We are now carrying Chloe Sunglasses which we personally think have a great unique look for those who are looking for that unique sense of style. Chloe has some really beautiful frames and if you haven't heard of Chloe, than you deffinately have seen some of your favorite celebrities rockin' a pair.

Chloe sunglasses has many frames that are very retro-ish. Big frames make for more old-fashioned but great fashion sunglasses and Chloe has some beautiful models if big is what you are going for.


One of our favorite frames from Chloe and one of the most popular is the 2119 which is a large round frame that has an exceptional look. You can see Kim Kardashian and Lauren Conrad in these high-fashioned sunglasses.






You can see the Chloe Sunglasses CL 2119 C04 Myrte here and on sale for $189.00 today!

Labels: chloe sunglasses, kim kardashian, lauren conrad

At ShadesDaddy.com, we have one of the most extensive Ray-Ban Wayfarer collection out there and known for carrying a wide selection of styles and colors. We're always looking to carry the latest and most chic sunglasses out there and hear our customers request.

For a limited time, we are offering two Ray-Ban Wayfarer styles you may have seen before but now available to purchase directly from us.
Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses RB 2140 996/3F

This is a very chic and colorful frame. It is a definite stand-out type of sunglass and makes for great beachy or fashionable outfit.

Frame Color: Fluorecent Yellow
Lens Color: Gradient Light Blue
Lens Size: 50mm


Lens Color: Gradient Light Blue
Lens Size: 50mm

Now as a quick tip, If you are looking for yellow wayfarers and the RB2140 in yellow is a little out of your price range, the Arnette Agent is a great frame that has a great shape similar to the wayfarer in a straight angle. It is currently on sale for $77. It currently comes in 5 different colors.

Photo: Source Unknown

The Tom Ford's Jennifer sunglasses are one of his more Hollywood-glam styles, as you can see in the picture of Angelina Jolie. They're not your standard issue big movie star sunglasses. They have a couple of features that set them apart from the rest. For one thing, they have an ever so slight cat-eye shape, and for another, they have a cut-away detail between the outer edges of the lenses and the side piece.

I know what you're thinking: Angelina Jolie could wear Coke bottle glasses taped together at the nose piece and still look hot. You're correct. The thing is, Tom Ford could take some random colored plastic and maybe some wire and somehow create something stunning and beautiful. If you put those two together: innate beauty plus a work of art for the face, and it's more than the sum of its parts.

Gorgeous sunglasses like these make a girl daydream about walking through a sleepy Parisian neighborhood with her boyfriend on a beautiful summer Sunday morning and having him propose as you stand on the Pont des Arts as the Seine purls along quietly under your feet. *Sigh*

Tom Ford makes other styles that are similar to the Jennifer. The Anais, for example, is a square frame with a similar cut-away. The Claudia is similar to the Jennifer except its less upswept at the side. They're all beautiful, and Tom Ford has a gift for making things that make people feel beautiful. And if you feel beautiful, then you pretty much are beautiful.

Labels: Angelina Jolie, designer sunglasses, Tom Ford Jennifer sunglasses, Tom Ford sunglasses

We are happy to announce we are now carrying eyewear from your favorite brands. We are choosing to carry what we believe are the main and leading brands for eyewear with more to come.

We are currently carrying Ray-Ban Eyewear, D&G Eyewear, and Versace Eyewear. These are very chic and stylish eyewear designs that will sure give your face a nice lift. We carry the full collection of these brands so if you are looking for a frame from those brands, we are sure to carry it, if for ANY reason you don't see it, please email us.

A very sought after frame is the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Eyeglasses RX5121 2291 which also comes in black.  This frame is available in two lens size which are 47mm and 50mm. Truly a beautiful and stylish frame to fit many face shapes.

In the coming weeks we'll blog more about our favorite eyewear frames and what customers like you are buying and what's in style.

