A Decade in Shades

Though many of us are looking forward to the end of 2009 and this somewhat dismal decade, I couldn't resist the temptation to look back on the aughts and how far our sunnies have come. We've moved away from the early 00s logo craze, but still swear by our classic aviators. White sunglasses were briefly hip, but then named as one of 2007's worst trends by People. Designers were inspired by both retro and futuristic styles. Colored wayfarers were all the rage last year, but clear frames were simultaneously in vogue. And let's just pretend that Kanye West/Alain Mikli plastic shaded thing never happened. Its been a rough ten years.

Bigger is still better. Much of the decade was dominated by reality TV starlets in oversized logo sunnies who would later go on to launch their own ill-fated lines. We've given up on the bling, but oversized sunglasses are still huge.

Except when smaller is better. The cool girls (i.e., M.K.)have already embraced the round, John Lennon-inspired frames. The sunglasses in Proenza Schouler's Spring 2009 RTW show (below) were a pitch perfect example of the trend, but they were also seen at Balenciaga, Marni and Ralph Lauren. I don't see these going away in 2010.


Future Perfect. Balenciaga's Spring 2007 clear shield sunglasses paved the way for the both the futuristic and clear frame trend. Their designer, Nicolas Ghesquiere, cited "robotic articulation, car parts and droids" as his inspiration.


Retro Forever.Our sunglasses have been shaped by nearly every imaginable era. The 1950s influence can be seen in last year's cat-eye, Peggy Guggenheim-esque shapes. Folding Persols and Jackie Onassis's trademark oversized sunglasses are direct references to the 1960s. The 70's mod angles can be seen in _blank">Balenciaga and Linda Farrow styles. But no era has shaped our sunnies preferences (neon, plastic frames and wayfarers) more than the 80s.

The 80s Live. In 2006 and 2007, wayfarers were everwhere and on everybody. The Ray-Bans are, of course, the gold standard, but even Karl Lagerfeld got in on the action for Spring 2008 when he showed his candy-coated take on the trend.
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The Newbies. In the past ten years, a seemingly countless number of new sunglasses lines have been introduced, as nearly ever major fashion house entered the eyewear market. A standout is Karen Walker's line, which premiered in 2006 and consistently produces some of the most innovative and exciting sunnies around.



What are you hoping makes the cut next year and what styles could you live without? Here's to 2010, flashies!

Times: "Love Your Sunglasses (Should I Know You?)"

Its fair to say that the New York Times profile on the prevalence of sunglasses made my day. Possibly my week.

They showcased a few terrific pairs of sunglasses, including some FlashyShades favorites: the Christian Dior CD DIOR 60 S1 and Jimmy Choo JJ.

My favorite pair highlighted is the Balenciaga 0015s. They retail for $360, but save yourself one hundred and twenty bucks by ordering them on otticanet.com for $240.

"Prices for designer sunglasses have jumped to $350 or more in recent months, from an average of $250, retailers say, and the price spike has not turned off shoppers. “The youth of America has discovered sunglasses to be the aspirational and prestige item of the moment,” said Marshal Cohen, a senior analyst with the NPD Group, a market research firm. He predicts, “Sunglasses will replace the handbag as the image item” among teenage girls and young women...

Designers are playing into shoppers’ desire to be recognized, at least by those in the know, by downplaying big logos and incorporating more subtle signals of provenance. Bottega Veneta offers frames with woven leather insets that are recognizable to connoisseurs of the house’s hand-woven leather goods. Prada butterfly frames echo the motifs of the brand’s recent runway collections. Chrome Hearts frames are embellished with sterling bolo designs and leather trim reflective of the company’s rough-rider image."

[Source: NYTimes]

Elle is for Lovers

he most fashionable sunglasses -- including the Chanel Couture shades, at right -- for the Fall/Winter season are detailed in a groovy Elle slideshow. Flashy Likey!

