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The 2009 Oscar awards came deserving stars who support some of the fashion world’s biggest brands, like Dior and Ray Ban.


Kate Winslet gave a tear-jerking performance as Hanna Schmitz in the Oscar nominated film The Reader, and took away a much deserved best actress award. Winslet, who is known for taking challenging emotional and political roles on the silver screen, is known off the screen for her innovative use of high fashion mixed with a street-wise look. Winslet’s favorite accessories are her sunglasses and her wardrobe of purses. Dior, whose designs best enhance Winslet’s high cheekbones and small mouth, are her sunglasses of choice. She has been seen across Hollywood and even on vacation in classic girl-next-door attire but ever ready to dress it up with designer accessories. With the financial crisis in full swing in the USA, accessorizing is the only affordable way to stay chic.


Sean Penn, who won best actor for his portrayal as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected political figure in America, is known off the screen as a passionate political activist and philanthropist. You might remember him during hurricane Katrina paddling through flooded streets with a shot gun, looking for survivors. His much deserved best actor award for Milk comes at good timing for Penn. Sean Penn’s fashion choices coincide with his friendship with the folks from Jackass and Bam, where he has made several guest appearances. Like the teens he hangs out with, Penn enjoys Ray Ban 3026 as his sunglasses of choice. For men’s fashion during the financial crisis, you can expect to see selective accessories, namely sunglasses and shoes, and cheap copies for belts, wallets or other gear that is not as noticeable. For Oscar worth style, check out Ray Bans and Dior, this year’s biggest winners in Hollywood.


To get the look of Charlie Pace from Lost (Dominic Monaghan) try Ray Ban RB4082 model sunglasses in black with gradient purple lenses, a T-shirt with a ridiculous image or saying on it and cargo shorts. To get the fugitive and alluring look of Kate (Evangeline Lilly) try a pair of Dolce & Gabbana DG6020 sunglasses in black with gradient lenses, a low cut but ‘girl next door’ T-shirt and Bermuda shorts. Though taken months apart, these images show the two stars have an addiction not only to each other, but to their eyewear!


As most hard-core fanatics of LOST know, Evangeline Lilly (Kate) and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie) have been dating since 2004, when they met on the set of the LOST series in Hawaii, USA. Though a native hobbit from the UK, Charlie charmed Ms. Lilly, a Canadian model, instantly. Their romance, a uniquely thriving one, is unheard of in Hollywood, and the two continue to grow together learning new hobbies. Dominic has introduced Evangeline to surfing while she has in turn taught him to climb. They announced their engagement in 2006 when Dominic also let slip his eagerness to have a child. Though Dominic’s character was axed on the hit show Lost, Evangeline continues to film weekly episodes from their home in Hawaii.


While Lilly and Monaghan are an unlikely pairing considering their contrasting characters on Lost, their romance is one of adventure and style. Mimic their coolness with Dolce & Gabbana and the ever cool Ray Ban brand.


Though some may say that asking whether to get Versace or Dior for your child’s eyeglasses could cause damage to their sense of responsibility and lead them to feel entitled, these critics are overlooking the importance of your child’s need to see clearly and your child’s intense fear of embarrassment at school. Cut corners elsewhere, but not when it comes to your child’s vision.


Children are an often overlooked group when it comes to eyewear. Perhaps a child is unaware that the world should not appear blurry. Perhaps they are unaware that not seeing a page clearly could be the cause of poor reading marks. It is massively important that parents have their children’s eyes checked frequently throughout their development, as problems can arise throughout one’s childhood. Many with vision problems that do not have them at birth will acquire them during puberty. It is thus imperative that children between the ages of 8-15 receive eye exams yearly. Buying your middle school child stylish designer eyewear will ensure they are not embarrassed to wear their specs in school, and thus will be able to focus on their subjects.


Children often forget to care for their eyes. Games like staring at the sun can lead to eye damage, and children need to be taught to be careful of the sun’s warm but dangerous rays. Buy sunglasses for your children and makes sure you lead by example by wearing yours when outdoors. Do not buy sunglasses that do not have UV protection. No joke or “cute” sunglasses will do. Bolle has a line of children’s sunglasses that are age specific, and tailored to meet the needs of a child. They are sleek and stylish, and thus something the child will treasure, but also they do not pretend to be “cute” and instead mimic adult fashion in miniature, which your child will surely appreciate.