Photo: source unknown

Looking ever so slightly like Elton John circa 1971, Pete Wentz  rocks the Ray Ban 4112 Jackie Ohh III's with Tortoise Red/Brown frames and brown lenses. This is a large frame, with 63 mm lenses, so it can certainly work on a man-size face.

Wentz has been doing lots of good lately, throwing his support behind the group Invisible Children, which raises awareness of and helps displaced children in the African nation of Uganda. He  and the other members of Fall Out Boy actually went to East Africa to see for themselves what the situation was with displaced children in Uganda, and to help film a documentary about them.

Wentz believes that becoming a dad helped him see that the circumstances of a child's birthplace shouldn't determine what his or her life can become.

And closer to the home front, it appears that he and wife Ashlee Simpson are selling their Beverly Hills Mansion that Ashlee bought in 2007 for $4.5 million because it isn't babyproof. Seeing as it had nearly 6,000 square feet, babyproofing could be quite an undertaking, n'est-ce pas?

Wentz has been seen in a number of sunglasses styles from classic to on-trend to totally out there. Whether you're a guy or a girl, you should go with what works, and if wearing shades that aren't "officially" designed for your gender is what works, then go for it. And I say this as a grown woman with a face small enough that I have to order eyeglasses from the SpongeBob SquarePants collection. Got that? Wear what works and who cares who they're designed for.

Labels: Ashlee Simpson, designer sunglasses, Fall Out Boy, Pete Wentz, Ray Ban Jackie Ohh

Photos: chinadaily.com; pynkcelebrity.com; flickr.com

Pop star Katy Perry knows how to rock the retro look, and Ray Ban sunglasses are perfect for it. Wayfarer Outsiders come in a great range of color choices, including a bubble gum pink. Clubmasters take a little bit more gumption to get away with, but if you have a look that's at all retro, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Clubmasters also come in a range of color choices.

If you're female, doing this look well requires just the slightest nod to earlier decades in fashion, like a dress with a fitted bodice and full skirt. You probably won't get the chance to wear a flower in your hair (but if you do, go for it!), but the straight hair and bangs look goes perfectly with Wayfarers and Clubmasters.

The things you'd probably want to avoid when you want to accessorize with Ray Ban Wayfarer Outsiders or Clubmasters would include conservative business-suited styles and certain bohemian hippie looks, although, who knows? Your mirror will tell you better than I can. The great thing about these sunglasses in these awesome colors is they say that you're smart enough to know what makes a great pair of sunglasses, but you also have a sense of humor and don't take fashion too seriously. That's the best way to avoid becoming a fashion victim.

Labels: designer sunglasses, Katie Perry, Ray Ban Clubmasters, Ray Ban Wayfarers

Do you have a Twitter account? If not, you should do so. Twitter is the new form of media communication between you and friends and you and brands if you will. It's a new medium that is just providing new ways for us to connect with our customers and for you to benefit from what we have to offer.

ShadesDaddy.com is using Twitter as a medium to inform our customers and future customers about new products we carry. Remember, we constantly update our website daily with brand new products. Some of the new products include Junior Ray-Ban Wayfarers, New Prada Sunglasses, New Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses, and much more. A great way BESIDES following our blog, is following us on Twitter.

A GREAT and MUST reason why you should follow us on Twitter is also because we are now posting EXCLUSIVE Twitter coupons. The last one we just posted was for 10% and has now expired. We will give good monthly deals using Twitter so always check up. Let us know you are following us for more perks!

You can follow us now by clicking on this link: http://twitter.com/ShadesDaddy

Just a few episodes into the relaunched 90s drama Melrose Place, Ashley Simpson has been evicted. Her character, Violet, had apparently a pivotal part in a murder mystery, and now that its on its way to being solved, she's not so much necessary to the show.

Ashlee and the producers of Melrose Place are officially saying that she knew all along that she would be written out of the show, but I guess they were really good at keeping that secret through the, I don't know, millions? of interviews she gave before the show aired.

