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May
22
Which LOST Character Are You?
Filed Under Sunglasses Trivia, Fun with Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses, Designer Eyeglasses | Leave a Comment
Based on your sense of style, which Lost character would you be? If you are a Prada lover, for example, you might be Stephanie. Read on to find out what your style says about you.
John Locke, the driving force behind many of the mysteries on the island, has a very definite sense of style. His survival clothing and equipment hint at a man who is deeply organized, prepared and utilitarian. Off the island, Locke would wear Oakley sunglasses. Oakleys are perfect for the outdoor adventurer, which Locke most certainly is.
Kate Austin, the Lost heartthrob, is a survivalist on the island but a beautiful and professionally-clad mother while in the real world. To keep up her image or normalcy, Kate would wear Bolle sunglasses, the perfect mix of outdoor wear and designer fashion.
Charlie, the bygone hero of earlier seasons, is a classic Ray Ban wearer. His free spirit and connection with the music industry set him apart from the group early on but also distinguish him as a novelty and charismatic icon.
Jack Sheppard, the opposing voice to John Locke’s surrealism, would wear Police eyewear on and off the island. Ever concerned about his image, Jack would be hard pressed to find a more suitable design for his on again- off again lifestyle.
Claire, the adorable Aussie stranded 9 months pregnant, would be a shoo in for Arnette eyewear. Her long golden hair and bright blue eyes give her the air of someone who has experienced a great deal both in and outdoors, and has stories to tell. Arnette eyewear is perfect for the outdoors and staying stylish.
Which character are you most like based on the Lost character’s personalities and style affiliations?
Mar
6
Fashion Week in Review
Filed Under Brand Wave, Sunglasses Trivia, Designer Sunglasses | 1 Comment
With fashion week over, many design-crazy fans are trying to piece together the emerging trends of 2009. We’ll save you some legwork. From D&G to Versace and Dior, We’ll highlight the overall trends you can expect to see emerging in the ready-to-wear market.
In surprising prevalence, flannel and frills made a splash at fashion week. Multiple designers used flannel as a key element in their clothing designs. Accessories are sure to follow suit and you can expect to see flannel bags, shoes and even eyewear with flannel patterned temple bars.
Perhaps owing to the media’s portrayal of 2009 as “a touch time ahead” fashion has responded with a more masculine look in women’s fashion. This includes baggy Bermuda shorts, boot-heels and baggier shirts and jackets. Boyfriend jeans and black denim are also expected to emerge as a result of fashion week.
Finally, leopard print made a surprising come back this season, surly a sign of things to come this fall and winter. However, a trend that dramatic is unlikely to blossom quickly. Expect leopard print accessories, especially in varying colors, to appear late summer.
Themed clothing has always been in style. This year, themes were expanded upon to encapsulate entire fashion trends. Black and white horizontal stripes, which were in fashion late last year, have reemerged, but with a sailor twist. Similarly, black lace became popular in late 2008 and has resurfaced during fashion week mixed with masculine accessories to give a contradictory yet inspired appearance. Expect metro sexual styles to become ever more popular in 2009.
Dec
30
Top Sunglasses for Winter Weather
Filed Under Brand Wave, Sunglasses Trivia, Fun with Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses | Leave a Comment
The need for sunglasses in winter is just as important as in the summer. With overcast days and snow, you need as much protection as you can get from UV rays coming through the clouds. Snow reflects the sunlight from the ground back into your eyes, so the damagecomes from every direction. The best thing for winter weather is polarized sunglasses. Polarization is the reduction of glare by a vertical polarizer. With these, you can see more of what you need to, and less of what you don’t. With polarized lenses you will never squint again.
The best polarized eyewear comes from Oakley and Ray Ban, the leaders in sports and outdoor sunglasses. Oakley has many different styles of sunglasses with polarization, all of them with a separate purpose and look, such as sports performance, active wear, and square-o styles. While Ray Ban has six different styles; Aviators, Top bar square, Flight extreme, Predator, Classic wayfarer, and plastic Aviators. Both companies have their individual look and different technologies and both increase acuity and color contrast so you can see better in winter weather.
In the winter months, whether you are skiing, sailing, walking, or driving, polarized glasses are the only way to go. They are the best protection for your eyes and your ego. You can’t go wrong with Oakley and Ray Ban, the most trusted designer names in action sunglasses. Everyone should own a pair of polarized glasses for year-round use.
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Nov
7
Company Profile: Burberry – the Ultimate Fashion Accessory
Filed Under Sunglasses History, Sunglasses Trivia | Leave a Comment
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
Filed Under Sunglasses Trivia, Celebrity Watch | Leave a Comment
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.
