Watch trends & design through the decades
Watches
It used to be just men who would have a wardrobe of watches for different occasions and women may have only one watch for many years that could become a family heirloom.
However, for the past two decades fashion watches have been in high demand as they follow seasonal trends and a wide range of stylish yet affordable options have become available for fashion conscious. Watches have shifted from being purely practical investments to personal style statements in their own right.
Many people enjoy collecting watches in a variety of designs so they have their own selection to choose from depending on the occasion or their outfit choice. There are many watch brands well represented, and some even over represented, on the high street; but fabulous, the contemporary designer jewellery boutique, has recently launched their exclusive watch offering. Stocking international brands such as Calvin Klein, Toy Watch and Thomas Sabo, as well as iconic British brand Radley; fabulous is the essential destination if you are looking to add to your watch wardrobe!
Ice-Watch
Bursting onto the scene in 2007, Belgian brand Ice-Watch made a high-energy assault on the fashion watch industry and international catwalks. Renowned for their collection of super bright watches, which have a casual and sporty style, the brand have just launched the ‘Ice Love’ and ‘Ice White’ versions to add to their best-selling collections. The watches are perfect for Summer and those who are fashion conscious but don’t take life too seriously. Ice-Watch are sponsoring boy-band McFly on their ‘Keep Calm and Play Louder’ tour this year, and have also been spotted on Katy Perry and One Direction, proving why they are such an in-demand brand!
Toy Watch
Marrying style with substance, Toy Watch fashion watches use a mix of materials, from classical steel to high-tech polycarbonate, an extreme attention to detail and artfully balanced shapes to create a stunning and extremely desirable collection of watches, perfect to add glamour to any occassion. An Italian company which started out with designs in big bold colours, has now effortlessly transformed itself into the go to brand for sleek and sophisticated timepieces. Ideally suited to fashionistas who want to make a statement, it’s easy to understand why Toy Watch have an A-List celebrity following, including Madonna, Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Radley
The watches by the quintessentially British handbag brand combine the best of Radley - quality, creativity, and inspiration - with huge attention to detail, resulting in a charming and versatile collection. From neutral coloured chronographs to charm style bracelet watches, this diversity helps to make Radley watches really stand out from the crowd. With model Laura Bailey as the new face of the brand, and designer Lowell Harder’s founding philosophy of ‘Creativity without extravagance’ as its mantra, Radley is sure to remain a leader in fashion accessories!
Thomas Sabo
The German designer brand is well known for its quirky style and unquestionable glamour, and has earned many avid fans of its unique charm bracelets and charms. Thomas Sabo watches unites the brand’s ethos of glamour and soul with high quality movements, and span three different collections of covetable designs. The Classic collection pays homage to the “less is more” notion and is ideal to turn to for workwear, while the It Girl and Rebel at Heart collections include more outspoken designs, perfect for embracing your femininity for Summer without forgoing quality and style.
Bering
The combination of the elegance and simplicity of Danish design, with the advanced use of materials like ceramic, means that Bering watches have instant appeal. The watches are beautiful to look at especially as some are set with Swarovski crystals; but more importantly, the brand has credibility and technical excellence. Each watch in the collection boasts a slim design and graceful lines, making them just the right choice for evening wear, when quiet sophistication is key to your look.
Calvin Klein
Established in 1968, this New York fashion house has become synonymous with minimalist designs as well as bold and sexy advertising campaigns. The CK watch collection is a core part of the brand, echoing the sleek and fluid style we see on the catwalks, with modern sculptural shapes that are eye-catching in their simplicity. Using hypoallergenic Stainless steel and leather, the discreet designs belie their practical specifications, and every watch in the collection is water resistant, making them ideal for adding some glamour to the poolside this Summer.
Pop into your local fabulous store to browse their extensive watch collections. You can find them at 20 Lower Mall, Royal Priors Centre, Leamington Spa and 3 Poplar Arcade, Touchwood, Solihull.
Battle of the decades
In our retro loving world, fashion always seems to be looking back to a different era each new season – but for this Summer it’s not just one decade that has come out on top! Referencing by-gone eras is THE big trend, so be prepared to do some time travelling this season!
The roaring twenties have become a major influence, especially because of Baz Luhrman’s remake of The Great Gatsby - the quintessential 1920s story. For daytime, pastel shades work best, but for evening wear flapper dresses with long necklaces and pendants.
Moving on from the androgyny of the 1920s comes the glamorous 1930s and ‘40s. The recent release of Madonna’s film W.E. about Wallis Simpson has definitely drawn attention to this era. To recreate the look, accessorise with cocktail rings featuring statement stones for the evening. To keep the trend from looking stuffy in the daytime, go for big bangles made from plastic – reminiscent of the Bakelite pieces which soared in popularity during the 1940s.
This season also sees a return to the 50s way of dressing, with Elle magazine referring to it as the “mid-century modern” look. Team cat’s eye sunglasses with chunky jewellery, which incorporates heart and flower shapes in candyfloss shades.
As London 2012 approaches, there are a lot of references to when London was last the focal point of cool - the Swinging Sixties! Pop Art and Op Art have been big influences on the high street, as have classic pieces, such as Breton tops. Monochrome is key to the look, as are oversized pieces reminiscent of Mary Quant’s style.
Another decade which never ceases to inspire Summer fashion is the 1970s. This year paisley patterns in rich greens and oranges reign supreme. The free-spirited nature of this look is underscored by the use of chakras and Evil Eye pendants in jewellery design, which are best layered for a care-free look.
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