The Dark Arts: Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford Campaigns

The most interesting eyewear campaigns for Fall 2010, in my opinion, are Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford's. Both border on the macabre. And both are successfully awesome because of it.

Freja Beha is as pretty as ever as the face of the Tom Ford campaign, which was shot by the designer and inspired by the Hitchcock classic The Birds.

I like these shots quite a bit, but if I'm honest, I could do without the nipple-biting raven one. Ow.

The Alexander McQueen ads, starring only a human skull, are pitch perfect. Well played.

Celebrity Skin

Courtney Love's new personal style blog is both the best and the most unnecessary thing to hit the internet's airwaves in forever. Whatcourtneyworetoday.com is as inappropriately entertaining as you'd expect, with "CLo" bizarrely oversharing her designer gear, etsy flair and, occasionally, granny panties. I'm sort of hoping this leads to haul videos.

[Photo: whatcourtneywore]

Yesterday's posted pictures feature Courtney in Tom Ford aviators, which I'd guess are the Tom Ford FT 0110 Andres model. The 0110s are available on allureaid.com for $282 currently.

Tom Ford: Spring 2010 Eyewear Campaign

Starring Carolyn Murphy and Nicholas Hoult (of Ford's "Single Man" fame).

[Source: TheFashionSpot]

Sexy.

"Best of Sunnies" Lists Make Me Giddy

can't hide my love away. Elle's best of sunglasses list is well worth a visit. I'm pretty stoked about their selections, here are my favorites.
[Source: Elle.com]

Clockwise from top left:
1. Lanvin Key West Oversized sunglasses, $285 on ShopBop.com, as seen on Ashley Olsen (at right);

2. Club Monaco sunglasses for $89;

3. Marni sunglasses for $360 on Marni.com;

4. Retro Sun vintage Christian Dior sunglasses, at Barneys for $265;

5. Urban Outfitters vintage octagon sunglasses, $9.99! at UrbanOutfitters.com;

6. Tom Ford Bianca sunglasses, $340 at SunglassesItaly.com;

7. Thakoon Runway sunglasses, at Barneys for $388; and

8. Marc Jacobs aviators, $264 at MadisonLosAngeles.com.

Tom Ford Offends Italians

pparently Tom Ford is a bit of a provocateur. (Well, duh.) An Italian watchdog group has banned his latest eyewear campaign, deeming it "markedly vulgar".

The Institute for Advertising Self-Discipline (IAP) finds the below image "evokes an offending and abusive act against women, which degrades the dignity of the person" and has subsequently banned the image from the national media. Well, Flashies, what do you say? Are you offended?

Spotted: la Lo in T.F.

ith gal pals in tow, Lindsay Lohan was photographed this weekend in Los Angeles, wearing the 1950s inspired Tom Ford 0058 Cary sunglasses.

[Source: lindsayimages.org]

I love this look (and Lindsay loves Tom Ford, after all). Cary sunglasses are available on ShopBop for $320.

The Latest in Timeless Fashions

he New York Times has christened every celebrity's favorite sunglasses of 2006, the Tom Ford Whitney, to be among the new school of fashion classics.

"Tom Ford’s Whitney sunglasses, now in a variety of colors in addition to black and brown, are the original way to dodge the paparazzi ($320 at eluxury.com or bergdorfgoodman.com)."

[Source: NYTimes]

The Moment Calls for Cat-Eyes

e've been heralding their ascent for a bit now, but now seeing them (everywhere) in print there is no denying that cat-eye is definitely having a moment.


Plus, now they're Mrs. Fashion-approved.

Clockwise from top left: Pollini SS 08; Muse #10, Winter 2007; Lanvin SS 08;
Numéro Tokyo #11 Jan. 08.

To stay on point, I still recommend these Tom Ford Anouk sunglasses.

Sobriety on Parade

ittle miss "Dare to Love Me" Lindsay Lohan is a regular L.A. Renaissance Woman these days, with nary a post-Cirque club visit in sight.

She's been sporting the Tom Ford Margaux sunglasses, which you may remember first seeing on Kate Beckinsale.

