shadestation lifestyle section

Superdry Watches: Unique Style with a Japanese Influence

November 26, 2009
Posted by Laura

Superdry is a unique and funky clothing and accessories brand which was founded 2003. What makes Superdry different to other brands is its eclectic fusion of all American style with a strong touch of Japanese fashion influences which is mainly conveyed with the use of graphic prints which you will see featured on the clothing and accessories. It was following a trip to Tokyo that the founders of Superdry actually decided to launch the brand as they were so inspired by the dynamic Japanese style and trends and thought it would merge well with an American/European foundation. American style is great but you have to inject something a little more globally relevant and interesting to separate your brand from the hundreds of others in the industry.

What people like about Superdry is that it gives you a sense of wearing something unique. The brand prides itself on maintaining a limited edition feel to its clothing and accessories and is constantly updating its collections.

Superdry is mainly noted for its funky range of t-shirts, hoodies and bags which typically feature a retro style with graphic designed images. The Osaka t-shirts are particulary popular and come in an array of funky colours. David Beckham was also pictured wearing an Osaka Superdry t-shirt which certainly helped to put the brand on the map and give it a cool, trendy and masculine image. Ultimately Superdry aims to give people the ability to express their personality in their style and stand out from the crowd.

Superdry have extended their lines and collections and with a large store in Covent Garden in London as well as a number of concession stores, the brand is certainly obtaining a great reputation and is popular among the fash pack and celebrities.

Superdry watches maintain the same theme as the clothing; they keep up with current style trends but inject a Japanese inspired enhancement to the look. A brand new style to look out for is the Superdry Sport collection. These come in an array of vibrant colours including blue, orange, white, hot pink and green and as the name suggests, have a sporty aesthetic. With a simple design including a plastic strap, the main focus of these watches is in the bold colour and the Superdry logo on the dial and strap which also includes the Japanese lettering translation. The Lumber is also a hot new Superdry style and comes in a version for men and women – the Lumber Girl (designed for a smaller wrist). Capturing key watch trends such as a wide strap and large dial, the lumberjack style checks are also featured on the strap whether this is the whole strap or just the reverse side. Checked patterns are a common design on many other Superdry products including men and women’s shirts. The new Brad watch takes inspiration from a well known A List celebrity and the female equivalent of this watch is named Angelina –this is a great example of how Superdry is a fun brand and likes to play around with names and inspirations! With a wide durable soft leather strap and a dial with two separate time movements, this is definitely a unique and striking watch to look out for. There are also cool female watches such as the new Coins Superdry watch. Incredibly distinctive and designed in a charm bracelet style, the charms are coins and the dial is integrated into one of the charms. This style has an urban and funky edge and adds an extra flavour to a piece of jewellery which is typically ‘girly’.

Superdry is definitely the hot label of the moment but has a timeless style that will be prominent for years to come. When you find a label that has its own unique style, people will stick to it as they feel it is a way of expressing their individuality as opposed to going for the clone look! Jude Law and Kate Moss are fans of the brand and both celebrities are renowned for their unique sense of style and reluctance to follow trends but prefer to set them. Superdry watches are made using the finest materials and at prices between £40 and £135 there is a style to suit all budgets.

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A Timeless Classic

August 6, 2008
Posted by Laura

Classic styles of sunglasses never seem to go out of fashion. An example of this is the aviator style which is as popular now as when originally launched in 1937. Of course whilst the original aviators are still frequently seen on the most fashionable of celebrities, during 2008 we have seen the styles slightly more revamped to create a modern edge. Favoured amongst celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel and Kate Moss the classic aviators come in array of enhanced styles including a more retro look, and with the oh-so-now plastic or embellished frames.

Of course, we all know that aviators are super trendy but they were originally created to serve a specific and functional purpose. First designed by Ray-Ban in 1937, aviators were primarily worn by U.S. air force pilots for eye protection. The size and shape of the lens prevents as much light as possible from entering the eye and reduces glare. Despite their significant functional use, the style quickly became popular as a fashion accessory and transcended onto the big screen with Hollywood stars regularly featured sporting them. Originally designed for men, aviators are now equally as popular with women making them a versatile and timeless style.

Aviators are a good style choice as they will never look out of place and can be worn with any outfit. In fact, classic styles are often commended and considered more fashionable than faddy styles which you wouldn’t be seen dead in next season! Therefore they make for a great investment and in addition are of a superb quality due to their durability. They are also fantastic for women as the style is versatile and will inject an edgier look to a feminine outfit. Aviators certainly make for an effective yet subtle fashion statement.

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Flower Power!

July 30, 2008
Posted by Laura

Summer 2008 certainly seems to be catering for every fashion style no matter what your taste. Be it American retro or safari chic, there really is something which allows everyone to shine in the summer sun. For the more girly girls out there the trend has gone all botanical inspired with many floral prints on clothing, accessories and shoes.

Retro floral dresses are currently very popular among celebrities such as Kate Moss, Nicole Ritchie and Rachel Bilson and can be found in many high street stores such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Wearhouse and River Island. The style is heavily influenced by the 40, 50s and 70s style tea-dresses. Feminine blouses teamed with flared jeans are also a chic alternative if you are not a fan of dresses. Similarly if you want to wear florals but you wish to incorporate a tougher edge, this season the flower prints have emerged bigger, brighter and bolder than ever with a slightly more abstract element. The key to adapting the look to suit you is how you accessorise and team pieces together. A soft feminine floral dress looks great with metallic footwear, and avoids that ‘Little House on the Prairie’ look. To go even further, the dress can be vamped up with a pair of strapped Gladiator sandals, or even heavy boots to create an extreme bold contrast.