Other highlights include the much sought after futuristic Balenciaga shades, the highly publicized Roberto Cavalli Eva model and the soon-to-be-launched Banana Republic line.

Enjoy it, loves. See slideshow here.

PRETTY SHADY
Would Lolita really have conjured up that pint-size seductress image quite as well without her signature heart-shaped frames? Could Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen have catapulted themselves to tabloid style icon fame without their omnipresent saucer-sized shades? As certain front row types will tell you, the perfect pair of sunglasses serves as part accessory, part armor. This season, a slew of new brands are emerging on the market to bring an ideal air of mystery to the sophisticated woman. Chanel introduces their “haute couture jewelry” collection for fall, adorned with feathers, sequins, and embroideries. At the more affordable end of the spectrum, both Banana Republic and Club Monaco are introducing sunglasses next week, and we hear Club Monaco is already racking up pre-orders. And come spring, Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten will introduce their own brands of shades for the first time—the future is certainly looking bright.

Sunglasses of The Times

he New York Times broke the news to me this morning that one of my favorite New York boutiques is now carrying sunglasses. Love!



Edition Balenciaga sunglasses
Cost: $375
Colors: Grey
Retailer: Kirna Zabête, 96 Greene Street (near Spring), 212-941-9656

In the words of the Times:

The sassy but seriously luxe SoHo boutique is the high-fashion equivalent of a candy store: it’s colorful, tempting and addictive. Part of the draw is its owners, Sarah Easley and Beth Buccini. Not only do they distill the runways to their chicest, most wearable essence, but they are also fun to shop with. ‘‘We try to provide a lighthearted, inspiring environment for fashion beginners as well as the superadvanced,’’ Easley says.

Sunglasses have never been a store staple, but Easley and Buccini couldn’t resist stocking some for spring. ‘‘Lanvin’s are wacky, Stella’s are cool and Balenciaga’s are sci-fi,’’ Buccini says. Easley adds brightly, ‘‘Which sort of sums us up!’’

[Source: NYTimes]

Balenciaga: Redux

ashion Bible Vogue has declared that Balenciaga's Spring 2007 avant-garde glasses are the way of fashion's future. This seems fitting, given that designer Nicolas Ghesquière was inspired by The Terminator.

The venerable magazine's Fashion Market and Accessories Director, Virginia Smith, has instructed readers to:

"Forget rose-colored glasses. For spring, Balenciaga's cyber-goddess goggles are the way to go."

[Source: Style.com]

Frequent readers may recall that I reviewed the Balenciaga runway show back in early October in a post entitled "Robotic Articulation, Car Parts, Droits".



Revisiting the sunglasses, I find I am less offended by them the second time around, which is not to say that high school chemistry labs and hearty games of paintball do not come to mind. The clear lenses I still cannot possibly consider, but the opaque lenses may even almost border on -- dare I say it? -- cool.

Nevertheless, with the sunglasses not hitting stores until late January or February of 2007, it seems premature for Vogue to declare them:

"The cult buy of the season."

This will mark the first collection of Balenciaga eyewear. The sales clerk at the New York store estimated the cost to be approximately $550. Yowzers!

Robotic Articulation, Car Parts, Droids

n Tuesday of last week, Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2007 collection was shown in Paris. Designer Nicolas Ghesquiere's inspiration? The Terminator.

"I was thinking of robotic articulation. Car parts. Droids," Mr. Ghesquiere told Style.com.

Janet Jackson, the Olsens and Anna Wintour were on hand to see the future of fashion for themselves.

His collection may have been avant-garde, but what is with the chemistry lab goggles? Were there projectiles on the runway? These safety masks can't possibly offer UVA/UVB protection.

If this is the future of sunglasses, I prefer the past.

