Big and Sunny

John Goodman rocks sunglasses on Shabbas and Beyond

2013-05-31T15:02:00.001-04:00

Just when you think it's time to hang up your keyboard for the week, you come across a GEM that must be admired, analyzed, and posted.

John Goodman in Cazal style 995

Such as this John Goodman GEM. The man is pretty fantastic overall, and while I haven't seen the Hangover III, I'm sure he brought a splash of the best to what's getting pretty harsh reviews. Maybe the critics should look again, John's being totally badass in his Cazal's. What could be wrong about that?

Now Mr. Goodman may seem an odd place to start with expanded focus on individual sunny wearers. But this is BIG and Sunny, and while he has trimmed down substantially, he illustrates nicely how well good sunglasses hot a fellow up. Consider...

Classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers and a cool cap

Bad ass is bad asser with yellow-lensed sharpshooters

John goes Hollywood in Ray-Ban Clubmasters

Fabulous Links: Christian Roth and Rolex Watch Bands

2013-05-30T11:45:00.000-04:00

Christian Roth style 360 degrees in a mint that's still so fresh

Once upon a time, Christian Roth and Eric Domege created amazing eyewear—fabulosity in design inspired by their lives in the Monte Carlo and Miami style centers. And then for a brief while, they took a break...but now they're back with pop-up shops and an online shop where new and archival styles alike are available for admiration and purchase.

It's worth a visit to check out the 360 degrees...an utterly iconic piece of eyewear artistry that may have inspired some timeless go-to eyewear by a designer who shall go nameless (hint: rhymes with Dom Dord).

Looking at all those delightful pieces inspired me to open the vault of my finest and favorites to share my own pair of Christian Roths...the day I those sunnies showed up on my doorstep I felt like I'd truly made it into the center of the sunglass universe. They have stood up to the style test and are still fresh after almost 10 years. When I first saw them during a product preview, Christian told be about the inspiration for the beautifully sculpted temples: the links of a vintage Rolex band. And the purple is just fantastic...warm but metallic with just enough shine to make it work wherever in the world you may be.

Vintage Rolex from Rolex Passion Report

Christian Roth style CR14266

Cara Delevinge: Yes, sunglasses. No thanks, Leo DiCaprio!

2013-05-29T16:38:00.003-04:00

While many of us were having positive self talk about the health benefits of hot dogs and horseshoes this weekend, a flock of the glamorous and fantastic donned their finest sunnies and frolicked in the south of France for the 66th Cannes Film Festival.

Here, Cara Delevingne wearing a super stylish Roberto Cavalli Eyewear shield with Cavalli's signature serpents at the temples...oh you glamazon. It takes confidence to wear this, and Cara has enough confidence to allegedly turn down a date with Leonardo DiCaprio! BRAZEN!

Sunglass Summer Starts with Serengeti

2013-05-24T12:23:00.002-04:00

Well hello, darlings!

How are you? It's been a long, gray winter here in Pennsylvania and my collection of sunglasses and entries of sunglasses added to my Love List has grown substantially since the last edition here. So I'm taking the cover off of the pool that is known as Big and Sunny for the summer and will aim to provide you with a full season of the sunwear looks, lives, and loves needed for a truly delightful season.

That's right, a full summer of sunwear, with something for everyone, women, men, kids, cantankerous old tabby cats, and adorable shih tzus. Some of them will be pictured and charmingly described, while others (see cantankerous old tabby cat) will just live in the playground of my imagination.

Launching things on the right...eye? It's time to select the frames that will kick off the holiday weekend. With a potentially agonizing schlep down to the Jersey Shore ahead, it's going to be important to get something comfortable and suited for the long haul. And, thanks to the evil weather universe, the tint can't be too dark.

So the first sunnies for the season will be a go-to pair by Serengeti, a safe bet to start.

Wait. Before freaking out and asking: where are your mirrors, your shiny stones, your supa glam? They're coming. But today, consider flying under the flashy fashion radar and going for the shapely, matte black style, Giustina.

These glasses are a great kick off for the summer because they feature lenses that are polarized and photochromic, so you get a light tint when it's gray out and then a darker tint when it's bright. Try to say that's not awesome for driving and you'll just be talking crazy.