It is also essential to consider your body shape when working this trend. To flatter your figure to its full potential with floras, if you are of a curvier build, match a printed skirt with a block colour top (or vica versa) to draw attention to your best area. If you have a slim frame, try a more eclectic look and team a printed t-shirt with a floral skit to create a stylish clash.

A great alternative to dresses and skirts is the revival of the jumpsuit. There are a number of floral versions on the High Street and these make for great ready-to-go festival wear.

If florals are really not your thing but you still want to inject an element of flower power into your look, then the key is in accessories. There are a number of silk scarves, handbags, flower inspired chunky jewellery and shoes which add an elegant hint of the floral trend to your summer style.

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Hot Hair Looks for Summer 2008

June 18, 2008
Posted by Laura

Summer 2008 is all about accessorising the hair with scarves and hair bands – and the brighter the better! Headscarves are a perfect way to embrace this season’s ethnic style; they are extremely versatile and can be worn in a variety of different ways. For maximum effect, wrap the scarf around your forehead and push over your head, tying under your hair whether tied up or let loose – sweep the fringe and loose hair away from the face and the scarf will delicately frame your features. This style is most effective with a bright or patterned fabric. For a more boho, hippie style look allow the hair to fall around the headscarf and wear with this season’s maxi-dress and gladiator sandals. The headscarf is a fantastic summer accessory which can hide a multitude of hair sins and instantly transforms your look. It is also a great way to experiment with bold vibrant colours and in the summer heat, acts as a hair protector.

One hair trend in particular which has been seen on numerous celebrities such as Micha Barton, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Nicole Ritchie is the 70’s hippie look whereby a thin hair band is worn around the forehead. This look is very simple to achieve and works best with longer, wavy hair. To adapt this look for the evening, wear a metallic, beaded or jewel embellished hair band for an added injection of glamour. Many luxury designers such as Chanel have a gorgeous exquisite selection of hair bands whilst the high street also offers affordable but beautiful options. This look is perhaps not quite so versatile or suited to every day wear but very effective for festivals and summer events.

The colours and designs of hair accessories are typically very feminine and girly but for those more sporty types, neon 80’s colours and accessories are back including the much missed visor. Plain hair bands are also a great option in one block colour such as black and gold and make for a simple, understated yet stylish look.

The key summer hair trend is definitely all about keeping the style natural (yes, put the GHD’s away!) and really dressing the hair up. The use of a simple headband or scarf is a fantastic way of injecting style into casual daywear and glamour for the evening.

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Return of the Spartans

June 14, 2008
Posted by Becci

It could have been dismissed as last season’s trend, but the Gladiator sandal has continued to make its mark in the category of must-have summer sandals.

At the start of spring it was all a bit touch and go, and those of us who’d bought into the foot fashion last summer were unsure as to whether we should be slipping our feet back into our Spartan sandals or if we were expected to steer clear. But then, as if by magic, the celebrities started stepping out; paving the way and continuing to stamp their approval on the Roman revolution.

Rather than an array of flats though, this season, footwear designers have pulled out all the stops and we’ve been plied with knee-high straps, tassle-tastic embellishments, leather discs, rope plaits and most shocking of all – high heels!

One celeb who can’t get enough Gladiator glory is Miss Gwyneth Paltrow. From Giuseppe Zanotti flats to sky high Givency ankle boots, her tootsies haven’t seen the likes of a filled-in shoe for quite some time. Also keen on the Colosseum craze are Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan and Sienna Miller to name a few, and just last week Elle MacPherson was seen dropping her kids off at school in a pair – true model mum behaviour.

If you’re keen to put your best foot forward in some thongs, take into account your size and shape. If you’ve got long legs, you’ll be able to pull off the knee high styles no problem, but if you’ve got slightly shorter legs, a lower pair will be more flattering. Then it’s up to you to mix and match them with jeans, dresses and shorts – all of which work a treat with the trend. Colour-wise, metallic shades add to the Mediterranean look, but black and brown versions also add versatility.

The motto of the sandal season then – wear them high or wear them low, just make sure you invest in a pair of Gladiators if you want to keep your footing in the style stakes.

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Star Quality

May 23, 2008
Posted by Becci

One trend continuing to shine through this season is star led fashion, and we don’t mean star in the celeb sense either. No, it’s hard to miss the amount of star emblazoned accessories and outfits twinkling at us on the shop floor and we have to admit, it’s one stellar look that shouldn’t be ignored.

First seen on the Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Pucci and John Rocha runways, the star gazing craze really kicked in when Kate Moss rocked up at her 34th birthday party sporting a star print Chanel jumpsuit, closely followed weeks later by Alexa Chung, also in a Chanel ensemble but this time a dress; no-one does an all-in-one quite like Kate. Before long everyone was getting a little bit star struck and Kylie, Mary Kate Olsen, Miley Cyrus and Peaches Geldof were all seen donning the mystical motif.

But taking on this trend doesn’t have to mean adorning yourself in stars from head to toe, so do what Peaches did and start small by choosing an accessory to show off the design. Printed scarves are a must-have anyway this season, so why not go for the lunar look and tick two trends off at once. Shoes, bags, belts and jewellery are another great way to get your fashion fix and there are some great high street copies of YSL’s strappy star sandals.

It’s important to bear in mind that print can be powerful, so wear in moderation and try and choose more monochrome based prints in black or navy or it could start looking a wee bit garish. If you’re keen to work some more colour into the outfit, pair the print with bold block colours or add a red and white striped blazer á la Chanel for that all American feel.

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