Style.com Turns 10

[Photo: Style.com]

In honor of their 10th anniversary, Style.com has compiled a few lists to commemorate the highlights of their first decade online.  "The Top Ten It Accessories" is spot on: the Chanel 2.55, Louboutin platforms, Louis Vuitton's Murakami technicolor monogram purses.

The only sunglasses featured, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, have been undeniably influential.  They've been seen on all the cool girls (Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, Sienna Miller) and have inspired countless designer interpretations (Karl Lagerfeld, Chloe, Stella McCartney).  [And, of course, they made the flashyshades.com "Best of the 00s: A Decade in Shades retrospective.]

Well played, Style.com. Happy birthday and here's to many more!

Madewell's Web Debut

Love: that J.Crew's hipper spinoff line, Madewell, debuted their website last week. It even comes complete with a preview for their collaboration with Alexa Chung, which is expected to hit stores next month.

Hate: that these slate Super Sunglasses Basic are $132. (Probably because they're handmade in Italy.) Madewell.com is currently only offering sunglasses by Super, a line inspired by vintage flea market finds.

Ray-Ban "Rare Prints": NYC Subway Edition

In a stroke of genius, Ray-Ban lined the inside of their classic Wayfarers with the iconic Michael Hertz-designed New York City subway map for their "Rare Prints" series. Williamsburg hipsters will never be lost again. Seriously though, I need to own these.

[Source: FrenchTruckers.com]

The RB2140 Ray-Ban Metro Wayfarers can be found on Ray-Ban.com for $159.

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!

Because "Shy Ronnie" is Still in My Head...

With the advent of a new decade upon us, New York has compiled "The Short Lived Trends of the Decade", which features Rihanna in some super-sized wayfarers.

[NYMag]

Even though this photo is from 2008, I'm positive Rihanna is wearing the Grey Ant Status Sunglasses, which are available for $230 on New High (M)art. [Blogger disclosure: I have no relationship with NHM, they simply had the best price when I searched Google.] Here on the flash, we've showcased the Status sunglasses on Lindsay Lohan.

Before Its in Vogue, Its on Kate

If Kate Moss' fashion projections hold any weight for you,expect more Ray-Ban Wayfarers in our sartorial future.

[Images: KateMossStyle]

The most superlative of all supermodels gave an extremely rare interview in this month's Vogue and gave her sunnies pronouncement:

"Sunglasses-wise, she is long finished with giant lenses, saying, "I'm doing a Ray-Ban at the moment. Just a normal Ray-Ban." Her unbrushed hair, a cool champagne shade of blonde, is choppy, with an eyelash-grazing fringe because "I'm into that Nico look.""

[Source: Vogue]

Looks like your Wayfarers will be getting more mileage, flashies!

Oversized Ways

ave I told you lately that I love Free People? And I love their oversized wayfarers, they're a fun update on the way overdone Ray-Bans. Plus, they're $58. Who should be without?

Check them out on the Free People website.

Perfect for the Glovebox

ave you seen these Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarer Sunglasses? How adorably portable!

They're $149 at Saks.


UPDATE: Even better! They're available on Amazon for $118.

Sunnies for Gents

hen GQ names its modern classics, take note. In "The New Standards", they name check Moscot Sunglasses, which are so fantastically vintage New York.

"The best thing about these vintage-minded sunglasses is that they’re not pretending to be retro—they are. “The design dates from the 1930s,” says Kenny Moscot, the label’s co-owner. “I just figured out a way to reproduce them.” Over the past year, Moscot has fully revamped the business that his great-grandfather launched in 1899, when he started selling glasses from a pushcart on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Lately, the company’s classic styles have been attracting what Moscot calls “a rich cast of characters,” from downtown scenesters to film stars like Denzel Washington. Just try on a pair. You’ll understand why."

[Source: GQ]

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]

More Wayfarers? Really?

thought we had all put our heads together and agreed that we were done with Wayfarers. Stella McCartney was, obviously, not informed and sent models Sheila Marquez and Maryna Linchuk down her Spring/Summer 2008 runway in them.