Plus, the frames are made of this superlight Trivex material, so you can wear them for your entire commute and not show up at your weekend beach destination with two bottles of wine, a box of truffles, and big red dents in your nose from weighty eyewear.

That's a very nice way to start the summer!

Looking forward to spending the next 104 days together rocking the best sunnies out there.

Use Nature As Your Gym

2013-05-13T11:32:00.001-04:00

Grab you sunglasses and head outside for your workouts...and a happier life!
Use Nature As Your Gym

Spotted! Mary Louise Parker in Oakley Women's Eyewear and Active Apparel!

2012-09-18T16:41:00.001-04:00

Oakley on the move!
Spotted! Mary Louise Parker in Oakley Women's Eyewear and Active Apparel!

Looking into the Sun

2012-07-31T16:41:00.001-04:00

Kids have the right to rock sunnies, too!
Looking into the Sun

Fabs and Fehs of Wimbledon’s Spectators/Gala Anna Wintour – Go Fug Yourself

2012-07-09T15:23:00.001-04:00

Fabs and Fehs of Wimbledon’s Spectators/Gala Anna Wintour – Go Fug Yourself

I am no less worried about this picture of AW without sunglasses than I would be to see a vampire outside during broad daylight. It's not right. She looks happy, but wrong. Sigh.

Well Played, Anne Hathaway - Go Fug Yourself: Because Fugly Is The New Pretty

2012-07-09T15:16:00.001-04:00

Well Played, Anne Hathaway - Go Fug Yourself: Because Fugly Is The New Pretty

It's absolutely the truth...everyone does look better in sunglasses!

This Week's Motivation...

2012-06-07T18:05:00.001-04:00

Trying to advance!
This Week's Motivation...

SELF Magazine Features Oakley Overtime Sunglasses

2012-06-07T18:02:00.001-04:00

Sporty chic sunnies!
SELF Magazine Features Oakley Overtime Sunglasses

Girls Night In! Planning a Dinner Party

2012-06-07T18:00:00.001-04:00

It's nice to think of a healthier way to party, especially hoping to look good and feel good in Vegas this fall for Vision Expo.
Girls Night In! Planning a Dinner Party

The 1%...Bentley Sunglasses

2012-02-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

image: fishandfly.com

Well, Big & Sunny is not in favor of begrudging the 1% of it's hard-earned...or luckily inherited...toys, one can't help but feel as if one has been offered to eat cake when checking out the platinum Bentley eyewear from Estede. The limited edition specs are a no-brainer for those indulging in a Bentley Mulsanne model, for which the $30,000-plus plus sunglasses were specifically designed. The uber elegant take on the navigator features scratch resistant Carl Zeiss Lenses and are custom fit by an optician who personally delivers the eyewear to buyer's homes.

For those on a budget, yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold versions are offered for a fraction of the price. Which is smart, because if one spends all of one's cash on sunglasses, then what will one burn to light one's cigars?

Lady Gaga's Workshop Sunglasses

2011-12-07T09:56:00.001-05:00

For the holiday season Lady Gaga is taking up residence at Barneys New York. Gaga's Workshop is rolling out a healthy does of crazy, including some of the singer's style signatures such as wildly carved and painted press-on nails, a Little Monster plush set, t-shirts, and tea cups.

But if the idea of a Gaga face cookie leaves you cold, consider her optical options. Pushing sunglass style along with the rest of her edgy vibe, Gaga's sunny picks include styles from Linda Farrow, A-Morir by Kerin.Rose, as well as a private collection for the workshop.

Tony Bourdain Samples Persol

2011-12-06T20:24:00.001-05:00

Last night the latest Anthony Bourdain extravaganza, The Layover, debuted on The Travel Channel. His first stop: Roma! Home to delicious treats, plentiful wine, and...Persols!

The fussiest badass you'll be able to tolerate on tv took time out from his busy schedule of disdaining popular tourist attractions, boozing on enviable vintages and brews, and scarfing down organ meats to get his shop on for some genuine Italian shades. Opting for basic black with a high keyhole bridge Persol, Bourdain joins the ranks of classic stylists with the lovely arrow-templed beauties.

If one sauteed them with sheep brains and extra virgin olive oil, would Tony give them a taste, too?

