Laguna's Last Call

n anticipation of tomorrow night's Laguna Beach finale, I have taken some time to reflect upon the season's dramatic highs and lows.


If you haven't been carefully following the gang's manicure trips, petty rivalries, calculated hookups and -- of course -- flashy shades, its not too late. You can get an overview of the season in MTV's Photobook.

Its become obvious to me that Lexie is the show's standout. She is in on the gossip, but smart enough to not be the subject of it.

From Left: Lexie looks on and laughs as Breanna makes out with Derek in Cabo; Aboard her family's yacht with the alpha babes; Looking pretty at her pre-prom party with, but keeping her distance from, Derek; Getting hit on by Alex within microseconds of his breakup with Raquel (aka "Rocky", "The Worst"). [Source: MTV]

Below, some of Lexie's flashiest:

[Source: LagunaLovers.org]

Chanel 5065
Cost: $282
Colors: Pink, Tortoise, Black, Blue, Ivory, Brown
Retailer: SunglassesItaly


[Source: LagunaLovers.org]

My personal favorites, Versace 2053 B:
Cost: $210
Colors: Black, Green, Dark Grey, Blue, Brown
Retailer: SunglassesItaly


Well played, Lexie. Those'll show Kyndra who's boss.

Marc Jacobs: Revenge of the Nerd

ike so many in the tabloid world often do, I find myself confused as to Kristin Cavallari's celebrity status. Is she or isn't she? Famous, that is. We will give her the benefit of the doubt for the time being, as her latest surfacing on the world wide web pertains to an actual film she is starring in.

Or rather, trying to star in. The remake of Revenge of the Nerds is on a temporary hiatus, as a new filming location is procured:

"Production on one of Fox Atomic's first films -- a remake of the 1984 cult classic 'Revenge of the Nerds' -- has been shut down after Emory University in Atlanta, where more than a third of the film was to be shot, backed out of its agreement to allow Fox to film on campus. It's believed that Emory officials ultimately balked at the raunchy nature of the project."

[Source: Variety]


[Source: SavingFace]

For her return to California, Ms. Cavallari donned Marc Jacobs' MJ042S:
Cost: $275
Color: Tortoise
Retailer: SunglassesItaly

Laguna Washes Away My Sanity

hough Laguna Beach hasn't come close to truly capturing my interest this season -- really, who casted these bimbos? -- I did check in this week to see what the southern Californians are shielding their retinas with these days.

Episode 7, "Hook-Ups and Cover-Ups," began with the narrator and resident lackluster underdog, Tessa, announcing she'd be going stag to the Winter Formal. Below, she wore her Dior Overshine 2 shades while shopping with her male best friend/uninteresting, uninterested love interest.


[Source: lagunabeachonline.org]

Cost: $158
Colors: Blue, Violet, Chrome, White Violet, White Silver, Light Rose, Black Coral, Beige, Shiny Black (as seen on Tessa), Brown, Black Grey
Retailer: Otticanet.com

Tessa's crony, Raquel, is by far the show's most abrasively nerdy character. Here, she begs her boyfriend to attend the formal with her on the beach.


[Source: lagunabeachonline.org]

Check out the Gucci 2562 model. We've seen these horsebits so often that it would have been nice to see Tessa sport a more unique color. I like the green at right.
Cost: $164
Colors: Pink, Green, Black, White, Blue, Rose, Orchid
Retailer: Otticanet.com

I really want to like Kyndra. Its just not going to happen. Where is Kristin? Where, MTV? Here, Kyndra continues the trend of black, logo shields.


[Source: lagunabeachonline.org]

Nice Chanel 5067s.Cost: $245
Colors: Black, Pink
Retailer: Sunglassesitaly.com


Kyndra, it seems, has recently reunited with her nerdbag old boyfriend. Despite assurances of fidelity, she does successfully cheat on him with the dough-faced Cameron at the formal. In front of his sister, no less. Which is unfortunate, as the boyfriend character, Taylor, sports the episode's coolest shades.


[Source: lagunabeachonline.org]

This spray-tanned, scrawny, would-be Stephen is wearing Electric Overdrive sunglasses, which are also available with polarized lenses.

Electric is a brand that's more action-sports than high fashion, but they make high-quality shades that will more than stand up to any and all abuse you dish out at them.
Cost: $100
Colors: Black, Brown, Tweed (which features Jamaica stripes), White
Retailer: Backcountry.com

Electric's website even features a pair with a Swarovski-crystalized lightning bolt logo. Pretty cool.

LB's Finest

his week marked the premiere of the third season of Laguna Beach on MTV.


The momentous occasion has been the talk of both blogs and legitimate news sources alike. In my favorite piece, The New York Times wondered if the show's first brunette heroine is up to the task of following in Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavalleri's footsteps. Who knew they had such a thing for LB?
[Source: NYTimes.com]

Here is my own retrospective on the series and, of course, the shades.

SEASON ONE: 2004
Narrator/Heroine/Alpha-Babe: Lauren Conrad
Signature Shades: LC was frequently flashing the Gucci 1510/S [See Aug. 2's "Love is Blinding" post, featuring Jessica Simpson]
Cost: $150-200
Colors: Beige, Black (as seen on LC), Dark opal, Rose opal
Retailer: framesdirect.com, eyesave.com, apairofshades.com
The NYTimes on her tenure: "MTV’s bellwether verité series started in 2004 with diligent Lauren telling her tale; driven by an unusual conviction that she could turn her platinum will into daisy charm, she grimly pursued her Girl Scout merit badge in reality exhibitionism."
Life after Laguna: "Lauren has kept plugging away at a simulated career on MTV’s spinoff 'The Hills.'”

SEASON TWO: 2005

Narrator/Heroine/Alpha-Babe: Kristin Cavalleri
Signature Shades: I believe they are Marc Jacobs MJ012S Aviators. Fabsugar.com offers some similar, but super cheap versions for you here.
Cost: $165
Colors: Dark Tortoise, Shiny Black
Retailer: eyeglasses123.com
The NYTimes on her tenure: "Breezier and more self-assured than Lauren, Kristin didn’t care about merit, and instead played the second season of “Laguna Beach” as if it were N.C.A.A. lacrosse."
Life after Laguna: "Kristin has skipped out on “Laguna” and embraced celebrity for its own sake on red carpets and in the pages of Life & Style."

SEASON THREE: 2006
Narrator/Heroine/Alpha-Babe: Tessa _____? [Who cares? On MTV, last names are a privilege, not a right.]
Signature Shades: She probably doesn't wear them. Loser.
The NYTimes on her tenure: "Tessa simply introduces too much reality to the otherworldly fantasy of perpetual sunshine that has driven the show so far. Besides, she’s boring. Sure, sometimes, as in movies and novels, unpopular girls are secretly noble, sophisticated and brilliant, but sometimes — we have to admit — they’re just uncool."
Life after Laguna: Not applicable, but not promising. The future of the franchise clearly lies with her rival, Kyndra, who is a worthy successor to Kristin's reality-TV bitchy genius. "She’s a mean girl of the highest order, with a Joan Collins manner that would seem to belong to someone twice her age. You can see how Tessa might strike her as sniveling. If only Kyndra were in charge!"

On MTV's Overdrive, however, Kyndra IS in charge. Be sure to check out her "Cribs"-esque home tour, complete with sunglasses collection. Below are some stills (click the picture for a larger image):

The shades at right are quite similar to a personal favorite of mine, Tom Ford's Fonda Aviators:
Cost: $290
Colors: Ochre Havana, Amber Havana, Black
Retailer: sunglassesitaly.com, eluxury.com