[Source: Celebutopia]

The Margaux model is now available on Amazon.com for $295.

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.

Kate Beckinsale Is Embarassingly Pretty

nd so are her Tom Ford sunglasses. They should scoop her up for their campaigns, because I am sold.


Below, she models the Tom Ford Margaux model while shopping in Beverly Hills last weekend. Even her get-lost-paparazzi-scum smirk is endearing.

[Source: GossipRocks]

You can scoop them up at Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus for $340.

Na Na Na!

f you've been keeping up with the web this morning, then you've certainly already read of Angelina Jolie's headline-worthy interview with Vogue, in which she provides details on the beginnings of the superfamily now known as the Jolie-Pitts.

Ms. Jolie is currently here in New York with Brad Pitt and their lovelies to promote her new film, The Good Shepard, with photographers carefully documenting their every move. Below, she was captured arriving at their hotel.

[Source: SuperiorPics]

Sometimes, her looks approach sensory overload and these Tom Ford Whitney Sunglasses are not helping matters. I have to say, I like how she does not stop and pose for the cameras. In fact, I doubt she broke stride.


Tom Ford FT 0009 Whitney:

Cost $253
Colors: Black, Coral, Pink, Beige, Brown
Retailer: SunglassesItaly



These sunglasses have been less successfully worn by Ashlee Simpson and Halle Berry. Nice try, ladies. [Source: People, GossipRocks]

Oh, Ashlee.

eople's "Star Tracks" photographed Ashlee Simpson in dire need of that cup of coffee she was lined up for at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Malibu on Saturday.

Yikes! You can't hide behind those Tom Ford Whitney sunglasses, Ms. Simpson. Don't you have an assistant to get that coffee for you?

[Source: People]

Tom Ford FT 0009 Whitney:
Cost $242
Colors: Black, Coral, Pink, Beige, Brown
Retailer: SunglassesItaly

Jennifer Goes Synonymous

ow bizarre! How bizarre!


On Wednesday, Jennifer Lopez was unsuccessful in her attempts to dodge paparazzi exiting Hollywood restaurant Orso.



[Source: X17]

Here Ms. Lopez wears her namesake shades, Tom Ford's Jennifer Sunglasses. She wears them well.

Cost: Original retail is $290; only $218 at SunglassesItaly.com
Colors: Pink, Brown, Black
Retailer: SunglassesItaly.com

These shades are dank, are they not?

Versace: Somebody Stop Me!

ILAN, September 29, 2006 -- Donatella Versace presented her well-received Spring/Summer 2007 Ready-to-Wear collection. The go-go 80s-inspired line was heralded as a "tour-de-force performance" and a "full-on glamour stomp" by preeminent fashion critics.

[Sources, respectively: Style.com, NYTimes]

Donatella, the designer and carrier of the Versace torch, finished off the season's look (proclaimed as "especially polished" by the luckiest woman in the world and The New York Times' fashion critic, Cathy Horyn) with oversized, earth-toned sunglasses that will almost certainly adorn the faces of starlets, celebutards and stylish mere mortals come springtime.

Above: Close-ups of Ms. Versace's models (there you are, Carmen Kass!), in the shades. [Source: Style.com You can also view the runway show's actual clothing, if that's your thing.]

The Versace website does not currently offer this particular pair. I'm sure Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and his super-human female counterparts will be striking in them.

Like any self-respecting runway show, Ms. Versace's show featured brilliant celebrity front-rowers. Here, Prince was the guest of honor and came flanked by two disarmingly identical "Twinz", his back-up dancers. The trio remained shielded by dark shades throughout the show; I am going to go out on a limb here and peg Prince's sunglasses, as well as those of the pretty young things, as the designer's own.



[Source, clockwise from left: PageSix, Vogue.uk, People]

I believe them to be the Versace 2057 model, but man-glass is often a mystery to me. Its also always possible (probable, even) that Donatella sent the Former Artist a flashy prototype or a pair unavailable to the masses.