Sunglass Puppy

2011-12-06T11:47:00.001-05:00

Well this is just adorable. In case you aren't getting enough cuteness in your day-to-day life, I strongly suggest making Boo a part of your life. This little Pomeranian has become a big celeb, complete with his own Facebook fan page. Of course, we like that every once in a while he goes all cute and sunny with a pair of shades!

Just in Case: Thomaspaul

2011-11-10T17:43:00.001-05:00

Finding good sunglasses is fun and exciting.

Wearing your faves is pretty much the best.

But reaching into your bag and realizing there's a big scratch right in the middle of the lens of your new, relatively new, or miraculously well-preserved shades can just ruin your day. So stick them in a case, duh!

However, those of us who favor the larger sunglass may find that the bulky logo clamshells are more suited to server AS an evening clutch rather than fit IN a handbag.

New York native designer Thomas Paul, creator of digities in the 90s, he went on to silk pillows and mastered patterns from squids and whales to digital cameras and typewriters on an expanding range of everything from scarves and lights to stationery and rugs.

But what catches our attention is his designs for sunglass cases that please the eye with color and fresh, modern pattern.

A little 80s, a little 90s, and a lot right now, these cases are definitely something to get wrapped up in.

My Sparkliest Sunglasses

2011-11-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

Some days are rough. Everything is irritating. You never get to go anyplace or do anything fun. And you're not allowed to hit anyone without getting fired or arrested or both. Pooh.

On those days there's pretty much only one thing that makes me feel better: incredibly sparkly sunglasses.

Not sorta stoned.

Not kinda bling-y.

Certainly not subtly detailed.

I mean way, way, waaayyy over-the-top shiny encrusted beauties that people see and involuntarily sigh "sparkly!"

My go to are a lovely pair of Pucci sunglasses from the Florence collection, named after the Pucci palazzo/family's hometown. They are big. Of course.

And they are blue. Which is fun in a world that features sparkle with black and red, but sometimes forgets the cooler colors.

Today I have been wearing these dazzlers at my desk for about the last two hours. They serve as encouragement and a warning. Encouragement for me to remember that there is fabulousity out there just waiting for the partaking. And a warning to all who dare to enter my office: enter at your own squinty risk.

Val Kilmer's Sunglasses Made Me Cry

2011-07-25T15:48:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time, there was a girl from New Jersey who watched a lot of cable television. And during a very special time in her life, Top Gun was played approximately 50 times a day by the Home Box Office (in the dark, bleak, days before True Blood).

And for many, many years afterward, the phrase "Ice Is Nice" made her feel happy and tingly.

Then came along stupid Comic-Con this year and ruined it all by allowing Val Kilmer to appear in public with his face looking not ice-y or nice at all.

And the sunglasses don't help. Roy Orbison owns that look from Beyond the Grave, Val. OWNS IT! So back off, go to the gym, get a tan, put on some mirrored sunglasses, and take off your shirt. The way God meant things to be.

Sunglasses Endanger Robert Downey Jr.!

2011-07-22T10:50:00.001-04:00

Ordinarily the only danger I'd point out in blue-lensed sunglasses is being too hot or looking too much like big blue wearers Robert Downey Jr. (shown here with custom lenses in Oliver Peoples style Sheldrake ) and Johnny Depp. L'sigh!

But I just read this article from Lighthouse International that raises some questions about the potential damage to the eye that can result from blue lenses. It seems that blue UV is some of the most hazardous to the eye and blue lenses, you guessed it, don't block blue light. In fact, the report advises that blue lenses are extra risky because:

"They may look cool, but blue tint actually emits ultraviolet light ― which should be blocked out."

So unless you're committed to the idea of a seeing eye dog and sassy white cane in your senior years, think twice before you head outdoors on a sunny day with blue-lensed sunnies and keep these cooler than cool lookers for your inside styling.

And if you're wondering just how dangerously you're living in terms of eye health, take a peek at Transitions Optical's Healthy Sight Calculator. Hopefully cool and safe add up for you.

See Red: Japanese Relief Sunglasses by Mykita

2011-07-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

With the world seeming to end every day, it's easy to forget the tragedy before the most recent heartbreak. No, this is not going to turn into a sad-voiceover commentary...never fear. There are very cool sunglasses involved.

