Karen Walker: Still Killing It

New York's "The Cut" blog brought perennial sunglasses favorite Karen Walker back to our attention yesterday, naming the Number One model as a "Best Bet." And with good reason: the "thick, modified cat-eye frames" are cool enough to wear everyday this spring, have been seen on Rihanna, and can be yours for $180.

The Web Loves Alexander Wang

If fawning blog coverage is any indicator, Alexander Wang has the title for this season's most successful sunglasses launch in the bag. In the past few weeks, New York championed his Zipper sunglasses as a "Best Bet", RackedNY found the extra pointy cat-eye look for a steal on eBay and Grazia interviewed the Linda Farrow geniuses responsible for the collaboration.

[Source: The Cut]

The fashion sites clearly love them, so now we'll just have to wait and see who gets photographed in them first. Smart money is on Gaga.

Breaking!

Trusty New York magazine has the insider scoop on Proena Schouler's Fall 2008 sunglasses , including some sweet cat-eyes and the oh-so-trendy John Lennon-esque round frames.

"These sunglasses are so fresh, they don’t even have a price tag yet. This is the first glimpse of the shades; they’re not being presented to insiders until August market week. Though it's as yet unknown which stores will be stocking these little lovelies, we can tell you that they’ll be hitting the streets around October/November. So mark your calendars now."

[Source: NYMag]

Best of New York

udging by my internet history, nymag.com is my most beloved site on the entire world wide web. And this week they've released everyone's favorite edition, The Best of New York. The magazine named Oliver Peoples as the preeminent shades store:

"It’s been around for years, but Oliver Peoples takes the business of fitting frame to face seriously. The sales staff drills you on the clothes you wear, how tan you get during the summer, and whether there are parts of your face you want to downplay or draw attention to. While you’re answering, they’re watching your hair, face shape, and eyes to ensure they suggest glasses that enhance rather than detract. The handcrafted tortoise Ilsas ($350) are big, chic, and beach-worthy without being obnoxious, while frames like the eighteen-karat-gold, rimless OP-678s ($1,900) seem to float on the face."

[Source: NYMag]

New York's "Look Book"

'm fairly certain that being featured in New York Magazine's "Look Book" is a goal for much of the city's population. I have a fairly concise mental outline of how I would describe my look. But that's neither here nor there.

Once again, I was not selected, but lip-synching, self-described "muse" Andre J was. While the afghan is certainly notable, I am more interested in the vintage Lanvin shades.

[Source: NYMag]


It turns out that vintage Lanvin shades are available at one of my favorite sites, PatriciaField.com. They also feature vintage styles by Burberry, Valentino and Versace. ALL FOR $60. LOVE.



Color: Rose
Cost: $60
Retailer: PatriciaField.com

Astonishingly priced vintage finds aside, my favorite part about P.F.'s site is her return policy:

Sunglasses Return Policy:

We understand the need to try on glasses, therefore all sunglasses are returnable within two weeks of purchase for a full credit card refund, minus the cost of shipping.

How perfectly reasonable! Guess who's getting herself some new flash?

New York on New York

he annual "Best of New York" issue of New York Magazine hit newsstands this week. Love New York Magazine!



A highlight:

Best Eyewear: Robert Marc

386 Bleecker St.; 212-242-6668; plus seven other locations

He’s not as cheap as you might find at a discounter or mass chain, but Robert Marc’s frames are handmade (meaning the eyepieces won’t wobble and the screws won’t break two months in). He uses excellent materials (Italian acetate, Japanese titanium), and prices start at $295. He’s best known for his trendy acetates, which come in an exhaustive variety of custom colors and shapes, but he also makes straightforward titanium and rimless styles and stocks cult brands that you won’t find elsewhere, like Lunor, a pricey, minimalist German line made from precious metals, and Retrospecs, a line of refurbished antique frames boasting that holy grail of modern eyewear: original forties and fifties aviators.

[Source: NYMag]

Check out the collection in its entirety on RobertMarc.com.

For store locations, click here.