But who cares, right? Simpson is married to a rock star, has a baby, and a great pair of Marc Jacobs MJ016 shades. If you're getting evicted from a swishy apartment complex full of beautiful people, wearing fabulous shades is bound to help.

Damning with faint praise, Stephanie Jacobsen, who plays med student and escort Lauren Yung on the prime time soap said, "We'll miss them."
Photo: InStyle.com

Labels: Ashlee Simpson, designer sunglasses, Marc Jacobs MJ016

Most of the time when we read articles regarding sunglasses we think: fashion. But shockingly to my knowledge, sunglasses are a crucial part of our eyes and skin health. In fact, after extensive research I came to find some important information about the positive effects of wearing sunglasses.

Who would imagine that cataracts and eye-skin cancer can be prevented from using sunglasses? Or that the apparition of wrinkles can be decreased thanks to using them? Sounds a little sketchy or something sunglass retailers would say to get you to purchase their products. But unfortunately it’s no myth, and for those of you concerned about looking young and beautiful forever, keep reading!

Thousands of studies regarding sunlight exposure and the effects that UVA and UVB rays have on our skin have been conducted since the appearance of an ozone hole over the Antarctic in the early 1980’s. The well-known skin cancer and melanoma conditions are amongst the effects most people are aware of regarding sunlight. But I’ve come to find that this is only the beginning of some of the most frequent skin problems the sun causes to our body.

By age 60, more than 55 percent of people suffer from cataracts and/or tissue growth that can block vision (pteryguim). Other kinds of eye damages include eye-skin cancer and deterioration of the macula (part of the retina where visual perception is most acute). Americans pay billions of dollars each year in medical care to cure or help reduce their eyesight problems. However, all these issues can be lessened by an astounding 30 percent if the proper eye protection from UV radiation is applied.

Furthermore, sunlight causes collagen to break down and dry off, causing the elasticity of the skin to reduce and making it harder for the skin to repair itself from dryness and sunburns. When the skin repeats this imperfect rebuilding process, wrinkles develop.

It is recommended to purchase sunglasses with a good UV protection – 99 percent of UVB rays and 95 percent of UVA rays. Some of the best known brands to offer excellent ultraviolet protection are: Oakley, Arnette, and Ray Ban.

So go ahead… wear sunglasses, be healthy and be beautiful!

Make your kid look great with the Ray-Ban Wayfarer for juniors which are now available for purchase at ShadesDaddy.com. We carry them in three different colors: Black, Red, and White. They currently only come in one size, 44mm. These are great for everyday wear and protect your childrens eyes against the sun, while making them look real chic and cool.

Makes an excellent gift for a birthday or the up-coming holidays.


Ray Ban Kids Wayfarer Sunglasses RJ9035S 100/71








Ray Ban Kids Wayfarer Sunglasses RJ9035S 162/71










 Ray Ban Kids Wayfarer Sunglasses RJ9035S 163/71

We love seeing what celebrities are wearing as much as you so here we got three big names in Ray-Ban sunglasses.

KRISTEN STEWART:



Kristen is wearing the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The code for these sunglasses is RB2140 901 and looks like a lens size 54mm. You can click on the link below to see the sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses RB 2140 901


LEONA LEWIS:



Leona is sporting the Ray-Ban Cats which is a great style for all seasons! This is one of the hottest styles and one of our favorites. Great retro look and one of our recommendations for must have shades for Fall 2009. These are the Ray-Ban Cats 1000. To view this product click on the link: Ray-Ban CATS 1000 RB 4126 601/32


SARAH JESSICA PARKER:



Sarah is one of the favorite celebs to watch out for in terms of fashion. Here she is seen wearing the Ray-Ban Highstreet style RB 4099 601/8G. To view this frame click on the link here: RB 4099 601/8G

Greetings! Since many orders have come in requesting notes that say "Happy Birthday," or we're already seeing notes with Happy Holiday notes, we have gone ahead and started to offer a gift wrapping option.