Jul
8
How Do Eyeglasses & Sunglasses Really Work?
Filed Under Sunglasses Trivia, Eyewear Knowledge, Designer Eyeglasses | 3 Comments
Corrective Lenses: Corrective lenses, which most often are used to correct near and farsightedness, work by modifying (through concave or convex lenses) the focal length of the eye. That is, problems occur when light reaches the eye at the wrong points within the eye, lenses with a specific shape like a bubble or a cup are used to bend the light and focus it on the correct part of the inside of the eye. That oversimplified explanation can be expanded on by reading my former article on how the eye works.
Sunglasses: Sunglasses work to reduce the amount of light that reaches the eye. Many people (especially those with fair skin and eye tones) complain of extreme headaches or pain caused by light. Sunglasses are used to reduce the amount of light to the eye, and thus are a necessary accessory for many blue and green-eyed people. Aside from this, they are used to block harmful UV rays from deteriorating the eye or otherwise harming or causing discomfort to the eye.
Sunglasses are simply a pane of glass that has been tinted. That is, they reflect back some light and only allow a certain degree to pass through the glass lenses. Polarized lenses further assist in dispelling light evenly across one’s line of sight, thus reducing the sharp effect light may have when concentrated in one area.
Contact Lenses. Contact lenses, first refined by Otto Wichterle, the inventor of the gel-like plastic used in their production, are said to be used by some 125 million people worldwide. Though their history dates back as far as the 16th century, the contact lens was not widely used, or indeed really usable, until Wichterle’s gel adaptation. The original inventors, independent and various as they were, intended glass or even miniature cups of water to be adhered to the eye to alter its shape or increase its magnification.
Contact lenses can be used to tint the eye and thus alter its color and design, or they can be used as a corrective tool. As a coloring device one simply inserts the gel lens and the color of the lens is reflected when light hits the eye. Fashionable artistic work has been done in the development of the cosmetic lens. As a corrective tool, they can be used for both near and farsighted patients in the correction of refraction errors. In this capacity contact lenses work in much the same way as glasses, except that because of their proximity to the eye, the amount of correction needed may vary from your glasses prescription to your contact lens prescription. Contact lenses are also used in the treatment of various diseases of the eye, including diseases where the eyelid rubs and tears the eye itself. Additionally, lenses with tints are available that block light, for those with overly sensitive eyes.
Laser Eye Surgery. Laser surgery, or orogolomistician surgery (ocular for short) is a procedure performed on the eye to correct the eye’s visual ability. There are several types of surgery, the most common shapes the cornea’s surface to change the optical direction of light penetration. In the US, laser eye surgery is the third most common surgery with around 1.2 million recipients annually. Having known quite a few people who have undergone laser eye surgery, I am happy to report that they were all highly successful procedures. It should be noted that even after laser surgery your eyes may not return to 20/20 vision. Also, the surgery may need to be repeated as your eyes may return to their original condition with age. Therefore, if you plan to have laser surgery, be forewarned that you may need to keep those glasses around the house—just incase.
Jun
20
The Invention Of Eyeglasses
Filed Under Sunglasses History, Sunglasses Trivia, Eyewear Knowledge | 1 Comment
The story of the lens extends far back into human history and crosses not only continents, but also vastly different cultures. From Italy to Germany, France and the US, the history of eyeglasses is a tale of the frustrated vision-impaired searching for alternatives to a blurry existence.
The exact date and inventor of eyeglasses is unknown. Indeed, historians assume that while development was occurring in the Western world in optometry, similar developments were occurring in parts of the East. We have little record (at least in English) of the Eastern timeline of eyeglasses development, and hence, this discussion focuses on the Western invention and development of glasses.
Around 20AD the Roman philosopher Seneca used a glass globe filled with water as a reading aid, apparently suffering from farsightedness. His invention was improved upon by the development in the year 1000AD of reading stones made of solid, polished glass, essentially a magnifying glass used for reading. These were set into bone or soft metals and hand-held only when reading or examining objects close-up.
The thirteenth century Italian monk Salvino D’Armate, despite the lack of visual and textual references, is widely believed to be the inventor of modern eyeglasses. These were essentially magnifying glasses in various shapes depending on the severity of one’s eye ailment. It is presumed that he used the thickness of blown glass at different intervals in one glass object as a means of finding the right thickness for each person based on the degeneration of their eyes.
In 1306 an Italian monk delivered a sermon that was copied into text. In the sermon he made mention of the fact that it had only been twenty years since the invention of spectacles. From this first written record historians surmise that it may well have been D’Armate who made (or at least refined and then popularized) the modern reading glasses design, complete with convex and concave lenses.
