Style Awards 2008

Topman has consistently raised the bar on the high street with its affordable designer collaborations, mixing it up with both established and emerging new talent. This season's new designer additions includes Dexter Wong, Carolyn Massey, Kasper Harup-Hansen, Mjolk's and Another Boy. Solid design ethics has meant Topman is able to deliver a blend of trendy edginess and catwalk-inspired fashions for everyone to enjoy.

When it comes to tactics, French Connection's is very simple: evolve and conquer. Over the last year, its menswear has been streamlined and a formal collection has now emerged comprising of suiting. The mainline collection is the showcase highlighting the brand's ability to create a collection that has a suitably stylish edge.

Since it was started back in the late 80s by three ex-Paul Smith boys, OTS has been producing understated clobber for blokes with real style. Clean, timeless and functional clothing with a heavy focus on the detailing on everything from their outwear, shirts and knitwear to denim. An innovative approach and use of different fabrics is what makes ONETrueSaxon stand apart from the rest.

One of the classic British labels, Fred Perry successfully manages to combine fashion with heritage season after season. This time round, it taps into its musical roots with a collection inspired by 60s guitar bands, resulting in sharp, slimmed-down Mod silhouettes. You know what you're getting with Fred Perry, but it consistently delivers the sort of clothing that never really ages.

Unlike other fashion houses, BOSS Orange consistently follows its own agenda, and its latest collection of smart threads is no different. The autumn/winter line is both individualistic and irreverent, with military style meeting bohemian chic. Outwear in particular is key, and clearly this collection is geared to those with a unique personal style. Applause please...

For the informed label fetishist, Stone Island is still hitting all the right buttons. Its ethos of innovative research to fibres and textiles has kept it on top when it comes to high performance casual wear. This season, it's all about the big jackets and knits - so if you're looking for wearable objects of desire, you need look no further.

Ray-Ban's longstanding association with pop stars has turned styles like the Wayfarer and the Club Master into icons. For those in the know, a pair of Ray-Bans in their shades collection is a must. They're still favoured by the American military too, due to the fact that they deliver a robust frame that's also packed full of design flare. Perfect for the screaming Vietnam veteran in all of us.

High-end luxury coupled with large doses of sex appeal has always been the winning formula of Tom Ford Eyewear. The current collection is a modern take on 50s styling with contemporary shapes influenced by styles from yesteryear. Quality materials and meticulous attention to detail mark the Fords out from most other solar bins.

The influx of all the classic retro watches catapulted Casio back on top of the timepiece tree. From the very beginning of production, Casio's wrist furniture has been well known for the huge variety and innovation of their design. Always raising the bar, Casio is constantly offering new and exciting variations on the wristwatch - from the famous calculator watch to digital and analogue quartz watches. The company's recent revival has diminished its old school class none, grabbing its moment in the limelight with both hands.

We could call the TAG timeless, but that would be a bit daft. They're just doing what they've been doing best forever - namely, luxury watches in the racing tradition. This latest addition to the Carrera family - the Grand Carrera - launched last year, drawing its inspiration from modern GT cars. Taking the very best elements in classic luxury watch making to create an aesthetic that is modern and classic.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Levi's has once again updated a true original - the 501 jeans - to spectacular effect. The 501 has become an icon of denim, a straight leg jean as it should be done. But this season the 501 has evolved; slight adaptations including a straighter waistband, a tapered leg and a lower back rise - so there's no need for any offensive high-waisted Simon Cowell moments.

We salute Wrangler for going back to its roots. Unlike so many other denim brands, Wrangler is harking back to the old days, with a collection that's a modern take on the Wild West. Wrangler has stuck to its guns and the result is great denims that offer a superb fit without being a huge drain on your stretched bank account.

Even with all the celebrity involvement, Reebok has still managed to keep on top of its game on a global front. From football, tennis, running and cricket, to American football, Reebok has got its feet firmly planted in each sport. Its links with famous personalities - Lewis Hamilton, Thierry Henry and even Scarlett Johansson - both in and out of sports look set to make Reebok an even bigger global force.

Adidas' Originals line continues to forge ahead in the sports lifestyle market. This season saw the launch of the Techrave and Craftsmanship collection. It's where functional sports fashion meets 90s rave silhouettes, executed with techy fabrics. It's a very bold collection so, word to the wise, proceed with caution.