Go that extra step and if you are purchasing a gift, we will gift wrap it for you with a nice card included.

The products that are eligible for gift wrapping will have a gift wrap option as an accessory in the middle of the product page, the section that will say, "You May Also Like:"

The price for gift wrapping your orders will be $8.00, again, with a greeting card included (either Holiday or Birthday,) you will have the option.

You can see the option here: GIFT WRAP AND GREETING CARD

**THE PRODUCT CODE TO ADD GIFT WRAPPING IS: GIFT WRAP

We're still adding the option to many products.


Thanks,

-The ShadesDaddy.com Team

Ok, so we’re beginning to feel the temperatures dropping and chilly wind touch our skins more and more everyday. It’s time to put the bathing suits away and bring out the sweaters to cover up. However, one of the wonderful things about sunglasses is that whether its spring, summer or FALL, shades are one of the main items of our accessories list that never gets sent to the drawer for lack of necessity.

Actually, sunglasses are the one part of your outfit that will never let you down. Waking up a late for a lunch date? Are you cooking and suddenly realize you need to run out to get that one particular ingredient missing to complete your masterpiece? No need to fix your hair or put on some makeup; just put on your best shades and voila! You’re ready to go. It’s a beautiful thing sunglasses, and personally the one accessory I can never have enough of. With every season of the year comes a new look and style, and with this economy who has the money to shop for an entire new wardrobe for this fall/winter? What better way to change your look than with new sunglasses to complete the perfect outfit? Here are this Fall’s sunglasses must have:

New Ray-Ban Wayfarer 4140 710

The new Ray-Ban Wayfarer is a great Fall look. Although similar to the rest of Wayfarer styles, as you see, the circular frame gives a whole new look to the Wayfarer.

Ray-Ban CATS 1000 RB 4126 601/32

The Ray-Ban Cats are IN! These high-rise frame shape look gives a chic modern look to any woman. A retro look that you can't go wrong with.

Arnette Agent Sunglases AN4119 488/11

The Arnette Agent is a new look and design from Arnette. While this brand is very sporty, these frames have a trendy look to them. The Arnette Agent currently comes in 5 different colors at a great price!

DOLCE GABBANA Sunglasses DG 2049 062/32

One of the better seller for Dolce and Gabanna Sunglasses, the DG2049 is a classic stylish look for me.

Ralph by Ralph Lauren Sunglasses RA5060 679/13

A beautiful frame from Ralph Lauren, this frame has gotten the attention of many for its great design. Another frame that gives that retro aspect and just plain chic.

DSquared 2 Sunglasses DQ 0004 50F


The DSquared DQ 0004 is FABULOUS. DSquared is an up and coming brand with very stylish frames. We just had to display the front and back of these frames as the back of the frames just have outstanding contrast. A great look for the fall.

If you have any questions regarding what looks may suit you best, ASK US! You can always check out our FACE CHART.

When you think of bell-bottoms, Ray-Ban Wayfarer, platform shoes, and high-rise shorts, your mind automatically transports you to the 60’s. Surprisingly, these are all fashion trends currently happening in OUR era.

One of the most popular answers high fashion designers give when asked ‘What is the biggest goal you’d like to reach in your career?’ the reply is almost always: to create an iconic piece everyone will remember me for.

However, when asking previously Gucci Creative Director for over 10 years, and now owner of his own fashion house, Tom Ford, ‘Do you believe in reinventing trends?’ he simply says: “My inspiration comes from life and the world surrounding us. The world changes everyday and it will never go back to how it was yesterday, same goes for my pieces”.

Tom Ford is well-known for his uniqueness in creating extravagant fashion lines followed by the highly sexual marketing campaigns he uses to promote them. His pieces make you think you’re looking at fashion to be worn 200 years from now where cars fly and space is our next door neighborhood.