The eyewear geniuses (geniusi?) at Mykita have created a special edition of mirror-ific aviator model Franz...a partnership with designer Bernhard Willhelm...in a Mykita for Japan campaign.

According to the company the white metal frame with mouthwatering red mirror lenses and temple tips is strictly limited to 100 pieces. They also note that:

"All proceeds from the sale of these glasses, minus the value added tax, will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross earthquake appeal. The FRANZ-for-Japan is sold at the special price of 250 Euros."

For more info or to lend a hand to an important cause visit www.mykita.com

Sunglasses Fit for a Princess

2011-07-11T14:16:00.001-04:00

Although Duchess Catherine and her Princely hubs Wills seem to have forgotten their shades in most of the pix I’ve seen from their Canadian and U.S. jaunt (Silly royals), with a princess in the country this weekend, one can’t help but feel a little extra regal and fancy.

If she was going to try on a pair or two for size, my regal recommendations would definitely include the following…

Dior Lady Lady

A style so ladylike the point is emphasized through repetition. Remember: one can’t blame Dior for a designer’s issues. But you can blame them for a crazy circus fashion show! These sunglasses prove that Dior still has that bedrock foundation of tasteful beauty. Fingers crossed for the clothing.

Chanel Prestige

And then there’s the granddaddy of them all, the Chanel Prestige Collection. Echoing the iconic Chanel purse strap with linked gold threaded with supple leather, this eyewear’s ad campaign is showing off Claudia Schiffer like she hasn’t been seen in about 10 years. Definitely ready for the ball.

Sunglasses: Seeing Green

2011-06-22T11:54:00.002-04:00

Now before we get started here I have to warn the tree huggers and other naturally inclined individuals: Big and Sunny loves the Earth. But this particular column is about green-colored lenses and their awesomeness. We’ll be talking about the environmentally green in the near future.

And on to green lenses.

For retro fans, nothing says classic eyewear like a green sunlens. It’s elegant, it’s athletic, and it looks like it could go from a garden party to a grouse hunt to a safari…all with appropriate wardrobe changes but the same fantastic sunglass.

Visually speaking, green lenses are more than just a pretty accessory. According to The Optical Vision Site, green lenses feature the following attributes:

"Green has slightly better contrast than the gray colors, but is not considered a high contrast lens. Green maintains true color balance and is a good choice for varying light conditions. Used for tennis, driving, and golf, as well as an all-purpose color."

Now that it's officially summer and the world is in Technocolor, stock up on your green lenses to truly enjoy the show!

Fabulous Sunglass Day! (a Solstice celebration)

2011-06-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

The weather is not exactly cooperating here in not-so-sunny Philly. But it's Solstice, the longest day of the year, and we can't let that opportunity for ongoing sunglass fabulousness go without a celebration of the sunglasses that will make the day even better. Whether you're a druid or a day-trader, these sunglasses will make you so happy that the sun isn't setting until well into the evening.

Nothing says "I am fabulous" like a Pucci sunglass...the shapes, the prints and patterns, the color. Everything about them is chic and fun and full of fancy. Add some champagne and a tanned houseboy with an open mind and you have a party!

If Pucci wasn't celebratory enough, start summer off by going right over the top with Prada's summer scene stealer: the Baroque...the runway look with curves, friezes has a wild sculptural effect. A little friendlier to the average face, but still curvy and delightful is the Minimal-Baroque with a round front.

Ok, ok, not everybody wants to go quite so far into Crazytown. But maybe, for just one party-filled day, you should fill up your wineskin, put on some fantastic sunglasses and head into the sun!

Sunglasses that Fit

2011-06-20T13:29:00.000-04:00

Now here at Big and Sunny we spend a lot of time gently criticizing sunglasses wearers. Because we care. Mostly about the sunglasses that are being misused and poorly executed by their owners. Kind of like an ASPCA except for sunglasses. Which I guess would be ASPCS.

Anywhoo, one way to end up in the mockery crosshairs is to opt for a poorly fitting style. (Yes, that means you, tiny headed Taylor Swift.)

Sunglass expert Eden Wexler of eyewear manufacturer Safilo walked a few editors from the New York Times through a Manhattan Solstice shop recently to discuss proper fitting tips for sunglasses. Before you make your seasonal sunglass investments, take a few minutes to review the segment.