Star Wars and Sunglasses: Perfect Together

Whether you’re a sci-fi geek or a fashion fanatic, adidas has taken its bestriped styles right right to the edge. A design partnership with Stella McCartney brings a sleek chic to sports togs. Some of her running clothes make me actually want to step away from my computer and start stepping someplace athletic. Yeah, I'm not sure where that is. But maybe it would come more naturally with the right togs.

Meanwhile the story is not quite as sexy from a sunglass perspective.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, the Kundo sunglasses with a café con leche color scheme are cute as a button.

Also, the Ipanema from adidas Originals isn’t a pair of sunglasses that I would throw out of my purse any time soon…very sporty cute.

But wouldn’t you have loved to see what they could do sunglasses wise with some of adidas' special partnerships, particularly with the Star Wars collection…oy! It’s a great combo of dorktastic and fantastic.

This video shows the awesomeness.. http://www.youtube.com/user/adidasoriginals#p/u/86/ZooYDKIDOaQ

In this day and age of streamline and chunky combos in the world of sunglass designs, along with the shiny or metallic color schemes that would make C3PO and R2D2 beep with envy, one can’t help but sigh a little about the styles that could come through adidas under this umbrella.

The force would totally be with them.

Sunglass road to Enlightenment

It’s hard to be opinionated.  Sometimes you make a VERY hard stand against something…such as sunglasses at night.

And on some level you’ll always feel that note of concern: will something come down the road to make you think…maybe I should reconsider my stance?

And then just that happens.

So here it is, top of a fresh week and I’m forced to wrestle with this question: does glow-in-the-dark-ness(-ousity? -hood?) make wearing sunglasses at night ok?

The answer, my friends, is…maybe. When I was a kid, I loved my glow-in-the-dark fake vampire fangs (I was into vampires before it was hip, what can I say?). And when my nephews and nieces were babies, I thought those glow-in-the-dark galaxies that were stuck on their nursery ceilings were super-cute. And on a trip to New Zealand a boat ride through a glowworm cavern just make me love that green sheen in the weirdest way. So I guess that I am biased in favor of glowing.

Converse’s Glow-In-The-Dark styles look frosty during the day and glowing neon at night in either an aviator shape or rectangular style. And although I continue to have serious questions about the wholesomeness of after-dark shade, I might have to see them myself before I make my final judgment. Hmmm.

Sunglass Ingenue

So it really turns out that Kate Hudson is a better sunglass wearer than actress. And although you don’t get paid for sassy sunwear, there must be a special Academy Award for best use of optical props, right?

Here she’s seen in London wearing Ørgreen’s Bianca sunglass. (INF photos.)

Bieber Seasonal Cold

As a grown woman with no children and a shard or two of self respect, I simply cannot catch Bieber fever. But out of respect for two subjects near and dear to my heart—my niece and l.a. Eyeworks—I will share these images of Justin Bieber in l.a. Eyework's style Bent sunglasses. These stills are from a new  MTV video promo for the VMAs set to air Sept. 12.

I could take two roads here: It's appalling that Justin Bieber has to infringe even on the most wonderful things, like a great l.a.-based eyewear company (check for their futuristic shop next time you watch Bladerunner!). OR: Maybe there is hope for this kid after all.

Because I've been away for a week and am so happy to be blogging again (and my niece will kill me if I besmirch the Bieb), I will give the lad the benefit of the doubt.

Envying Famous People Wearing Sunglasses

Things are still crazy busy for me. If I did everything I'm supposed to do today, it would be Wednesday before I got out of my chair. But Hollywood stars seem to have plenty of time to swan around wearing cool sunglasses. So here are a few of the H'wood people whose glasses I am planning to steal as soon as possible.

Jennifer Love Hewitt proves that I am in fact the last and potentially only person in the world without a pair of the beloved shiny, sexy, Mykita Franz gold sunnies. She must have a very good stylist, because no one with the bad taste to date Jamie Kennedy would be able to pick out these wonderful glasses.