One of his most well-known successful businesses is his sunglass collection made for men and women of all ages and styles. Today’s Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Gwen Stefani, Mariah Carey and Elle Macpherson, have all been photographed wearing Tom Ford sunglasses numerous times.

Amongst his best selling models are: Dakota, Camillo, Falconer, Jennifer and Claudia. These pieces can be worn with a glamorous outfit or a sexy day at the beach.

The beauty in wearing this designer’s shades is that you know you are wearing something ahead of its time, an icon on its own. Something you wont find 10 years from now in a flee market being sold at incredibly cheap prices because the style is “coming back”, simply because Tom Ford collections don’t “come back”. They’re so unconventional and advanced; it makes you feel like you’re the one who started the trend!

His lines currently cover Menswear, Beauty and Eyewear, along with Men and Women Accessories.

Photo: Flickr.com

I tend to go on a bit about individual style and putting your own stamp on things, and that's all well and good. But there are a lot of people who wear uniforms every day: students, medical workers, spa workers, law enforcement, custodial staffs, restaurant workers ...

Now, I'm not going to say that you should wear sunglasses with your uniform at work because that would be stupid. But there is such a thing as the journey from home to work and back. In these instances, a fantastic pair of shades can be more than just eye protection, they can be fashion therapy.

That's the talented singer Taylor Swift in the picture up there wearing the big dark shades. What else is she wearing? Who knows? She's probably wearing a cute Dolce & Gabbana top over a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans and fabulous Kenneth Cole riding boots. Then again, she could be wearing the most drab, shapeless uniform out there, but the shades draw attention to her face, the one part of the human that nobody except the Taliban has figured out how to take all the individuality out of.

I wasn't able to positively identify the shades she's wearing, but I know that Valentino makes a pair very much like them, the VA 3003/S. They're the classic movie star sunglasses in a dark neutral that go with everything, including those purple scrubs you have to wear at work that make you feel like Barney the dinosaur.

People are remarkably creative when it comes to uniforms. I've seen nurses and girls in school uniforms go all out when it comes to individualizing their shoes. Some people make a statement of individuality with their hair. Maybe if you top off your uniform with a great looking, classy pair of shades on the way to and from work, you can have that boost of confidence that comes from knowing that uniform or not, there's only one you, and you're fabulous!

Labels: designer sunglasses, Taylor Swift, Valentino sunglasses

Photo: accessories.about.com


OK, let me just say up front that it's not easy to take serious style advice from a source that tells you to "diversify your leggings portfolio," but Style.com is in the business of throwing lots of colorful, trendy stuff at the walls and seeing what sticks. In other words, they know that everyone takes their advice with a pinch of salt. Or a shot of vodka.

Anyway, they have a piece about sunglasses trends for next spring. To my untrained eye, it appears that by spring 2010 we'll all be sick and tired of this whole worldwide economic recession and ready to tie one on and have fun. At that time, sunglasses, a style staple that is already meant to have some fun built into it, will be giddy, irreverent ways in which we give the fashion rules and the economy the one-finger salute at the same time.

What you see above is a pair of "shield" shades that went down a runway on a Marc Jacobs model a few seasons back. (Doesn't her hair look as if it's been raised by twisting her head, like a giant lipstick?) Runway looks aren't usually very closely tethered to reality, so you're forgiven for thinking that the giant sunglasses she's wearing look like your grandma's cataract shades.

However, if there's anyone qualified to give the fashion world the finger, it's Marc Jacobs. And as it turns out, he has several shield type sunglasses that have just the right hint of irreverence. Like the MMJ-032/S. He also has some styles that are downright gorgeous, like the MJ194/S, with Brown Havana frames and brown gradient lenses that can be fitted with a prescription.

I'm not quite ready to declare how I'll feel fashionwise next spring, but remember this: sunglasses may do you plenty of practical favors, like keeping you from getting deep squint lines and protecting your retinas from UV damage, but they should also be a happy accessory. If you're going to obsess over fashion - and I'm not for a moment suggesting that you should - save it for worrying about diversifying your leggings portfolio.

