Sep

29

Designer eyewear for men, Yes it’s okay!

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In this world of metrosexuality (yes, Colin Farrell and Jonny Depp are male) men’s fashion has become something to be embraced instead of shunned. Gone are the days where a man in designer clothing was mocked, now he is hailed as a man’s man, albeit living inside the realm of fashion. For those of you keen to get your fashion on, here are a few tips for livening up your eyewear collection.

Alexander McQueen, a designer living on the edge of popular chic and daring creativity, is a designer for men to keep an eye on. His eyewear designs are masculine and fashionable, with a touch of class for those of you living in the higher circles of society (or at least wishing you did).

Armani eyewear is always in style, whether you are a professional businessman or an avid outdoorsman. The styles range from classic to creative, but there is always a creative option in black that will leave you looking sexy, fashionable and masculine.

Ray Bans are always a cool option for any sportsmen or outdoorsman, and in Hollywood they are the shade of choice. Ray Ban’s indoor options are also appealing on men, though many men’s designs are also worn by women.

Whether a man’s man or a normal guy-next-door type, embrace men’s fashion sooner rather than later and be all the more interesting for the choice. Spend a few minutes checking out what’s hot and what’s not online before you buy any major clothing items, and check out the designers mentioned above for the best in men’s eyewear designs for 2010.

Sep

25

The Best Sunglasses for College

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us0925.jpgWith the next semester upon us all, it’s time to look at the fashion trends that were set over the summer that us fashion forward college ladies should follow with care. Ray Bans made a surprising comeback after a few years of hiatus from over-use in the early semester of 2007. Since the wave has cooled a bit, celebrities have reinstated the look with surprising twists. Gone are the aviators that Angelina made so popular with the release of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and welcome are Ray Ban’s lesser known models with smaller lenses and thinner temple bars. For a really chic college look, check out a pair of Ray Bans with gold trim temple bars and black or gradient tinted lenses, a look that is reemerging in fashion magazines, cinema and on fashion icons across California.

As always, Dior is making waves with the release of their 2009/2010 line of women’s eyewear. With feminine curves and intricate artwork adorning the temple bars, Dior remains one of the top-selling women’s eyewear brands in America. Especially popular are glasses tinted in purple and turquoise, though less practical for blocking light and UV rays, they are extremely useful when upping your style points this season.

Prada has taken the imminent nose dive many anticipated once the buzz from the film The Devil Wears Prada died down. The look is classic New York, with black lines that are neither straight nor curved, and a pretentious air that makes them perfect for the professional businesswoman. For those of us truly into fashion, Prada is overdone and underwhelming in design, and we prefer the creativity and risk taking of other design houses like Alexander McQueen and even Versace. For college students, Prada is nearly off limits unless one is in his or her senior year.

Sep

18

Jamie Foxx: The King of Eyewear

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Jamie Foxx, who has inspired us all with his singing, acting and humanitarian work, now amazes us with his fashion sense. Proving that he is more than a flash in the pan, Foxx lingers in our afterthoughts as a star to watch throughout the next few years. Here is why he is a fashion guru in addition to his stunning acting and singing talents.

Jamie Foxx strolled on the big screen on American Idol in Carrera Safaris as a mentor, shocking viewers and inspiring the young singers. The Carreras look great on the singer/actor/mentor, and we give him a thumbs up for style as well as mentoring. Despite the rock star look, these Carrera sunglasses will only set you back about 120$ so you can get the look without hurting your wallet.

In what fashion writers call a ‘splurge of inspiration’ the wardrobe personnel on Miami Vice put Jamie Foxx in Robert Marc 710s, which look like they were designed specifically for him. We like this look, it doesn’t overpower his natural appeal, nor does it distract from the new goatee or clean-lined haircut.

In the spirit of keeping it real, Jamie Foxx takes the stage in Gucci 1596s, which are a very Malcolm X design with a broader top bar and medium temple bars. They look alright on Foxx, but we prefer a more modern look for this modern renaissance man.

Finally, in the movie that made him famous, Jamie Foxx looks every bit the part of Ray Charles in Ray Ban Wayfarers worn on stage while singing. Jamie Foxx can pull of any look, but we think these looks especially cool on him. Ray Bans look good on anyone, so on Jamie, they looked utterly delicious.

Sep

14

Oakley and the Silver Screen

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us0914.jpgEvery wonder what stars are wearing on the silver screen. Chances are, if it’s an action film, then Oakley made an appearance.

Tom Cruise, in Mission Imposable I and II wore Oakley sunglasses, in the second film Oakley made a huge splash with the Romeo design, which literally was the leading item in the Oakley collection for several years running. To capitalize on the Romeo’s appeal, they issued a new remix of the classic design they call the Romeo II. Tom Cruise also wore the Oakley Five design in MI2, which is an affordable, under $100 design that has sold thousands of pairs yearly to both men and women.

To further up the coolness factor of the Romeo design, Bruce Campbell wore the Romeo II in Spiderman. Once upon a time these were the coolest shades on the market, by introducing them to this generation in Spiderman they have become cool again!

In the newly released G.I.Joe film, Oakley debuts its nanowire collection, with startlingly technological features, ease of wear, and sex appeal. We think these Oakleys will be the most purchased Oakley design in recent years.

Of course Cyclops wore Oakleys in X-men, that goes without saying! But the surprising thing is that this manly design is called the Juliet, which is a counterpart to the Romeo mentioned above. Small world. He wore the Oakley Penny in films 2 and 3, but we think he rocked the Juliet in film 1 the best.

So, whether you are shopping for cool sunglasses, or just trying to emulate the stars, then Oakley is the best brand for anyone who loves action-adventure movies.

