Fashion smashion: On the watch

Watch out for this fabulous new wrist candy.

A few year ago wrist watches had become a rare occurrence, replaced almost entirely by the smartphone revolution that offered every feature a regular watch  could. A lot has changed since. Watches are now back in fashion and while you may not need one to check the time, they are great accessories to liven up even the dullest of outfits.

When it comes to the latest trends, one style takes the cake: chunky chain watches. For women, the ‘boyfriend’ watch frenzy has converted even those who didn’t wear watches before to watch-aholics. We have been through the ‘boyfriend jeans’ and ‘boyfriend shirt’ phases wherein women wore loose clothes inspired by the opposite sex for a carefree, tomboy-ish look. Boyfriend watches are similar: these chunky metallic works of art come in silver, golden and rose-gold and give a cool yet sophisticated look, ideal for the modern woman.



We can thank internationally acclaimed designer Micheal Kors for kick-starting this trend. His incredibly successful line of Rose Gold watches have sold out like hot cakes across the world, ever since their launch in 2011. The warmth of the Rose Gold shade — slightly pink, slightly silver — affords an understated class and elegance. It’s not as flashy as pure gold nor is it as mainstream as silver.


There is literally something for everyone when it comes to modern wristwear. Many popular designer brands have jumped the bandwagon and launched their own range of this new fashion fad. Their collections include normal chain watches as well as sundry variations, some with colourful dials, fancy straps, encrusted jewels and even charms and other dangles attached to them.



If the single-coloured watch isn’t your style, there is a variety of two or three toned watches available as well. One of the most popular of this lot is the big white watch than looks like it is made of rubber but with gold or rose-gold detailing to go with it. Watches like these were all the rage during the 1980s and looks like they are here to stay.

When discussing watches, one cannot ignore the longstanding classic leather strap that every one of us has worn at some point in our lives. The best part about this timeless accessory is that even after months of wear and tear, the leather (if genuine) looks great and the straps are interchangeable. So if your red leather strap watch isn’t matching too many of your outfits, don’t worry! Simply replace the strap to a more neutral shade, such as black or tan, and you are good to go. Not only will this match your clothes but also give you a whole new watch without having to purchase one! Leather watches are also generally cheaper than heavy metal ones. Most importantly, as lovely as the metal watches are, they can prove a tad bit problematic if you aren’t too careful with them — they scratch very easily and once scratched, lose their charm.

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, March 30th, 2014.
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