Oh man, I want to be a cool person who can pull off Chloe sunglasses! I do, I do. In fact, I might just want to be Anna Paquin in general. Cute English fiance? Check. Confident smile complete with signature tooth gap? Check. Exciting pansexual PSA? Check. Blood-soaked boy sandwich Rolling Stone cover? Wait. Oh that's just crazy. But she does look awesome in Chloe Belladone sunglasses.

And finally, because I really do have to get back to work (Boo! We want to have a glass of champagne and watch reruns of True Bloooooood!), Leighton Meester is my final pick of the day of people who had better watch it before I steal their sunglasses. Even though I have never actually seen her act or sing, and although I find her name to be beyond silly, and regardless of the fact that she may very well be on set and not wearing clothing of her own choosing, I long for these Derek Lam Parker sunglasses, a tube of red lipstick, and an 18-year-old boyfriend...a slice of what I imagine her daily life to be. Sigh.

Rage-Ready Sunglasses

This is a tough time of year at the office. Things are crazy busy and the words and such are flying all over the place. And since I'm sensitive, damn it, it's taking a slight toll on my otherwise sterling sense of humor.

What I need today is a good pair of rage-friendly sunglasses.

My first choice would be Silhouette's Titan Minimal Art...which is a clean Austrian style that doesn't take crap from anybody. And because there are no hinges to get caught in your hair and ruin a dramatic moment, they are completely perfect for a "What The F?" confrontation accentuated by pulling one's sunglasses off and gesticulating wildly with them.

In my few spare moments I'll try to come up with a few more rage-friendly models.

Style suggestions are welcome! (angrily!)

Big and English

Sorry about the spotty blogging last week. And oy...the stories I have for you once I can catch my breath! I have seen sunglasses on beautiful people galore. More to come later...

For now, here's a link to a great story about big gals and the accessories that love them:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1303293/Big-girl-skinny-world-You-know-youre-podgy-hat-fits.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Combo Pack: Capes and Sunglasses

Capes are in again.

Just let that sink in.

Capes. Are. In.

Now, I love a cape…they’re so drama drama. But I also think of capes as the coat of choice worn by my nana, who was no fan of excessive buttoning up.

Her logic in winter coating solutions was sound. Capes are one step from just getting out of bed and going to work with the comforter wrapped around your shoulders. And there ain’t nothing wrong with that, folks!

Unless you have a Snoopy comforter; in which case: come on, that’s just weird at your age.

The big question here is what sunglasses to use with a cape. You could go super clean line and make it a WWII look.

Or you can go super-girly and femme it up.

Or you can go edgy and use your sunglasses to take you straight into Fantastic Land with the Paul Smith style Foxley (shown above). Where is Fantastic Land, you ask? Only those in capes and the proper sunglasses truly know.

Silly sunglasses, Snooki

By this point, I believe I've made my feelings on enormous sunglasses clear (I love them).

But I don't know if I've made myself clear about novelty sunglasses (I hate them).

From Gaga's smoking Telephone sunglasses to Jersey Shore's hot mess Snooki's choice, they just burn my toast.

There is a big difference between innovative or artistic and silly and gimmicky.

Lace sunglasses from Chanel: artistic!

Condom monocle from Left Eye: almost silly, but social message makes it artistic!

Last summer's slatted sunglass collaboration between Alain Mikli and Kanye West: Innovative (you can actually see out of them!)

These, shown at http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2010/08/jersey-shore-guilty-pleasure-by-nikky.html:

Just ridiculous.

Isn't it bad enough that these MTV-sponsored thugs are further maligning sweet sweet New Jersey? Now they have to mess with sunglasses, too? What's next? Will The Situation have an inappropriate relationship with grandma's apple pie while draped in an American flag? This madness must end.

Privacy Enhancing Sunglasses

There are times in a girl’s life when she just wants to be alone. Not in the Greta Garbo way, but in the “no, seriously, now is just not a good time” way. I’m sure this goes for boys’ lives as well.  But I’m the SpinsterMiss, not the BachelorMister, so I’ll be selfish about my pronouns, thank you very much.