Labels: Marc Jacobs MJ194/S, Marc Jacobs MMJ-032/S, Marc Jacobs sunglasses

Photo: route du rock ete 2007

I tried to use this information to get my 20-year-old son to blow steam out his ears and run around in circles, complaining of the injustice of it all. He's the Biggest Sonic Youth Fan In The World, you see, and I thought for sure that bassist Kim Gordon officiating at the wedding of Rufus and Lily (I only know that because I had to do a freelance assignment for someone about that episode) would send him into fits of rage.

Nope. I think his whole reaction was, "Dude."

Oh, well.

OK, so Kim Gordon, pictured above, has been in the business of making amazing music for approximately 167 years. I don't know how she does it. But anyone who can have a career like hers and still look absolutely smokin' in a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers is ...

Well, the truth is, almost everyone looks good in Ray Ban Wayfarers. Name any major star of the second half of the 20th century, and the odds are good that somewhere there's a picture of them in a pair of these babies.

Marilyn Monroe? Check. Bob Dylan? Check. Audrey Hepburn? You betcha. Gwen Stefani? Drew Barrymore? Jack Nicholson? Robbie Williams? Jessica Alba? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

They are the Little Black Dress, the Classic Levis, and the Hermes riding boots of sunglasses in that they go anywhere and they always look great.

If you've only ever bought drugstore sunglasses and are ready to spring for a pair of sunglasses that will look great, go with everything and last forever, then it's really hard to go wrong with a pair of these.

Labels: Gossip Girl, Kim Gordon, Ray Ban Wayfarers, Sonic Youth

Photo: justjared.com

Hey, if you've ever been through a divorce, even if you were totally the victim and everything was your ex-spouse's fault and everyone in the world, including your ex's mother, is on your side, and you stand to gain a big fat property settlement, it's still traumatic and painful.

Think what it must feel like if it's unfurling before the entire American television watching demographic, who are all busy deciding whose "side" they're on. Oh, and meanwhile there's the little issue of the 8 kids you need to raise.

My point is: sometimes you want a little privacy, and for some reason not letting people see your eyes confers a certain level of privacy. Sunglasses afford you this tiny bit of protection from prying eyes, and that's why so many famous people - going through a public divorce or not - wear them in public.

The ones on Kate Gosselin in the picture above appear to be Bvlgari Sunglasses BV 8008B 85173's. They're gorgeous, they're dark, and they cover a fair amount of facial real estate, giving their wearer great protection, great looks, and a little immunity to the stares that come with celebrity.

The Bvlgari shades I'm referring to have a tortoise frame, brown lenses, "Bvlgari" name on the temple, along with Swarovski crystal detailing. They provide 100% UV protection, are made in Italy, and can be fitted with prescription lenses. They're great for the movie star (or celebrity tabloid magnet) in all of us.

Labels: Bvlgari BV 8088B 85173, Bvlgari sunglasses, designer sunglasses, kate gosselin

Image: fashionunder100.com

Did you read the interview with pop singer Shakira about how when she was a schoolgirl she tried out for the school choir and didn't make it? And the thing is, she said the teacher was right not to let her in the choir because she sounded like ... get this: a goat.

I happen to like Shakira's voice because it stands out from the crowd of sugar-coated girly voices so many female singers (and a few male ones) stake their livelihood on. The choir story makes me like her even more.

Think about it: how cool would it be to go back, medical degree in-hand, to that high school chemistry teacher who laughed when you said you wanted to be a doctor?

None of that has anything to do with sunglasses. I just thought it was a cool and inspiring anecdote that maybe we could all learn from.

As for the sunglasses in the picture of Shakira above, they look an awful lot like Dior Boudoir 2 shades with dark gray lenses. If it were possible to see whether the side piece of her sunglasses has the trademark "D" we'd know for sure.

