Nov

28

Larry David’s Stylish Frames

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Larry David, of HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-writer/producer of Sinefeld has revived his place in Hollywood with the success of the new show, and with guest appearances on other shows, promotions and events. Once a rather reclusive comedian, now Larry David is stomping, fully vulgar and proud, across many a red carpet in a sense of fashion that is uniquely Larry.



Throughout the reality TV show Larry is at odds with his wife over his clothing. He appears unkempt, and wears tennis shoes with Dockers, and has side burns reminiscent of Pride & Prejudice. One thing that he is not lacking fashion sense for is eyewear. In an early episode Larry buys a pair of beautiful Dior sunglasses for his mother in law, who unfortunately could not wear them as Larry had been so thoughtless to have not added her prescription to the Dior lenses.


He was recently spotted on the red carpet in a pair of relic Oliver People’s (seen here). Though they are a rare design, you can find similar frames from Tom Ford, with a more modern twist and streamlined antiquity. Though his appearance seems haphazard, he has a distinct sense of bold colors, no lines or shapes, and then heavily accessorizing rather then wearing flashy clothing—a bold strategy in Hollywood, but what that is easily mimicked for a naturally Larry David feel.


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Nov

26

Michael Moore’s Glasses

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In his most recent controversial film on American healthcare, Michael Moore saunters across the country (and across the world) interviewing the unfortunate people affected negatively by the healthcare system in America. His image in this film is drastically different than previous appearances as a grubby baseball cap and shapeless glasses interviewer and hell raiser. Now Moore’s image has been revamped to include designer eyewear, an all black wardrobe and a stylish haircut and clean-shaven face. Perhaps the pressures of Hollywood are extreme enough to bend one’s image for. After all, it is the trend.


At the screening for Sicko, Moore appeared in a suit, designer eyewear from Shuron and hob-knobbed with the likes of Larry David, a fellow Hollywood cynic. Shuron glasses were a distinct style from the 1950’s, renowned because evening newscasters and Hollywood stars began wearing them. Drew Carry (whom it appears Moore is recently mimicking with his attire revamp) also wears the antiquated frames. Despite your opinion of the film maker, you have to admit his new style is quite the improvement.

Nov

21

Eyewear in Max Payne

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Max Payne, the latest film based of a video game, has reached Matrix-like proportions, and even includes the slow-mo bullets and super-high-speed flying techniques that Neo employed when The One. As interesting as the film is, take a moment to check out the fashion. From fitted suits of leather and silk to designer eyewear and heels so high they might classify as stilts, Max Payne succeeds in being truly a video-gamer’s delight.


Mila Kunis, whom most of us know from either That 70s Show or the voice of Meg in Family Guy, has stepped outside her normally bland and ditzy roles to be the heroine starring along side Mark Wahlberg in Max Payne. In the film Kunis plays a Russian mobster turned concerned sibling when her sister is found murdered at the hands of rogue pharmaceutical employees. She totes a machine gun, wears black leather, and sports a classy pair of (not so Russian) Dior sunglasses. Even indoors Kunis is seen wearing the thick black shades with dark, impenetrable lenses…. Perhaps this is a Russian habit?


Kunis infuses the film with a sense of tipsy righteousness, keep an eye out for her not-so-Russian clothing habits and eyewear. Kunis is a huge fan of Dior. During the films nighttime premiere she rolled onto the red carpet with her sunglasses (perhaps to block the glare of her impending fame?… or, more likely, the camera flashes).



Kunis’ co-star, Mark Walhberg is, like most stars these days, a huge Ray Ban fan. His pick of the aviator style suits his grumpy disposition while around the ladies (namely his wife and three children) he appears more retro and sporty in Ray Ban Wayfarers- the classic Blues Brothers shades of yesteryear.

Nov

19

Johnny Knoxville’s Sunglasses

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Johnny Knoxville spends his days breaking down barriers and smashing social stigma. Ironically enough, he does this in a very well established brand of all-American eyewear. Ray Ban’s, as we all known, are coming back into celebrity style, with stars form Paris Hilton and the Olsen twins to rappers like Kanye West and Avril Avine slipping on a pair of the renowned shades for public appearances and daily use.


Knoxville’s Ray Ban flavor is very specific. He has been seen in two styles of Ray Ban Aviators. In the film Jackass, he was seen in gradient smoke lenses, a slight golden hue to the glass with darker rims. In the Dukes of Hazard he wore dark smoke Ray Ban aviators with gold rims. The style has become synonymous with deviance, despite their military origins.