Cost: $199
Colors: Brown, Grey, Black, Green, Shaded Brown
Retailers: SunglassesItaly.com*

Prince was not content to merely sit on the sidelines and cause a stir: it was reported that it was his custom-made soundtrack the models sashayed to and his "smashing" live performance the after party revelers grooved to. With no less than three reported costume changes, that Prince is a legendary performer, albeit a high maintenance one. Cheers to a well--executed show, Ms. Versace!
[Source: Hello!, Fashion Windows]

The Twinz don't warrant sunglass specifics. Perhaps if they began to dress themselves individually, dropped the "Z", and purified themselves in the water of Lake Minnetonka. Perhaps.

* Sunglassesitaly.com is another site I recommend for the difficult task of online shades shopping. They offer current, really desirable designer sunglasses -- we're talking Tom Ford, Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, et cetera -- that will cost you less (including the shipping from Italy) for less than what you'd spend in Neiman's or Barney's. Enjoy a 5% discount for joining their newsletter.

All in all, quite a satisfy day for sunglasses. More on the upcoming European fashion shows (and those I have neglected to cover in the past week or so. Let me know if you still want New York).

Flashy Sunglasses at LAX (The Airport, Not the Club)

slew of celebrities were photographed this week at LAX going about their air travels this week.

1. Alessandra Ambrosio in Dior

Last Sunday, Victoria Secret model and smoker Alessandra Ambrosio was photographed sharing a cigarette outside of Los Angeles International Airport with celebrity ex-boyfriend DJ AM.


[Source: GossipRocks]

She was wearing Christian Dior's Cannage 1 Sunglasses:
Cost: $164-$179
Colors: Bordeaux with Red, Havana with Bronze, White with Pink, Brown with Orange (as seen on Alessandra), Black with Grey, Black with Pink
Retailer: Otticanet.com

I didn't really know anything about Alessandra, so a quick Google search yielded her official site, where she listed sunglasses as one of her passions.

No way, Alessandra. Me too! At right are some of the shades pictures she included on the site.

Nice flashy shades.

2. Denise Richards in Chanel

The previous day, Denise Richards arrived at LAX flaunting her gorgeous hair and questionable taste in men.



They're Chanel obviously.

I got bored looking at interlocking C's and pictures of Selma Blair figuring out which model they are.
[Source: GossipRocks]

3. Carmen Electra in Tom Ford

On Wednesday, Carmen Electra returned to Los Angeles wearing the same Tom Ford shades she sported to lunch at Mr. Chow's earlier this month. [See 9/6/06 Carmen Electra at L.A.'s Mr. Chow]

I really like seeing celebrities wearing their shades on a regular basis. Its humanizing; it lets me know that Carmen is quite taken with these Tom Fords.

[Source: GossipRocks]



Ms. Electra's shades:
Cost: $329-$360
Color: Shiny Black with Smoke Grey lenses
Retailer: aclens.com, Bergdorf Goodman


She was returning from New York's Fashion Week, where she modeled in the Imitation of Christ show and became fodder for The New York Times:

"When did Carmen Electra (nee Tara Patrick) start occupying the front-row seats once reserved for people who had highly developed ideas about kick pleats and the cut of a sleeve?

'At one time I wasn’t into it,' Ms. Electra explained before the Diane Von Furstenberg show on Sunday. 'I was about sexiness.' By now any self-respecting Pussycat Doll knows what happens to those who fail to keep up with fashion. They turn up as pictorial one-liners in the Star.

'You have to be into fashion,' said Ms. Electra."

[Source: NYTimes]

Tara Patrick! Haaaaha.

Carmen Electra at L.A.'s Mr. Chow

armen Electra was photographed by paparazzi as she left Los Angeles' Mr. Chow's, where she lunched August 31.

[Source: GossipRocks]



She looks quite pretty in her Tom Ford Camilla Sunglasses. I hope she was there on a hot date. You know, with a guy with unpolished nails, perhaps.




Ms. Electra's shades:
Cost: $329-$360
Color: Shiny Black with Smoke Grey lenses
Retailer: aclens.com, Bergdorf Goodman (Guess where they are more expensive?)

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