Anyway, there are those days when all of the makeup in the world can’t hide the fact that you’ve had one of those nights.

Not the good kind.

The kind of night where you actually drank that gag bottle of wine that you got for your house warming party several years before….and you found and smoked the cigarettes at the back of your junk drawer that you thought were gone since you quit ages ago….all while watching any movies that will make you therapeutically cry. And, because it’s been that kind of a day, pretty much any movie will make you therapeutically cry, from The Jerk to a nature documentary.

So the next day when you have to go to work, you’d better have something you can wear that’s big enough to cover what seems to irreparable damage to your pretty, pretty face. Sunglasses that reveal nothing beneath your stylish exterior.

Thank goodness designers are more than willing to provide us with a number of defensive sunglass options.

Large looks, such as the Peekaboo from Fendi (above) are excellent...they fairly scream "just look at the glasses and leave me alone!"

And then there is the dark, she-walks-in-beauty-like-the-night looks, such as this Valentino style 5749 that can help you fade in and out of the scene in proper privacy.

Sunglasses at night

It's quite a pickle. I'd like to switch my postings to the p.m. I do have a full-time job that requires my full time attention. But by the time I get home and walk the dog and get settled in for the night, it's dark. And I'm not crazy about writing on the subject of sunglasses when there's no sun. In fact, I'm just not crazy about sunglasses at night. Period.

I'm going to go right out on a limb and say that while I love Corey Hart and his dreamy super-spiked hair and his total lack of willingness to ever surrender, I think that wearing sunglasses at night is foolish and dangerous and it makes you look like you're high and couldn't afford Visine.

There, I've said it. I feel much better now. Kanye, Diddy, Gaga, and other various and assorted celebrity types may be eligible for a waiver if they are faced with photophobia due to excessive exposure to camera flashes. But you'll have to fill out a form and get my approval on it.

Otherwise, I'm totally going to make fun of you whenever I can.

You're warned.

Crystal clear FAIL

 Well, this is one entry that won't be getting a personal photo.

As is turns out, crystal frames let through sun just fine, so no temple tan lines. BUT...if your sunwear is any good, which mine always is...than the UV protection in the lenses will also provide sunscreen for the skin around your eyes. Which is totally great for the prevention of additional "smile lines" (ahem).

The end result, however, after a day of boating fun is two lens-shaped white shapes around your eyes.

So love crystal sunglasses. Just don't expect them to provide you with the perfect tan.

Also, I'd recommend staying away from the Lolita-esque heart-shaped sunnies if you're expected to appear in public after your day in the sun.

Keep Archie, blondie. Give me the sunnies.

It’s no secret that the dark Veronica’s of this world might occasionally feel some resentment towards the fairer Betty’s in our lives. And this week’s star sightings of blond actresses Reece Witherspoon in Jason Wu and Hillary Duff in Carrera as well as quasi-actress/personality Paris Hilton in Mykita (drool!) has done nothing but up the envy factor.

I guess blonds are known for their sunworshipping, beachgoing ways.  So sunglasses and blonds do tend to go together. And, of course, there’s the medical consideration: those with blue eyes should always be in sunglasses when they’re outside so they don’t end up with macular degeneration in their golden years.

So wear sunglasses by all means, blondies, but keep your hands off of these cool styles in the future. If it's any consolation, they can keep Archie.

Getting Away Shades

Tonight I’ll be packing and joining the monstrous chain of SUV’s trekking their way to The Shore for a girls week with my mom, my sister, and my nieces (with Dad and assorted brothers and nephews thrown in for good measure). And this is one of my favorite sunglass times of the year.

Most of the time I like to think that I know pretty much all there is to know about sunglasses, from their construction to their day-to-day applications. But it’s easy to forget that everyone brings their own perspective to the table and what I think is unbearably cool is just plain unbearable to others.