Knoxville has been in over ten films, with a TV series and the merchandise to prove he is the head of a winning enterprise. Though a college drop out, Knoxvilles desire to become a writer pushed him to perform extreme stunts and then compose articles about them. His editor convinced him to film the stunts, whereupon MTV quickly picked up and funded the concept, making him an overnight sensation.


His sense of style remains true to his early roots. As a skater, Knoxville and is friends in Tennessee were renowned for their hooligan-like skating across town, a style and culture he helped to define with his appearance in the main stream as a skating daredevil. The baggy cargo shorts, flannel shirt, Ray Ban’s and skater shoes were a style he epitomized, and later had the chance to share in the film Lords of Dogtown. In fact, it remains hard for anyone to picture Knoxville without his stylish skater shades, the Ray Ban aviator gradient series lenses and gold rimmed combo.

Nov

13

Kanye West Glasses

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Kanye West has been known for his innovative sense of style, especially in the areas of shoes and sunglasses. His recent tour across Asia left a trail of broken-hearted females in his wake. He started a trend when he adopted the plastic bar sunglasses for his recent album cover, a style he continued throughout his tour. Sales of the shudder shades have sky-rocketed and other celebrities have been seen copied his unique style.



Kanye also wears more up-scale sunglasses when not on tour. He has been seen in Ray Ban’s aviators and wayfarers as well as custom designed shades. His sense of style is innovative in its throw-back to the 80s and lack of fear for low-budget style which he expertly mixes with high-brown flair.


Kanye’s turbo style Louis Vinton sunglasses have also sold well since the star donned them for an awards show. His love of sunglasses has become very well known. In September of 2008 he paid 15,000 to have 50 pair of his favorite style of Carrera sunglasses shipped to his home form Italy. Yet at other times the star will arrive in glasses that cost less than $200, and rock them with the same confidence and suave as the thousand dollar pair.
We love Kanye’s love of eyewear, and salute his innovative style that has complete disregard for name brand or cost. If he likes it, he wears it weather they are shutter shades that cost $25 or Dior shades that cost $250. He is the kind of star we like to see strutting his personal style.

Nov

7

Company Profile: Burberry – the Ultimate Fashion Accessory

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High-fashion does not come quickly, and this is surely the case with Burberry, whose original creator, Thomas Burberry, opened his first shop in 1856, a full 152 years ago, in England. Thomas earnestly sought to provide high-quality fashion wear for outdoor sporting activities like hunting and fishing, and in this attempt invented the fabric gabardine, which was not only waterproof, but also rip-proof and breathable. In the early 1890s the shop expanded thanks to a string of content customers, and in its new location thrived in outdoor wear sales and also a new style of trench coat which was later worn by British officers in Africa.



This militaristic, rugged, outdoors theme was solidified in the early 1900s with the appearance of the knight logo on Burberry merchandise, an early form of branding. By 1914 (World War I) the British army had adopted the Burberry coat, and had the designer add military specifications. The plaid lining Burberry trench coats are known for was added by 1920—and a style that has survived to this day was born out of a nasty era of war. See image of an early Burberry design British trench coat.


In addition to being one of the most well recognized British fashion designs, the trench coat has surpassed its branding and has become associated with the British themselves, and activities which have a special place in both British history and British lore. Fishing, hunting and equestrian sports are especially ‘British’ in their classy and sophisticated appeal, and clad in Burberry trenches and plaid hats, one can proceed in these endeavours in the same style and grace as the British of 100 years ago—with minor modern tweaks, of course.



Of notably fame, explorer Earnest Shackleton (in image left), who first braved and explored the South Pole, was outfitted by Burberry. In an ongoing effort to encourage exploration and creativity, Burberry has opened a foundation aimed at assisting young, creative youths in cities where Burberry employees live.


Today Burberry has adapted with the times, and has made their fashion label as modern as Gucci and Prada with the edition of accessory lines, including a very fashionable and well-received eyewear collection that has both stylish and modern designs as well as traditional, outdoorsmen classics. The company’s advertising campaign is unique in that it adheres to traditional colour schemes and photo content, but has adapted in using modern modelling poses and styles—a delightful contrast of the old and new that epitomizes the brand’s essence.



Throughout the years this British design label has been both an inspiring innovator and a reminder of times past. Buerberry has a long history of fashion successes and creations that rival the largest of design houses. From exploration gear to military uniforms to high-fashion accessories, this is a brand that has stood the test of time and emerged in the 21st century a classy and responsible label.