In addition to an already stunning cast, Tina Fey’s hit NBC series 30Rock has attracted some of Hollywood’s hottest stars for guest appearances. Yet, for all its comic allure, men are crazy about Tina Fey, whose real age is well beyond the normal Hollywood hottie’s. Her trademark look, dark form-fit clothing and casual pants, is topped off with a pair of plastic horn rimmed Gucci glasses.


Tina Fey, who based the show on her experiences as the head writer for Saturday Night Live, wears Gucci 1579 glasses throughout the show. Despite the fact that Fey does not need glasses, they have become her on and off-stage trademark, marking the ever-emerging trend of eyeglasses as style rather than mere visual aids. Throughout the series 30Rock Liz Lemon (Fey’s character) is complaining that she is not taken seriously. By wearing the horn rimmed glasses she is asserting her right to be a leader through her wardrobe.


Although Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) constantly mocks Lemon’s clothing, he hardly comments on her designer eyewear look. In fact, across the web you’ll find more and more images of women donning eyewear very similar to the Tina Fey look. Since she skyrocketed to mainstream popularity with her portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, sales of black horn rimmed glasses have skyrocketed. In fact, Tina Fey proves that career women can have it all. She has been happily married since 2001 (a rarity in the American elite) and has won several outstanding acting and writing awards and is now one of the most recognizable women in comedy.


Want to see your man in designer eyewear, a shirt with buttons and pants with pleats? The best thing to do is to appeal to what your man already craves – adventure. More than anything else, most men want to partake in some sort of military or other secret activity where they get to use hand signals, wear face paint and ride into the sunset on a Harley in a leather jacket and shades…well, maybe not the sunset part. If you want your man to dress in designer gear, then start with these simple tips:


1) Always start with the sunglasses. Nothing says bad ass like a pair of creative, black, angular sunglasses that come with a hard case and are scratch-resistant and durable. Smith Sunglasses are the perfect pair of designer eyewear for your soon-to-be adventurer. Pick something that is edgy and slightly outside your man’s comfort zone, stylistically. As people begin to compliment his creative choice in eyewear, he will begin to take an interest in what else he can accessorize.


2) Always go with the wallet and watch combo as a second step in designerizing your beau. Hugo Boss has some great wallets, and if you want to match up both gifts for continuity, they also have great men’s shades. Similarly, Police sunglasses, like Smith, are a man’s design and championed by the king of men- Antonio Bandares, and they have great watches to complement the sunglasses you’ve already purchased.


3) The third and final step in making your man a designer fashion follower is the leather jacket. Here is where you clinch his self image. Be careful to pick a jacket that is in line with the wallet, watch and sunglasses you’ve already helped him choose. Remember, these are the accessories he’ll be wearing when he whisks you off on the Harley he trades the Sedan for.


In a rare collaboration of three companies towards one goal, D-mented Entertainment has joined arms with Ray-Ban’s Luxottica Group and Kerner Optical for the creation and launch of personal 3-D designer eyewear. In an era of Disney, DreamWorks and other 3D films (like the amazing Beowulf 3D creation), these companies believe viewers will crave high-quality, designer 3D eyewear to bring to these films in lieu of the cardboard or plastic 3D glasses provided by cinemas. Though a bit of a commercial risk, the 3D glasses, I admit, would be an amazing accessory for any avid film buff. A truly must have for those who make visiting the 3D Imax a ritual.


The 3D lenses will be mounted in Ray-Ban Wayfarer frames, adding a touch of class and timelessness to the already innovative idea of 3D designer eyewear. Kerner Optical is working on making prescription-capable 3D lenses, in addition to other features soon to be announced.


These companies collaborated because they firmly believe that 3D will be the next major wave of innovation in the home entertainment industry. Soon, you home TV will be 3D capable, and whole sections of films will be made 3D ready through a soon-to-be affordable conversion. Computer designers are working on 3D computers while video games have already breeched the gap with virtual reality. Though not ready for the mass consumer population, 3D games are sure to be announced soon. Thus, this trinity of cooperation foresees a world of 3D electronics and soon, everyone will want a pair of their own, high-quality, safe and classy designer 3D glasses.