One of least favorite parts of the trip is the moment that I realize everyone around me thinks a pair of sunglasses in my heavy rotation are suited for someone else. Probably someone crazy or who has just given up the game entirely.

But one of my favorite parts is sitting on our lounge chairs, looking at the bay, passing around sunglasses, and finding that one pair every woman there—from the 12 year old to the 70 year old—wants for her very own. There’s almost always a favorite and I can’t wait to see which sunglass takes the prize this year.

I’m still loving the Prada Postcard looks and thinking this is going to be a big hit!

Hello Sunnies, Goodbye Cancer

I freakin hate cancer. There I’ve said it. And I won’t take it back. I mean maybe if Hitler had died a painful death of cancer, one could say, “cancer’s terrible, but at least it took out that damn Hitler.”

But it didn’t. 

So cancer has no redeeming features whatsoever and anything that fights against cancer has my support.

In fact, it warms the cockles of my heart to be able to connect my efforts to support those who fight against the ongoing rottenness of cancer with some beautiful sunglasses that are created to raise funds and help those who are trying to find a cure as well as those whose lives have been affected by the disease.

Every year BCBGMAXAZRIA comes out with a great sunglass to raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and this year is no exception. The Dream, in black or wine with pink-thinking, inspirational messages written inside the temples, is the latest model; and approximately $25 from the sale of each pair sold from September through August will be donated to the charity, with a minimum donation of $100,000 from ClearVision Optical the frame's manufacturer.

Oakley’s no slacker either. They just hit the $5 million dollar mark in contributions to LIVESTRONG based on sales of the company’s LIVESTRONG eyewear and sunglasses, which feature some of Oakley’s iconic styles such as Flak Jacket, Radar, and Fuel Cell (shown top) in LIVESTRONG’s equally iconic yellow and black color scheme.

So get your checkbooks out and eradicate cancer with style.

Going in Style

Feeling sorry for Lindsay Lohan seems like the right thing to do. Her life is a bloody disaster. Of course, if you were reduced from A-list Hollywood actress to selling self-tanner and leggings, maybe you’d need to indulge in barroom catfights and heavy self-medication.

Regardless, celebrity justice has been served and she’ll be doing semi-hard time for the next 13 days. Which, if you think about it, is an easier sentence than that put upon hundreds of thousands of 8-year-olds sent to sleep-away camp for the first time this summer.

But I’m not here to talk about politics, or sleep-away camps for that matter. I’m here to give Ms. L a true and heartfelt shout out for her service to the sunglass community. No matter how hard times have been, she has worn some great sunglasses and reminded us how much this accessory is invaluable in times of trouble and strife.

Since this is a unbudgeted blog, I can’t post the picture of Lindsey doing the ultimate walk of shame (complete with gold glitter!), I’ve posted a picture of a Ray-Ban Clubmaster…one of the great iconic sunglasses looks. It shows that if you’re going down, you might as well go in style.

See you in August, Lindsey.

Athletic Support

It’s so nice to be fit.

Or so I’ve heard.

My friends who are charging healthfully into the prime of life seem to be very happy in their running world. And it seems like such a smart thing to do.

But then there’s novels to read and dogs to scritch, and frankly that comfy seat isn’t going to plump up its own cushions.  So I’m left with no choice but to relax my days away.

Oddly enough, however, my aging process seems to be continuing inexorably forward and my parts seem to be heading inexorably downward. It’s too soon for that to happen, I don’t have enough money to buy my retirement villas in Boca and Sedona or for some good, but subtle work.

As a result, I’ve determined it’s time to get moving. I’ve even signed up for the Susan G. Komen 5K in NYC in September. Now it’s time to prep to guarantee I’ll survive a 3.5-mile outing. Of course, this means starting from the eyes down (my hair is just going to have to deal…it is a workout after all). There are sunglasses out there just for the purpose of exercising, as it turns out.

Who knew?

While I don’t think I’ll need extra high performance looks just yet, there’s no time like the present to get started.

A retro look such as Belem from the reborn Vaurnet might get me started.