Despite all of these advancements, it was not until Johannes Kepler released research on optics and astronomy that the eye was properly mapped, thus explaining earlier successful attempts with concave and convex lenses for the correction of vision problems.
Nearsightedness, until the fifteenth century, had seen little progress. Pope Leo X, however, writes that he acquired and wore eyeglasses when hunting to increase long distance vision. We can safely assume that distance glasses had been around for roughly forty to fifty years prior to the pope’s nonchalant mention of his set of glasses.
By the mid-sixteenth century eyeglasses tied to your cranium were being replaced by spectacles resting on the bridge of your nose and tied loosely behind your ears. In the next hundred years they evolved into the metal frames we know today. It was at this phase in the development of eyeglasses that Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals in l784 to ease the transition for those who would otherwise have to switch between near and far sighted correctional lenses.
Following these well-paced developments, the field of optometry (the study of eyes) was advanced by Moritz Von Rohr, who invented the first aspheric lenses. Meaning, he made it possible to have thinner lenses, and to decrease the distortion of the eye others see when looking at a person wearing glasses.
Shortly after the Von Rohr additions, scientists began searching for ways not only to correct vision, but to enhance aesthetics. Thus emerged the contact lens, and not long after that—laser eye surgery.
Thus, from before the time of Christ to present day, the development of eyeglasses—a necessity for some—has improved at a continuous and steady pace. One can only imagine the next phase in development!
Jun
20
The History Of Sunglasses
Filed Under Sunglasses History, Sunglasses Trivia | 1 Comment
The exact origin of sunglasses is unclear, as precise records related to inventions were uncommon in earlier times. Several theories about their beginnings exist, and are as follows:
Chinese Magistrates. Some claim the origin of sunglasses was in China, where magistrates would wear smoky quartz lenses to hide the expressions in their eyes and maintain the appearance of neutrality. Though no documentation exists to verify this story, it is not unlikely as the Chinese were the inventors of many items still commonly in use. The quartz was said to be refined and made clear through polishing, it was then attached through fire (welding) to a holding rod. The quartz could be held at short intervals under a thick brush fire to gather a thin layer of smoke, thus tinting the lens. The magistrate could hold the smoky quartz pieces up to his eyes with the rod and thus hide his expressions during trials.
Spectator Sports. The Roman Emperor Nero was said to have watched gladiator fights with emeralds, though scientifically this could not have given poor Nero much assistance as the Emerald would not have worked as a vision tool, but more as a series of mirrors. Still, it could have been used for Nero to watch several aspects of the battle simultaneously, essentially giving him the ability to look two places at once (though green-tinted and at a distance).
Artic Survival. Another suggestion for the origin of sunglasses comes from the Natives of Northern Canada and Alaska. Trackers would wear bark fragments over their eyes, tied in place with a band around their forehead and secured with sap below the eye on the cheek-bones. The thin strips of tree bark would essential block some of the light, decreasing the amount entering and damaging the eye. They used these makeshift shades to block the blinding rays of light that were reflected off the snow, even from directly underfoot.
Basic artic survival tips in outdoor magazines and survival guides claim that protecting yourself from the sun is of the utmost importance. Many artic hikers and adventurers suffer serious eye damage from the sun’s rays reflected off snow. The cold distracts the mind from the sun, which is associated with heat, and many forget to shield themselves. Light reflected into the eyes can be severely damaging, and will not only cause severe vision blurring, but could eventually lead to blindness. It is also physically and mentally exhausting to absorb too much sun through the eyes, causing one to be drowsy and helpless—feelings not wholly helpful in a survival situation. Modern artic sunglasses come with thick leather blinders on the sides to further decrease the amount of reflected light absorbed by the eye.
Medical Roots. Darkened lenses were prescribed in Europe for patients suffering from various diseases including syphilis, though they were of little actual medical assistance. Rather than tying a bandage around the eyes of a blind man or woman, European doctors began to offer black metal sunglasses (though no light came through at all) to the blind to make others aware of their condition without alienating them or singling them out by having them walk around with an uncomfortable and attention-grabbing head bandage.
Modern America. Early silent film actors would often wear tinted or darkened sunglasses on camera to block the blinding arc lights aimed at them. It developed into a style related to the glamour of Hollywood which has persisted even today.
Innovations. In 1936 Edwin H began experimenting with polarization and made the first polarized lenses. Basically, transparent materials reflect light that is partly or fully polarized when reflected indirectly, polarized lenses allow the material’s reflective light to dissipate on contact. Since the polarization of sunglasses many small additions have been made, including the addition of titanium frames, foldable frames, frames with cameras (as in True Lies) and even mirror frames that employ similar technology to two-way glass.
