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!

DualStar and Uncle Karl

ome sunglasses just won't fade into obscurity. Here at FlashyShades we've been chronicling the ascent of the dual-tone Chanel 5018 sunglasses from their runway debut on Agyness Deyn to their ubiquity on 1st trimester Nicole Richie.

And it seems the Olsens are just as fixated. Ashley brought and wore them for her photo shoot with Marie Claire and now Mary Kate is elbowing in on her sister's sunnies this week in Paris. Do you think they share or they each have their own pair?



Appropriately enough, MK wore them to the Chanel show. Not to be outdone, Ashley wore the Chanel 5117 sunglasses. Check them out at SunglassesItaly.

More Fendi

ith Raquel Zimmerman helming his SS08 advertising campaign, its obvious that Karl Lagerfeld likes his models super.

Fendi for Fall

nflappably cool Agyness Deyn walked Fendi's only A/W 08 sunnies down the runway in Milan this week.


[Source: Style.com]

When WhoWhatWear Says "Sunnies," I Say, "How Bright?"

n my humble, day-to-day blog-reading routine, WhoWhatWear Daily is a staple. Their site is consistently polished and on-trend. Plus, they sweat Peaches Geldof like I sweat Peaches Geldof.

So when they recommend a pair of sunglasses, I take note, especially when they're designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

I was feeling oversaturated by wayfarers when Mr. Lagerfeld's SS 08 Collection came out, but now I am a bit remorseful for having not included the original runway show photos.

Please to enjoy:

[Source: Style.com]

The Cat's Me-Ow

lle magazine's "duckling-turned-swan" overhaul now well underway, I find myself compelled by a magazine I was accustomed to snoring through, if I bothered at all.





This month brings us some really on-point articles, including, but not limited to: a profile of Rodarte's Laura and Kate Mulleavy, "Dream Weavers"; a behind-the-scenes look at Chanel's blockbuster Resort 2008 collection (as seen on Ms. Lindsay Lohan with Uncle Karl, who wore his trademark Chrome Hearts sunglasses); and a week's wardrobe consisting entirely of High Street finds, styled by Nina Garcia.

But I digress! More to the point, Elle featured loads and loads of wonderful sunglasses throughout the magazine. Love.

I always enjoy the voyeuristic description of what the cover model personally wore to the set (a la Pixie Geldof and Ashley Olsen) and Scarlett Johansson was no exception. I would have predicted black Ray-Ban Wayfarers for ScarJo, but was pleasantly surprised to learn she was sporting the up-and-coming cat-eye trend:

[Source: Elle]

Maybe its just a fun change of pace, but I am loving the Peggy Guggenheim look right now; thank you, John Galliano. Although, to be fair, Luella was on point a full season ahead of the curve.

Ms. Johansson's Tom Ford Anouk sunnies are a perfect choice. They're available in black and tortoise for $300 at Saks.

Stylishly Springfield

his month's Harper's Bazaar has the most fun fashion spread I've encountered in ages: Springfield's finest in Parisian finery (with Linda Evangelista thrown in for good measure). Between the pagan controversy and the 7-11's as Kwik-E-Mart's, the promotional team behind the Simpsons movie has done some great work.

[Source: Harper's Bazaar; Images: OhNoTheyDidn't]

Above, Homer and Karl don Chanel eyewear, while Marge and Linda model the couture creations.


As Chanel sunglasses go, I personally am fond of the Chanel 5117. They are $327 on SunglassesItaly.

Karl Rules

sk yourself: Could Karl Lagerfeld be cooler? I submit that he can not! Couture sunglasses: I'm lovin' it.

He outfitted the models in Chanel's Fall Couture 2007 show earlier this week in pretty, pretty shades. Doesn't model Vivian Orth look lovely?

[Source: Style.com]

Faux Pas?

s nearly every blog on the planet has reported, FlashyShades included [See: Paris Fashion Week: Chanel Spring/Summer 2007], Katie Holmes and Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham have been cruising around the City of Light, (emaciated) arm in (emaciated) arm.

After posting a photograph of their appearance at Friday's Chanel runway show, I continued to surf the world wide web to identify which shades Ms. Holmes wore.

Who knew her sunglassess would be so easily identifiable? My love for the internet grows stronger with each passing day.

[Source: KatieHolmes.com; What a site!]

Ms. Holmes is wearing the D & G 3003 model:
Cost: $117 - $138
Colors: Striated Blue, Dark Havana, Black (as seen here)
Retailer: Otticanet.com


In the words of my roommate, "They are so dark and pretty. I sweat them."

Pretty, yes. But D & G? To the Chanel show? What would Karl say?

[Ms. Beckham, a sunglasses lover and designer, is often very difficult to pin down. She often wears shades of her own design -- look for the star logo -- which are not available online and have had only two very limited UK-based offerings. Here, her razor-sharp bob covered any logo or tell-tale markings.]

Paris Fashion Week: Chanel Spring/Summer 2007

ary-Kate Olsen will not be remembered as having worn the stupidest sunglasses for Paris Fashion Week [See: Uhhhh.... MK?], if Karl Lagerfeld has anything to say about it. With Friday's Chanel show, the designer paraded high hemlines, ponytails, garments with pill- and tablet-embellishments, and two-tone shades down the catwalk.

But one pair of sunglasses was shown on the runway: curve-armed frames with half-opaque, half-translucent lenses . Questionable as the shades were, they were far superior to the clear plastic platforms Mr. Lagerfeld was trying to sell us.

[Source: Vogue.co.uk]

Though these sunglasses may look silly, they (and other moderately-priced accessories) are serious profit heavy-weights for the fashion house. Mr. Lagerfeld advised customers that the shades are available, but to act quickly:

"The models carried the handbags and wore the oversized sunglasses that are all important for profit margins at luxury goods houses.

'I don't show anything that is not for sale,' said the 68-year-old Lagerfeld.

'Whatever you seen on the Chanel runway you can have it in the show. You have to go early because those things disappear quite quickly and the sales girls have a tendency to hide them for their favorite clients.'"

[Source: NYTimes]

Oh, yeah, and these two were front and center. Nice shades, ladies. Couldn't swing seats next to Anna Wintour? (Who was present, and yes, also wore sunglasses.)

[Source: KatieHolmes.com]