However, she's doing a marvelous job of finding flattering sunglasses by looking for shapes that are not the same as facial shape. Her face is a lovely roundish-oval, and the curls in her hair are certainly twirly and circular. That's one reason why the square shades work so well on her. That and, well, she's awfully pretty to begin with.

Perhaps the lesson here is, if you go back and show your former band director who told you that you had no talent the pictures of you performing at the Met, be sure and wear an awesome pair of shades. Because it will take your "cool" rating over the top.

Labels: Christian Dior sunglasses, designer sunglasses, Dior Boudoir 2

Photo: 247celbrity.info

It's basically attitude.

Here's an idea for a new reality show. Instead of What Not to Wear, we could have a situation in which a style-challenged American woman is matched in terms of size and age to a French women. The French woman comes over to the American woman's house, goes through her closet, and shows her how to look great in the clothes she has.

Maybe she'll take a simple cardigan and wear it buttoned up the back. Or she'll top a flower print dress with a no-nonsense black jacket and chunky boots. She'll use a silk scarf as a belt, or put a run-down and faded pair of jeans with a formal velvet blouse.

In other words, what you have is not as important as what you do with it in most cases. I am convinced that with a good pair of shoes, a good pair of boots, a good pair of jeans, a white blouse, a fabulous handbag, and a great pair of sunglasses, you can look good in 99% of the situations you will find yourself in in life.

That's French actress Marion Cotillard in the picture up there. Her most famous movie on this side of the Atlantic is La Vie en Rose in which she played French vocal legend Edith Piaf and won an Oscar for it. (Great movie, by the way.)

Now, "on paper," her outfit in the picture doesn't sound impressive: shades of gray, black, and brown, a chunky sweater, hat, sunglasses. But she has the attitude to make it look really good, and I'm not even sure if she's wearing makeup. It's totally unfair, but there it is: attitude changes what could be a "blah" look into something well put-together.

I can't tell what kind of sunglasses she's wearing, but they could well be Christian Dior, perhaps the "Flavour 2" model. You could certainly do worse than Dior sunglasses. They have some really beautiful styles. I'm partial to Dior's Cottage 3 myself.

When we're feeling frumpy - and let's face it, it happens to all of us sometimes - it may not be your closet that needs to be restocked so much as your self confidence. You'd be surprised how well the "fake it till you make it" concept works for imparting confidence. Well, that, and a great pair of shades.

Labels: Christian Dior sunglasses, Dior Cottage 3, Dior Flavour 2, Marion Cotillard

Image: simpsons.ugo.com

The 70s, God bless them, didn't teach us so much about style as they did about what's not style. It may have taken awhile, but we finally accepted that neither Elvis Presley's sunglasses, nor John Lennon's look good on anyone else. We learned that a warehouse full of polyester leisure suits burning down would poison a 50 mile radius. (Actually, I just made that up, but it certainly sounds plausible, huh?)

The decade started out with cheesy ballads on the radio like "The Way We Were," gave us thinky-feely stuff like "Horse with No Name," (I like writer Dave Barry's take on how annoying that song was: "You're riding across the desert. You have nothing to do. Name the freakin horse!") and had us all getting down to "Dancing Queen" (at junior high dances in my case). Was it any wonder that the decade wound down with "God Save the Queen" and closed with Sid Vicious dying of a drug overdose? How could it not?

But I contend that there really were some positive style concepts in the 70s. They just happened to be mostly executed in double knit polyester.

The 70s - more so than the 80s in my opinion - gave people permission to develop their own style. It's not the decade's fault that most people did this very badly. But if you look back at the silhouettes, many of them celebrated the varieties of the female form in its glorious non-shoulder-padded, non-silicone-augmented state. Same with guys.

But like a steady drumbeat throughout it all, the Ray Ban Aviator and the Ray Ban Wayfarer went along for the fashion ride, creating a small zone of style and taste on the faces of those who wore them, regardless of what else they had on.