Delving into its vast archives, Puma has once again hit us with an old school favourite in the form of the Easy Rider Machine Wash. This new version is based on the cross-country kicks that Puma first released some 30 years ago. Available in the three original colourways, and offered with a two lace set, distressed suede upper and lightweight nylon underlays, they're a must for all those clued-up sneaker heads.

Lacoste marked its 75th anniversary with some sharp-looking limited-edition kicks. The Stealth range reintroduced the world to the Missouri '85 - the tennis shoe popular back in the 80s - as the lynchpin of a collection that's already bulging with timeless classics.

Once again, Kickers has managed to update its iconic Kick Hi boots without diluting its core aesthetic. Following on from last year's successful collaborations, Kickers again hooked up with seven leading names in fashion and music (like the Buzzcocks) to represent each decade from the 70s to the present day. The result is a brilliantly fresh boot design.

Russell & Bromley has been widely acknowledged as one the UK's finest footwear emporiums. Further cementing its reputation for creating classic British footwear, this year they continued to make honest, stylish footwear with a contemporary, classical twist. Highlights of this season's collection of fancy treads included your staple shoes, like the traditional loafer, and rugged, hard-wearing boots.

Fast-growing fashion e-tailer ASOS is a one-stop shop for those that want to take a hassle free approach to clothes. In the case of ASOS, it's even easier as it's able to deliver accessible and classy clobber from premium brands while using its own in-house brands to react quickly to emerging trends.

With 57 stores nationwide, USC has established itself in the marketplace as one of the UK's leading retailers. The denim brands are still a core part of its business though, housing brands such as Diesel, G-Star, Firetrap and Replay. This season, there's even an exclusive range from Gio Goi which you can only get at USC.

The beauty of Tuff Stuff's stuff is that while it sounds like it should leave your hair feeling like concrete, it actually does the complete opposite. It's pliable and keeps your hair in the place you want it to be, but without having a head of rock.

Being actively involved with everything from fashion weeks the world over to the Cannes Film Festival gives this the durability and A-list credibility your barnet needs. L'Oreal still manages to pull of that magic achievement of making you look good, without you having to try too hard.

We've all seen the cack skincare ads, where we're suffering from early starts, dehydration, stress and all that, but this stuff really is the nuts in all the ways that skincare should be (though its added 'booster' is the real bonus here). Yes, it's metrosexual central, but you wouldn't be reading this if you were bothered about that, would you?

Some exfoliators use stuff like walnut bits and seashells to help you slough off huge slices of disgusting dead skin, leaving you to bemoan your sore red face like a massive wuss. There's a huge difference between those and something subtle, soothing and totally unpretentious that still does the job, like LAB's latest. It's very good indeed.

There's a reason Nivea For Men continues to be one of the best-selling ranges; Nivea make simple, straightforward (not to mention affordable) products that do their job. What began as simply a blue pot of moisturising cream is now a reliable, effective and efficient range of grooming gear.

Now that they've introduced the AZOR to the masses, there isn't much King Of Shaves doesn't do. It started with a winning product in its shaving oils and continued to impress throughout the entire shaving range, before tackling skincare and haircare just as well.

It's hard to go wrong with a Calvin Klein fragrance. For decades now, Calvin's been aiding men (and women) who want to give off a classier whiff than BO and this year's been no exception. From the smooth planes and strong lines of the bottle to the crisp, spicy woodiness of its contents, this is the sort of top quality, affordable odour that's guaranteed to get the object of your affection to come-hither.

We're told that this works because the citrus and the woods are undercut with a mint-infused icy undercurrent. But let's be honest, we could say it was magic potion and it wouldn't matter. What matters is the way it makes you smell, which is good.

They may be a wee bit pricey, but seeing as they're simply the best shaving implements around, they're well worth it. The closest shave possible with minimal, if any, irritation. What more do you want?

A consistently reliable shave, Wilkinson's classic four-blade design leaves no rogue hairs left standing. The classic Quattro now comes with a motorised trimmer and edging blade, sorting all your facial hair needs in one neat package.

Maxim's online readers voted for this e-tailer as their favourite brand of the year, and it's not hard to see why. A combination of high class, high-end brands - Paul & Joe, Raf by Raf Simons, McQ by Alexander McQueen and J. Lindeberg - mixes well with more high street brands like French Connection and All Saints to name a few. A great choice from our readers, who obviously have good taste.