[Source: Style.com]

I'm Feeling Yummy Head to Toe

orget fall's looming duldrums. Its Spring/Summer 2008, baby! Well, in the Ready-to-Wear world, anyway.


I (ticketless, of course) walked by the Bryant Park shows last night at 8 PM, eager to catch a peek of Miss Gwen Stefani and her L.A.M.B. show, but to no avail.

Here's what I would have caught inside: models Georgia Frost and Ines Crnokrak keeping the white wayfarer trend alive both on the runway and in their standard hamming-it-up-backstage photos with Chanel Iman.

[Source: Style.com]

Thanks But No Thanks

'm going on the record here and listing these Oakley wayfarers as a DON'T. Sorry, Hayden Panettiere.

[Source: GossipRocks]

Fall Recap: Chloé

s we find ourselves with September bearing down upon us, I have the urge to recap the Fall/Winter 2007 Ready to Wear shows. Chloé's runway show gave us a nice update on the wayfarer trend.

I want...

[Source: Style.com]

Friends That Wayfare Together, Stay Together

omething about Kirsten Dunst and her friend wearing the same sunglasses creeps me out a bit.

[Source: GossipRocks]

Looks like they're sticking with the skinny jeans.

Rapture

've just got one question for you, bloggies: Is Debbie Harry FlashyShades-worthy? I think Blondie gets the benefit of the doubt. Style.com's blog, StyleFile, detailed her and her Wayfarers' appearance this week in Manchester.

[Source: Style.com]

"The new wave queen proved she's still got it at last night's Blondie show at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England. Rocking a new cropped 'do, white Wayfarers, red lips, and a black floral-print dress, Harry oozed the devil-may-care attitude that made her a downtown icon."

(Lindsay Lohan, You Can) NEVER HIDE

uch like the slogan of her latest and greatest favorite shades, Lindsay Lohan can, in fact, never hide. She was photographed earlier this week at her rehab facility, Promises.

Who knew Ray-Ban's advertisements were such astute commentary on our paparazzi state?

[Source: PinkIsTheNewBlog]

The good news for Wayfarer lovers is that these Ray-Bans have hit the Italian wholesale sites.
Cost: $105
Colors: Red, Black, Orange, White, Havana Brown, Dark Havana
Retailer: Otticanet

I, for one, think Wayfarers have reached their saturation point, but our pretty young things seem to feel differently. Ashlee and Nicole will no doubt have keep this style on top all summer long.

I'm Bringing Flashy Back.

oodness gracious! You may find yourself thinking, 'Quite some time has elapsed, FlashyShades, hasn't it?' And it has.


But I missed the old blog and want to thank those of you who have hassled/encouraged me to come back to it (especially ALLUREfashion, Rebel:FashionWithoutACause, Model Citizen, and, of course, my blogging BFF's, Lizze and the PublicityStunters.

Expect regular updates for the foreseeable future and a site overhaul in the coming weeks.

I've been sloppier than Lindsay Lohan without y'all:

[Source: X17]
These poor sunglasses are but two weeks old! 3/15/07: "According to sources inside the Manhattan hotel suite, La Lohan stuffed three bags full of gear from L.A.'s trendy Milk Boutique. She then snapped up not one, but seven pairs of new, limited edition Ray Ban shades, because, as she told our source, she didn't like wearing the same sunglasses every day." [Source: A Socialite's Life]

Happy days are here again:

[Source: LohanGroupie, Ray-Ban]

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night V. SexyBack

certainly would not have guessed that "Sexy"'s renaissance would involve the return of Corey Hart, but with all the wayfarers this video is perfect for the current fashion moment. Also, I have a weakness for mashups. Enjoy.

Cool Like MK

n Sunday of this week, Cool Like Chloe speculated that Ashlee Simpson was emulating Mary-Kate Olsen's unique style, but not quite hitting the mark.

"I'd take [MK's] Rayban's with seventies stripes over [Ashlee Simpson's] punk-pop stripes any day."

Who wouldn't? But it seems Ms. Simpson is catching on and was seen this week donning MK's signature Ray-Ban Wayfarers while shopping in L.A. What's next? The Balenciaga boots? Although, I guess this is better than when she was just copying her sister's look.

[Source: GossipRocks]