Sure, the Wayfarers at that time were more the sunglasses that your Dad wore, but nobody can dispute their awesomeness. And the Aviators? They have always looked great on 99.9% of the population and always will. It doesn't matter if you're a happenin' grandma on a Vespa or a college football player in a pick-up truck: Aviators work for you.

All of which is a roundabout way of telling you to be brave enough to create your own style, whether that means Dolce & Gabbana or Spy. Hey, if it doesn't work out, you can always fall back on the Aviators and Wayfarers.

Labels: classic style, Ray Ban Aviators, Ray Ban Wayfarers

Have you ever wondered how some people can wear cat-eye or butterfly shaped sunglasses and look great while others wear the same thing but look ridiculous? It probably has to do with the person's overall style and the shape of their face. While there aren't any hard and fast rules (and there shouldn't be!) here are a few guidelines for narrowing down the vast array of choices.

The basic rule is to not match the shape of the frames to the shape of your face. That is, if you have a square, angular face, a pair of square, angular sunglasses might just be too much. Softer, more rounded lines will probably look better.

And the converse is true, too: if you have a round face, like Christina Ricci, angular frames can look great, but round glasses may make you too moon-faced.

Photo: mycelebrityfashion.co.uk

Oblong faces like Sarah Jessica Parker's often do well with narrow rectangular or slightly cat-eye shapes to add some width.

Heart-shaped faces, like Jennifer Aniston's look good in styles with low-set temples and smaller, roundish frames to soften a wide forehead.

Those with triangle shaped faces like Minnie Driver or Keith Urban look great in frames that draw attention to the upper part of the face, or top-heavy shapes to balance the jaw's width.

Photo: celebuzz.com

If you find all this too confusing, then fortunately, there are some styles that do well almost universally. Ray Ban Aviators correctly sized for your face are almost always flattering for men or women.

And Tom Ford makes several classics, including variations on the aviator shape that are flattering to a wide variety of faces.

Keep in mind that these are only guidelines, and the most important thing is whether you are happy with the way your shades look. Everybody else can just deal with it if they don't agree.

Labels: choosing sunglasses, Ray Ban Aviators, Tom Ford sunglasses

Photo: fabsugar.co.uk

Sunglasses indoors at night? Maybe if you're Kate Moss, but that doesn't mean we can't learn a thing or two from the instant attitude sunglasses confer pretty much regardless of context.

Put on a pair of sunglasses right before you shift into reverse to go somewhere, and you're in that moment: driving, seeing properly without glare, and 99 times out of 100 looking way cooler than you do otherwise.

Though it may seem politically incorrect to say so, putting on your shades when you step outside for a smoke cuts off eye contact with those people around who want to see your reaction to their judgmental glances.

And putting on a fabulous pair of shades as you step onto a beach in the summer is a way of saying, "I'm here, I'm going to have a great time, and I deserve it."

That bit of attitude that a pair of classic Ray Ban Wayfarers or Italian-influenced Giorgio Armani shades give you can make the difference between confidence and awkwardness when you're out in public.

If anyone gives you any lip about buying a pair of designer sunglasses when you can buy knock-offs for next to nothing, you can feel superior in knowing that you have invested in a pair of shades that has been made to very high standards of both function and style. You're protecting your eyes from UV damage that can lead to cataracts, and you're preventing squint lines around your eyes since you don't have to squint at the sun.

And with a well crafted pair of sunglasses, unless you sit on them, you can make them last pretty much forever. What's $250 if you wear them 250 days of the year for 10 years? That's one thin dime per wearing, which is hard to beat.

You might not have the gumption to wear sunglasses inside the way some famous people do, but that's OK: wearing them when you need them looks terrific, is smart, and confers enough confidence to carry over into your non-shade-wearing activities.

Labels: designer sunglasses, Giorgio Armani, Ray Ban Wayfarers