A-Z of Summer Style – cont.

W is for Watches…

…Along with ‘it’ bags and statement shoes, a designer watch is another must-have accessory in the fashion world. However, with so many celebrities these days endorsing the many and varied numerous brands and watch ads seen on every other pages of magazines, buying a watch can become confusing. Whether you opt for a simple classic or something with a little more bling, Shade Station has a fabulous range to suit everyone’s taste when it comes to wrist jewellery. Here’s a quick low down to help you choose the timepiece that’s perfect for you….

Spring/ Summer 2008 saw the trend emerging for female celebrities to dress down their girly outfits with a masculine watch. If you don’t want to wear a man’s watch brands such as Fossil and Seksy do some great mannish watches for women. The chunky leather straps and large faces combined with features such as gold detailing and coloured faces ensures they manage to maintain the element of sexy femininity.

If chunky is what you’re after but girly style remains high on your agenda, Ted Baker’s range is perfect. With the cut-out flower detailing on the leather strap these watches are bang on the floral trend for S/S 08. Funky yet functional, Nixon and Nooka’s selection of watches with their quirky face shapes, neon colours and bright straps are a must-have chunky watch for anyone who loves to be different from the crowd.

For an all-rounder watch that will carry you through from day-to-night, you can’t go far wrong in ditching the leather in favour of a metal strap. Guess watches with their embossed or jewelled silver embellished straps are fabulously affordable quality for those on a budget. DKNY’s dainty silver watches are the ultimate for understated luxury, also the perfect choice of timepiece to see you from desk-til-dawn in style.

However, just because watches aren’t probably the first thing you think about when accessorising an outfit, it doesn’t mean they’re not just as important as a necklace or earrings. So, there’s no exception to the rule either when it comes to your chosen timepiece – never mix and match silver and gold! Silver- coloured watches are simple to buy and are often more available in different ranges, whereas gold, unless it is real gold, can be tricky. If the colour isn’t just right or too shiny, gold watches can often look cheap and tacky, so purchase with caution. Seksy’s range at Shade Station is gold and glamorous and offers the choice of chunky and delicate styles for those who prefer their watch to be more of an understatement.  

If you’re looking for something that’s classy with a difference, Michael Kors innovative use of bone-effect straps and tortoiseshell features are a sure fire winner for you. But if bling is you’re thing look no further than D&G’s stunning diamante range.

If you’re a great believer that a watch is an investment piece last you through every fashion fad and trend, indulge in a designer piece by Roberto Cavalli. For a watch that will go with any outfit, the classic black number is the one. Or for something more opulent that is sure to catch the eye of many admirers, the snake-effect designs are the epitome of the designer’s extravagance and classy in so many ways.