There you have it folks, a rough and tumble history of sunglasses from their purported smoky origins to the invention of sunglasses that bend in half without breaking and contain small cameras and viewing screens.
Jun
20
The Ultimate Eyeglasses/Sunglasses Stereotype List
Filed Under Sunglasses Trivia, Fun with Eyewear | Leave a Comment
In light of the recent reemergence of a wide array of fashionable and chic glasses and shades, I began to consider the various stereotypes associates with wearing glasses. Below is a list that is not intended to be comprehensive. Glasses are not just for scientist anymore, and contacts are not the ‘saving grace’ they were in the early 1990s. People in need of glasses have embraced vision-correction implements and made them fashionable accessories. Let’s consider the most common stereotypes.
The Intelligent stereotype. By far the most common stereotype associated with eyeglasses is that of inherent intelligence. Teachers, librarians, scientists and computer programmers are all linked with the wearing of corrective frames—and indeed it adds to their legitimacy. The every sexy evening talk show host Steven Colbert, of the Colbert Report, hides his subtle sexiness behind professional and modern frames. In attempting to match the intelligent and conservative persona that this stereotype refers to, he reinvented it and made it cool.
The Geek stereotype. Piggybacking on the stereotype of the inherently intelligent is the stereotype of the inherently hopeless– at least fashion wise. Let’s take a gander at the America’s biggest three geeks- Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Bill Gates. All wear frames, all are millionaires and, not surprisingly, all are pale, thin and appear to be wearing toupees. Glasses are only one part of the stereotype, though as necessary and indispensable as too-high socks and pocket protectors.
Yet, for all the oddities geek’s posses, these three famous American geeks have made geekiness fashionable! Look at the entertainment industry: Napoleon Dynamite, the band Weezer, and even the recently released Juno give praise to the geek image. The modern American hero has transformed form John Wayne and Steve McQueen to heroes like Orlando Bloom—quite obviously not the beer-drinking, truck-driving bad ass of yesteryear. Perhaps the most obvious proof of this Hollywood transformation was in Die Hard IIII, where Bruce Willis, the ultimate man’s man, was paired with an effeminate computer programmer who cried and fretted and was friends with a basement dwelling goth-nerd.
Even massive corporations have capitalized on the geek-chic frenzy; Best Buy leads the exploitation of geeks with their establishment of the Geek Squad, a group of men and women with black pants, white shirts, black ties and glasses. Experts with credit lent to them through the geek stereotype.
Icon makers. How many icons can you think of that use glasses as a key identifier and as a key image for their personality? Elton John can only be accurately pictured in his famous thick white frames, or his modern square fashionable and trendy shades. Roy Orbison, another music legend, was constantly and mysteriously shielded by his dark black frames—even on stage! The same can be said of Ozzy Osborne—and image that is only complete with dark frames. Nirvana’s second album cover pictures the sorely missed star behind white bug-eyed large glasses—a fashion that defies fad.
Mysterious and Sexy Men. Picture Tom Cruise in Risky Business in only his white button down shirt and dark shades. Or, picture him in his rowdy and uncontrollable bad-boy character in Top Gun. He was the epitome of 1980’s cool. Little has changed in the last twenty years. Sexiness is still inaccessible, thus its allure. It remains partially hidden behind dark shades. Picture Keanu Reeves as Neo in the Matrix series, bas-ass leather, ultimate control and, to top of the image, once he realizes he was ‘the one’ he appears on screen clam, collected and decked out in modern shades.
Edgy and Capable Women. Of course the most obvious bespectacled female icon would be Angelina Jolie, who is never caught off the set without face-covering shades, nor is her partner Brad Pitt. Lucy Liu makes dark shades cool in any film. Her composure alone is sexy, but hiding her captivating powerful gaze behind the frames only encourages whatever onscreen foe she is about to defeat. Whippy Goldberg is another icon in Hollywood who is rarely caught without an interesting and chat-worthy pair of frames. Indeed that adds to her edginess.
Innocent and Adorable Gals. On the other end of the spectrum, fashionable women everywhere have revived the1960’s bug-eye frame fad. I think a large part of the attraction to bug-eye glasses is their similarity to Menga and Anime characters– sexy nymphs with larger-than-life innocent eyes. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are rarely without their bug-eye frames. Of course they are young and beautiful, but they also hold claim to a legacy of innocence and an image of cuteness.
Hey, not all stereotypes are bad! I think this list alone proves that glasses are not only cool, but build a persona, create an image of the self that is marketable and can fit into any group, and are a trend that is sure to last.