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]

Feel Pretty

o the already quite swan-like models seem to be carrying themselves with a bit more grace while wearing Thomas Maier's lovely and beautiful Spring/Summer 2008 collection for Bottega Veneta? I know I would be.

Striking.


Clockwise from top left: Anja Rubik, Kim Noorda, Valentina Zelyaeva and Carmen Kass.

[Source: Style.com]

Bottega Backstage [F/W 2007]

hhhh, to be adorned in $1,500 shades and born in 1989. I'd be looking as smug as Chanel Iman does backstage at the Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2007 show.

[Source: Style.com]

Dollar Dollar Bills Y'all

imes are tough, y'all. And shades are spendy.


Courtesy of August's Harper's Bazaar:

[Source: Harper's Bazaar]

WWD.com also profiled the costly sunglasses trend in "Accessories Now: Turn Up the Price Points".

Call me crazy, but fifteen hundred bucks for sunglasses is just much too much. Chanel Iman looks cute in them, though.

In my opinion, these Bottega Veneta BV55/S sunglasses with antique brass for $350 are plenty nice. Available on bottegaveneta.com.

Milan II

omas Maier's Autumn/Winter 07 show for Bottega Veneta was praised as being "individualistic and beautifully grown-up." I think Chanel Iman's sunglasses from this week's show fits that description.

[Souce: Style.com]

Stop the Presses: "Big Plastic Sunglasses Still 'IN'"

uperstylist Rachel Zoe endorsed the continued reign of oversize shades in the July 06 issue of Harper's Bazaar.

[Source: Harper's Bazaar]
With a client list that includes Mischa Barton, Kate Beckinsale, Joy Bryant, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Keira Knightley, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie, Ms. Zoe may very well be the foremost authority on flash. That said, big shades it is.

Profiled in Bazaar's "What's In, What's Out" column, Ms. Zoe went on to deem "sunglasses with bugs or jewels on them" as OUT. Well played.

Her (somewhat safe, but lovely) choices of recommended shades include pairs offered by Bottega Veneta and Tom Ford. I mean, who doesn't love Tom Ford's often prohibitively overpriced and gloriously executed eyewear? The fabsugar.com blog recently detailed their splendor as well. [source]

The issue's covergirl and Zoe protégé Lindsay Lohan was recently spotted picking up a pair for herself (at left). The aquisition of the $490 shades was detailed in its ridiculous entirety here by tmz.com. Sometimes, I love the internet so much I could cry.

To get Lindsay's two-for one flash (plastic-rimmed tinted or rimless colored lenses), the Tom Ford Hawkings Sunglasses:
Cost: $490
Colors: black, rose gold
Retailer: eluxury.com


For a less costly set of Tom Fords, I submit for your consideration:
Tom Ford Aviator Sunglasses
Cost: $260
Colors: Dark brown, Olive
Retailer: Saks Fifth Avenue

Cheers, Mr. Ford. You make some flashy shades.

The other suggested style, Bottega Veneta shades are fitting with Ms. Zoe's signature looks: "big gold jewelry, tanned skin, honey-colored hair." The BV47/S pair at right embody her trademark 1970s Halston-style glamour.
Cost: $300
Colors: Beige, Brown
Retailer: Bottega Veneta

A 2005 L.A.Times profile further details Ms. Zoe's sphere of sartorial influence. She seems to catch a lot of flack, but hey -- she did a heck of a job with the SkeletwinsTM (trentisthenewlink)