Or I can jam it into high gear with Brazen from Nike.

If you see me lying by the side of the road in full workout attire, please make sure my head is turned in a way that ensures my sunglasses don’t get scratched.

Sunglasses, Naturally

Since I’m constantly complaining about being hot, you’d think I’d do something about it. And I do: I wear cool sunglasses and try not to rise too much of a sweat between car and condo.

But, in the scheme of long-term benefits to Mother Earth, that might not do the trick. So maybe I’ll go for a crunchy granola approach to sunglasses for a while. However, I’m not really the crunchy or granola type. I’m more the mimosa and spinach/feta omelet type—with a side of bacon.

So the dirty truth is, I want to give the impression of being environmentally sensitive, but without actually sacrificing any comfort, pleasure, or style.

Fortunately there are some lovely sunglass makers who are providing organic looks that are also stylish enough for me to attend a protest march in style. (As long as there’s a cocktail hour afterward and it’s not really too, too hot.) Ok, maybe for me to wear for a walk in the park or on the beach or in a convertible to appreciate nature's glories.

Above is Gold & Wood’s Moon sunglasses: All wood…sustainable…and wildly stylish. And below, a grassy and woven organic look, from Robert Marc, echoes coconut fibers, style 632.137. 

For these, I’d go green.

Nothing a turban, wine, and sunglasses won’t fix

There are days, typically after being exposed to many fabulous people and socializing heavily, that demand privacy.

Days when you work at your kitchen table, listening to the comforting burble of vaguely southern accented telesales personalities on the Jewelry Network while catching up with the paperwork and minutia of real work and life.

Days where it’s 9:30 and you’re still in last night’s pajamas and even the dog looks at you as if to say, “Aww, Girl…that look. It’s not good.”

And those are days that you get to a point and think, “Damn, I should have put on my kooky hat/turban/scarf and most enormous, black-lensed, black-framed sunglasses and headed into nature with my adorably groomed dog.”

A dash of STELLA might have done the trick (Stella McCartney style SM 4013)…

I’ll try to remember that next time, or maybe Gabby will. Good girl. Now let’s curl up with a box of biscuits and a bottle of sauvignon blanc to watch the sodalite with lapis necklaces go by.

Where Are the Wild Things?

Now I totally understand when you are too hot to do anything even remotely creative or otherwise potentially heat generating. In fact, at lunch today all I could think about is how good it would feel to dump my chilled asparagus soup over my head.

Which I managed not to do, but I still think it would feel good.

Anyway, one of the things I usually love best in New York City is watching the sunglasses go by. Checking the scene out, I get information on trends and confirmation that I kind of understand what’s going on style-wise.

But two days in the city this week didn’t blow my mind. Oh the looks were good. Timeless and stylish. But not moving fashion forward in any way. The streets were filled with lots of simple oversized black frames for the ladies.  Oakley’s and wrap looks on the guys. Wayfarers and aviators for everyone. (Including me. Yes, I’m still loving my gray leather Tod’s aviators. It’s the first aviator I’ve tried on that didn’t give me a mean bug look and I’m absolutely reveling it.)

So my point?

Turns out I have two.

People don’t quite seem to be pulling out of the financial prudence cycle in terms of getting impulsive, sassy sunglasses.

People really should start pepping up their sunglasses again, even if they have to do some bargain shopping. Which are totally possible (like the sale at Robert Marc’s stores this week!). 

So while I’d never encourage anyone to buy sunglasses from the black market types…I’ll go off on that at some future point…I am strongly encouraging those in the fashion capitol of the U.S. to step it up with the sunglasses.

I’m warning you, New York. If you keep this up, I’m going to do a weeklong tribute to the awesome sunglasses designed in California. Or Europe. Or BOTH!

Watch it.

Here's an Italian fashion forward look...fashion design and planning students in Florence highlighted X-Ide's styles with Casentino Felt. Not exactly suited for the streets, but it's definitely a new twist! (And it might help absorb sweat! Thusly solving yesterday's problems!)