watches a favoured by some of the most elegant celebrities in the business;
Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sigourney Weaver are all fans of the timepieces. These ladies are the perfect example of the type of female the watches are geared towards – classic, distinctive and confident in their own style.