The final Ray-Ban product is set to be released soon.


2008 was a year of reemergences. Vintage styles as far back as the 40’s were back in style among the elite and Hollywood stars as the US and UK experienced a mainstream flashback to the 70’s with large, rounded sunglasses and bold, square eyeglasses reemerging as the top style accessory for 2008.



We expect the vintage fad to continue well into 2009, so don’t throw out your Jackie O’s with the New Year. In addition, we expect the vintage flashback to grow stronger in 1950-60s style, meaning old newscaster style black frames, Wayfarers and Aviators.


Peresol has a fantastic vintage inspired line of sunglasses in light brown with brown lenses, perfect for men and women alike. Dior, also, has picked up on the vintage trend. Check out their latest line of retro eyewear for 2008-2009 (see picture of Dior retro style shades). Police 1561 brand and style are my favorite vintage throw-back and look classy in black of brown. The Police shades are subtle, unique and show a bit of class, and are my top pick for vintage eyewear for 2009.


Tortoise shell is expected to come into style in 2009, as are slightly horn-rimmed eyewear styles. Note that Hollywood has been enjoying these throw-back styles for several months, usually a prime indicator of mainstream fashion trends for the following year.


Whatever your pick of vintage, whether subtle 50’s style or full-fledges 70’s flare, be sure to jump on the bandwagon with your retro eyewear in 2009.

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The man with the horn rimmed glasses in the hit NBC show Heroes lurks throughout the series as somewhat of a mysterious schizophrenic. Part father and part government company man, Noah Bennet is both the face of fear for the majority of the civilians with superpowers and a loving and protective father to his adopted daughter.


Bennet’s double life makes his characteristic eyewear somewhat of a costume necessity. Throughout the series the camera angle shows the world through these horn rimmed frames, as if showing the predicaments Bennet finds himself in through his own eyes. His adopted daughter, Claire, is also a mutant (in the sense that she has the ability to heal any wound) and in series one was labeled as the savior of the globe. Bennet was forced to decide between turning her over for experimentation by his mutant-tracking government gang, or escaping with her into the desert. He chooses the later course, but leaves his family on several occasions where he returns to his dark side (though for good reason).


The glasses are Demi-Amber/Gold Universal Country Squire brand glasses with tortoise shell coloring and gold accents, a very old fashioned style and color choice for a modern TV hit. Tim Kring, the creator and co producer/writer for the series claims that Bennet’s character wears this particular style and brand of glasses because he felt they were reminiscent of early CIA style frames, and looked “very company-man.”


It is noteworthy that Bennet’s features are somewhat remote and bland. His classic hairstyle, plain grey suits and unassuming shoes and accessories make him a fairly forgettable character. His calm but monotone voice paired with pale skin and a plain car also help to make Bennet disappear into the crowd. Yet the glasses themselves stand out in people’s memories in the series, and he becomes known to the mutants only as ‘the man with the horn rimmed glasses.’


He first acquired the glasses when shopping with his daughter, Claire. He was wearing grandpa-style thick, dark frames that shaded most of his face and added to his bland appearance. Claire picked up the horn rimmed glasses for her father and complemented him on the change they made to his appearance. Pleased with his daughter’s choice, and obviously infatuated with her, Bennet purchased the frames and is hardly seen without them. It is striking that his daughter heard of a dangerous man with horn rimmed glasses several times before connecting the super-villain to her father, whom she helped create the persona for.


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Throughout the seasons, Bennet’s glasses have been broken several times, spit on, and have appeared in visions painted by a fortune telling artist. He is known around the globe as a killer and the lone assassin of a government program tagging and killing mutants. His glasses are symbol of his former life as a killer for The Company. Though he tries to flee with his family for a normal life and safety, he finds it hard to let go of his former self, and expertly plays the villain when needed, and the father when called upon. His glasses, then, are the most poignant throw-back to his company days, and to the internal battle that rages inside his character. This writer predicts that the glasses will vanish in later seasons when the character defeats the company.