Sep

11

Dan Gokey’s Eyewear

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Anyone who is anyone knows who Danny Gokey is, but for those of you living under a rock, he was the eyewear king of season 8 of American Idol who appeared on stage in a different pair of designer eyewear every episode (until voted off as 2nd runner up). Since leaving the show, Danny’s life has not become less busy or complicated, with constant interviews amid trying to launch his own singing career, Danny is constantly hounded by media and fashion fanatics about his eyewear. USA TODAY (above image) even did an article about Danny’s fashionable (and expensive) eyewear, questioning how the young man was able to afford such luxury.

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 Despite his funding regime (buying on sites like smartbuyglasses.com, for one) Danny has proven he is a stylish cat, making the need to wear prescription glasses also his defining characteristic while on stage. His favorite brand of eyewear- D&G, because of the modern, clean lines that make this country boy look city good.

Since Sarah Plain, no one has raised such interest on the internet about eyewear as Danny, whose image has become synonymous with designer brands. According to Danny, he had additional pairs of designer glasses he wanted to wear while performing, but they were not okayed because they gave unfair advertising to companies who had not provided ad revenue to the show. A particular pair of D&G glasses with the logo boldly painted on the side were rejected by producers as overt product placement. With all the product placements from apple, ford, at&t and coke, what is one more brand, and a designer one at that! Whatever the issues, we hope Danny will continue to be an eyewear king!

Sep

7

G.I Joe Sunglasses

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us0907.JPGG.I. Joe, The Rise of Cobra displayed an amazing new design series of sunglasses by Oakley, the nanowire collection. With several years of research and innovation invested in these simple sunglasses, the design and functionality far surpass the average Joe’s eyewear. O claims they defy gravity, and offer performance-enhancing benefits that make the nanowire collection a must have. Here’s what we think.

The nanowire collection defies the norm by making a fashionable, designer look that is both functional, practical and cutting edge. The sleek, unobstructed front piece of the 3.0 model seen in G.I. Joe is dashing in appearance, but offers a key benefit: the removal of anything that could obstruct or impede your vision. Meanwhile, the temple bars are not only lightweight, but they do not impede peripheral vision while the semi-wrap around frontal lens piece blocks a surprising amount of peripheral glare. The tinting is not only unique, but designed to enhance performance by increasing visual contrast, reducing glare and blocking unwanted light.

Let’s explore the many ways in which the nanowire is the sunglasses design of the future: Hydrophobic technology means that liquid touching the surface of the lenses will slide off without leaving residue. The ultra-lightweight titanium alloy frames actually have memory properties that bend to the shape of any distorted head, and then stay that way, meaning that the frames are fully customizable. Fully polarized, with scratch resistant coating already in place. Coupled with the lightweight frames and hydrophobic coating, these bad boys will really up your game. To stay classy and in style, while also ready and prepared for whatever could come your way, purchase a pair of these sexy sunglasses this summer.

Sep

4

Mandatory Vision Screening for Driver’s Licenses

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In many states, drivers must take a short vision test before the state will grant them a driver’s license. It is, however, easy to renew one’s license via mail or without retaking the test, in many states. In Alabama, the state is now requiring all drivers over 80 to take a vision test, which they found drastically reduced the number of elderly drivers on the road that resulted in a decline in elderly related accidents of 17%. While many argue that this is profiling and discriminatory, the 17% is hard to argue with. Meanwhile, other states are considering making the vision test mandatory when renewing one’s license.

All states require any corrective lenses or contacts, or other conditions relating to safety while driving, to be stated clearly on the license itself. The back of the license, for example, will have a list of items the driver must have in order to legally drive. If a citizen wears glasses (and worse them to pass the vision test) the license will state that the person is not legal to drive without corrective lenses.

Make sure that your prescription is up to date before going to the DMV. If you wear contacts, make sure you have a backup pair for your driving and vision test. If you have extreme light sensitivity, ensure you have sunglasses on hand that are prescription, polarized and tinted accurately. Restrictions are often written in code on the driver’s license, as in the example (image) “Restrictions (RSTR): 35 36 38 41” which could signify corrective lenses, epilepsy, etc. Ask in your state’s DMV what the code means.

Sep

1

Oliver Peoples gain Celebrity Fans

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In the past several months we’ve noticed a surge in celebrity Oliver Peoples fans, like Hollywood star actress Halle Berry who loves the OP Elsie model. Halle has been wearing oversize sunglasses lately, as have many celebrities, but we think Halle’s shape is perfect for the look. Her small chin and nose bring all focus to the eyes, resulting in a very childish and innocent look.

Singing sensation Geri Halliwell (ginger spice) looks dashingly modern (and not so ginger) in Oliver Peoples Strummers, a tinted frameless look that does not distract from her natural beauty. For blondes and red-heads these shades are perfect for bringing out hair and skin tones. Another advantage with these shades is that they do not completely obstruct your facial expressions or eye movement. Angelina Jolie has the same model, the Strummer, but with gold temple bars and a more gradient tinting. They look dashing on the blonde, but a bit contrived on the brunette.

Whitney Port (in image) looks astonishing in Oliver Peoples Skyla model. While she has only recently hit the big screen, with fashion sense and looks like those, we’ll be seeing this little lady again soon. Other celebrity fans of the Skyla model include: Rihanna (who can do no wrong with fashion), Nicollette Sheridan, who proves that blondes wearing white don’t clash, and Jessica Simpson, whose tan Skyla’s make her look ridiculously old fashioned. We in fashion know that not every look works for every girl, and Jessica Simpson has reinforced that for us by wearing tan Skylas. The Skyla looks best on people with weight on top, and a smaller or less dominating chin.