[Source: Style.com]

September's Elle: Vintage Splendor

he issue featured yet another mildly disappointing Portrait of Lindsay Lohan, The Artist, as a Young Woman/Seasoned Boozebag.
[Source: ELLE]


Needless to say, I highlighted, post-it flagged, and generally ravished its 560 pages. While the fall fashion photography was lovely and enticing, I was mildly disappointed by the relatively limited selection of shades highlighted in both editorials and advertisements (and lord knows there were plenty of those). In Elle's defense, however, I would probably have that sentiment even if the bulk of the issue was devoted to the flashiest of shades. I'm insatiable (and a terrible nerd, it seems).

First, our Lindsay.

In the Isabel Dupre styled photoshoot, she is pictured wearing the timeless RayBan Aviators in a muted gradient brown that seems a perfect fit for the coming season. [Source: This picture and others from the 80s themed shoot are available online here. Cheers, NosySnoop.]

To try this at home (if you haven't already, that is):
Model: RB 3025
Cost: $75-$115
Colors: Arista/Smoke Pink Gradient, Arista/Photo Yellow Gradient, Black, etc., etc., etc.
Retailer: framesdirect.com, eyeglasses123.com

Ms. Lohan, it seems, prefers a bit more flash off-camera. Interviewer Andrew Goldman describes her diminutive presence, saying: "If you squinted, the only thing you'd likely see would be her gigantic, buglike Dior sunglasses and her fabled chest..." The aforementioned shades are not pictured, so I can only go out on a limb and assume that Lindsay's are the latest and the greatest. To rock the look, I recommend the Aviadior model:


Cost: $270
Color: Havana plastic with dark brown lenses
Retailer: Bergdorf Goodman

8/31/06 UPDATE: These Diors are available for only $147 on Otticanet.com.

Additionally, the "ElleBehindTheCover" feature clues us in on la Lo's luxurious product preferences:

"MADE IN THE SHADE: Vintage Linda Farrow sunglasses keep our cover girl cool."

BRAVO, Lindsay, on a shades recommendation well done.

Now, there is the Lohan that we know and love (not the thoughtless interviewee who offers insights such as, (a) "I have a rule: I have to be home before the sun comes up or I start panicking. Unless it's, like, your birthday or whatever." and (b) "It's so amazing seeing that one woman [Marilyn Monroe] just going somewhere, this beautiful sex kitten, who's basically a pinup, which is what I've always aspired to be."), providing an excellent shades option.

The only thing cooler than sporting the newest, flashiest, most exclusive and sought-after shades, is having the most exclusive and sought-after shades of a stylish bygone era. And though her brand has been revitalized of late, Linda Farrow's shades are a terrific example of vintage splendor.

A brief overview of the designer:

- Linda Farrow, born in the late 1940s, married an optician and collaborated with him on an extensive line of sunglasses in the 70s and 80s.
- One of her specialities were her "polarized" lenses, which was revolutionary technology at the time.
- Her company was a distributor for major brands such as Pucci, Sonia Rykiel, and Balenciaga.
- Her son, Simon Jablon, relaunched the line in 2003 after unearthing a collection of over 1000 unique, mint-condition designs. Farrows' vintage splendor is now available at approximately 150 retailers internationally. According to her website you can find them at Barneys in New York, though they are not available on the Barneys website.
[Source: Linda Farrow Vintage Official Site]

I am nearly certain that I have seen Lindsay in the following Linda Farrows aviators.
Cost: £220.00
Color: Gold metal frames with tortoise shell strip
Retailer: Tomtom Cigars London

ElleBehindTheCover goes on to suggest a more readily accessible variation on the over-the-top style: Marc Jacobs' Butterfly Sunglasses.


Cost: $290
Color: Light gold frame with brown gradient lens; Green frame with brown gradient lens
Retailer: Saks Fifth Avenue

Since it seems I could blog for an inappropriate stretch of time on Ms. Lohan's enviable shades collection, I will bring this post to a conclusion and resume commentary on Elle's advertised sunglasses in the near future. Konichiwa, reader.

PS - Lindsay, please stop talking about Wilmer in interviews. Its embarrassing. Let's just pretend that it never happened, shall we?