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Prada is one of the most well known design labels in the fashion industry, a name that comes with both reverence and awe. Their designs are characterized by high-quality materials cut into high-class, clean shapes.

The company was started as Prada Brothers in Milan, Italy in 1890 as a leathergoods shop. Fratelli, the owner and sole designer, was a chauvinist who did not allow any female family members into the design studio or shop. However, when Fratelli died, his son Mario was not interested in the business and daughter-in-law took over running the company. In an act of irony and defiance, Fratelli’s daughter Miuccia also joined the company, thus Prada came under the leadership of two very strong and capable women. Miuccia convinced Patrizio Bertelli to join the company in an advising role, and as a result soon abandoned their antiquated styles in favour of revolutionizing and streamlining their leather designs. Several years later, the company was selling the new bag designs in upscale markets, and revenue was pouring in. After expanding across Europe and opening shoe and clothing lines, Miuccia and Bertelli finally married. The label became known for its durability and clean, straight lines—a kind of anti-establishment high-end fashion.


BY 1990 the company had landed in the big leagues with over US$31m in profits. In the US, the style was labelled as ‘working class fashion’ and was widely adopted in the country as people began to shy away from opulence and glamour in favour of practicality and simple style.


Throughout the company’s rise they were in dire competition with Gucci, and CEO Bertelli even went so far as to attempt to acquire a controlling interest in Gucci by buying up their shares. This idea flopped, and the company returned to focusing on design. However, as a result of their ongoing competition, Prada nearly bankrupted itself buying the Fendi label, which Gucci had been vying for. The company is still massively in debt from that ego-focused purchase. Bertelli has decided to attempt to take the company public as early as 2009, by listing on the Milan stock exchange. The company hopes to raise enough funds in their IPO to pay off debt and fund expansion.


Internationally, Prada has lagged behind other labels, choosing instead to focus on Europe and the US. Louis Vuitton is the most well-known international design house, with stores all over Asia. Prada even missed the China craze because it was in such dire financial straits.


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However, the company has continued to dominate the fashion world, with Miuccia’s designs looked to each year as a source of inspiration for other designers. She alone propels the company forward with new designs, and her husband tried to fund this with his wheeling and dealing. One of Miuccia’s major pushes recently has been in the field of accessories. Prada launched into the accessory market three years ago with their distinguished Prada sunglasses. The glasses have been sold widely and are highly regarded as a just comparable to Dior’s well-established sunglasses line. Prada hopes to make a comeback with the glasses, as they are more widely affordable than their clothing and bag lines. 


Popular culture has picked up Prada’s iconic status, and several mentions of the design have appeared in Hollywood recently. Most notably, Prada was featured in the hit, The Devil Wears Prada, wherein a young magazine hopeful is faced with a powerful magazine editor clothed in high fashion. Though the young woman initially resists the power of Prada, she eventually falls victim to its charms, as do all fashion-frenzied ladies.

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    Quotations

    • "Words, like glasses, obscure everything which they do not make clear."
    • Joseph Joubert
    •  
    • "You go to school, you get a master's degree, you study Shakespeare and you wind up being famous for plastic glasses."
    • Salley Jessy Raphael
    •  
    • "Don't call the world dirty because you forgot to clean your glasses."
    • Aaron Hill
    •  
    • "They had me on the operating table all day. They looked into my stomach, my gall bladder, they examined everything inside of me. Know what they decided? I need glasses."
    • Joe E. Lewis
    •  
    • "Rose-colored glasses are never made in bifocals. Nobody wants to read the small print in dreams."
    • Ann Landers
    •  
    • "Men do make passes at girls who wear glasses - but it all depends on their frames"
    •  
    • "The only reason we wore sunglasses onstage was because we couldn't stand the sight of the audience."
    • John Cale
    •  
    • "With my sunglasses on, I'm Jack Nicholson. Without them, I'm fat and 60."
    • Jack Nicholson
    • Blogroll

      • Australia - Australian online blog marketer of designer sunglasses and glasses
      • Canada - Canadian blog for the sale and distribution of designer glasses and sunglasses.
      • Japan - Japanese blog about designer glasses and sunglasses in Japan.
      • United Kingdom - United Kingdom blog marketer for designer glasses and sunglasses news.