 

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Nov

7

World Leaders in Surprisingly Bad, Surprisingly Similar Eyewear

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World leaders in surprisingly bad, surprisingly similar eyewear
Have you ever noticed how many world leaders are also the leaders of fashion disaster statements? Grants I’d rather they focus on being a good, sound leader than a fashion expert, but it is also surprising that they do not take the time to hire fashion consultants or advisors, given their high-profile images and (in some cases) strong cult of personality. From Kim Jong-il to Dick Cheney and Hu Jintao- tacky and bold eyewear has become synonymous with power.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been noticeably absent from major government celebrations for the later half of the year. However, in recent weeks images of the ailing leader, like the one here, have appeared online with the man clad in traditional communist get-up and giant, heavily tinted sunglasses. Some speculation remains concerning the leader’s health, and the validity of the images (ie- when were they actually taken? Did a French surgeon visit Kim in the past months?) Lets take a moment, while Kim is in the headlines, to examine his cult of personality, both in North Korea and abroad, where he is perhaps less daunting.



Often characterized as a communist dictator, Kim has been a sketched comically for years with the emphasis of the characterization on his large, bulky eyewear, the style and brand of which is unknown, and his traditional communist attire. In the film Team America, Kim was the token bad guy, but we saw a softer side of the leader when he wow us with a choked rendition of I’m so Lonley. In the film, Kim was portrayed in large, gold rimmed eyewear and the traditional blue work suit (shown here). We think a nice set of Burberry shades would show the leader in style, but may, perhaps, clash with blue suit. Can we also suggest a Burberry jacket?



Another world leader with surprisingly similar features and nearly identical eyewear is vice President of the US, Dick Cheney. Like Kim, Cheney has been a source of comedy, though more noticeably prevalent in the Daily Show and other late night comedy talk shows. Cheney is most often remembered for an incident wherein he accidentally shot a friend while hunting. Perhaps the shiny gold frames were merely a failed fashion statement and contained no prescription lenses? Ray Ban could perhaps help the poor leader’s fashion crisis by supplying him with prescription Aviator shades for the next hunting season.



As if all leaders shopped at the same eyewear store, President Hu Jintao also wears the simple, gold-framed grandpa glasses similar to Cheney and Kim’s. While more respected internationally then either of the aforementioned, Hu is traditional in his affection for the communist-like eyewear that he and Kim both enjoy. Hu, a calm and collected diplomat, could take notes from Men in Black, and perhaps purchase a pair of modern shades when travelling abroad. Indeed, China is the future and the man ushering them into the 21st century should be robed in modernity—perhaps Dior would supply the leader with a pair of respectful yet classy new shades.

Nov

4

Obama Wins the Presidency in Style (and in Ray Bans!)

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With Obama’s victory on November 4th he is set to become America’s first black president beginning in January of 2009. Obama has roused a global movement of emotional support and promises of cooperation and foreword momentum from international leaders. His victory was celebrated across the world, as people took to the streets dancing and crying. Not only is he America’s first black president, but he may well be the most charismatic. His image as a normal citizen is emphasized by his calm, relaxed nature, but also by his casual and comfortable attire. From his worn shoes to his real-world Ray Ban sunglasses, Obama is not only fashionable, but definitively human in appeal. Over Halloween, Obama was photographed walking his seven year old daughter around town trick or treating in casual attire and his stylish black-tinted Ray Ban shades. This family man, though nights away from the most important turning point in his life (and in recent American history) was living the life of a suburban father, and living it in classy style.


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Obama bears a burden unknown in modern times. With the hopes of the world on his shoulders, he is expected to bring the change he has so emotionally promised for the past two years. No small task in a global recession, with the US embroiled in two wars abroad and a divided country at home. In appealing to the population to work together, he has lifted some of the enormous weight off of his young shoulders, yet the pressure must be intense. He does not want to let down the black community, nor can he afford to disappoint a roused and patriotic nation eager to mend years of a sour reputation abroad and a failing internal image of the government.


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Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, Obama remains cool and calm. In his pre-election campaigning Obama took time out to talk with Ebony magazine, an African American journal that hailed him as one of the greatest black leaders of our time. He appeared as cool as always in his trademark Ray Ban’s nondescript black suit and tie. Indeed, the man appears as if he were a secret service agent, rather than the President-elect. An image the down-to-earth democrat is more than happy to characterize. Though endorsed by high-profile celebrities and musicians (P.Diddy, Brad Pitt and others) he retains a style of his own, and does not lean on those around him to build up his reputation. Despite such massive endorsements, Obama has simply thanked his supporters and encouraged them to vote, take responsibility for change, and for creating a political ideology that is centred on community involvement rather than the all-to-well known spectator sport that was the former administrations ‘leave-it-to-us’ philosophy.