flashyshades.com

Verbatim: Kate Moss

2012-03-25T06:44:00.001-04:00

"I don't have any strict rules, but my husband does say not to wear a hat with glasses because I look as if I'm trying to wear a disguise," she told the Sunday Telegraph, before adding, "I always have a pair of Ray-Bans in my bag and lots of pairs at home because they always seem to go missing. They're a real staple. And jewellery? I don't ever think you can have too much."

- Kate Moss on style, March 12, 2012

The Original Stunners

2012-03-25T06:04:00.001-04:00

Simone, featuring sunglasses by Courrèges, Paris, February 1965. Shot by fashion’s first superstar photographer, Richard Avedon.

Verbatim: Zac Posen

2011-04-27T18:35:00.000-04:00

The Guardian profiled designer Zac Posen, asking him to cite the "Five things I know about fashion." And he has flashy's ringing endorsement, saying:

I am totally unattached to material items. But when it comes to things everyone should have, a scent is very important, as is good underwear and a great pair of sunglasses.

At right, a flashback to Zac Posen's RTW Spring 2009 runway sunglasses.

Happy Royal Wedding Week!

2011-04-25T12:27:00.000-04:00

Welcome to royal wedding week!

As you prepare your DVR and set your Friday morning alarm clock, please enjoy this photo of Kate Middleton in Chanel sunglasses at the 2007 Gold Cup. And do try to not freak out.

If you want to update Kate's look and embrace that regal look, try the pearl-adorned, Chanel 5132H for $410 at glassesinstantly.com.

Diana Moldovan Channels Daphne Guinness in D&G

2011-04-22T22:46:00.001-04:00

This month's Marie Claire features Diana Moldovan in a Daphne Guinness-inspired spread wearing D&G cat-eye sunglasses.

[Source: fashiongonerogue.com]

To get a less dramatic version of the look, Nordstrom has the D&G cat-eye sunglasses in yellow in $135.

Awesome Rumor of the Day: Angelina Jolie

2011-04-22T21:30:00.002-04:00

I'm a bit too excited for an unconfirmed campaign, but E(exclamation point) News is reporting:

E! News has learned exclusively that Jolie is set to be the face of an upcoming worldwide ad campaign for designer Louis Vuitton. The print-only campaign, which is scheduled to launch this summer, will be marketed globally.

I'm obviously hoping for an eyewear shot, but would be particularly excited to see the two-tone, laser-cut Louis Vuitton Poppy from the Resort 2011 collection (at right).

The Poppys are available on louisvuitton.com for $485.

Karen Walker: Still Killing It

2011-04-21T13:21:00.000-04:00

New York's "The Cut" blog brought perennial sunglasses favorite Karen Walker back to our attention yesterday, naming the Number One model as a "Best Bet." And with good reason: the "thick, modified cat-eye frames" are cool enough to wear everyday this spring, have been seen on Rihanna, and can be yours for $180.

Anna Dello Russo: Prada for Days

2011-04-13T02:09:00.000-04:00

She's wearing more Prada than you can shake a stick at, but I was pumped to see Vogue Japan's Editor-at-Large Anna Dello Russo wearing the colorblocked "eyebrow" Prada sunglasses at the shows in Milan and Paris. She actually pulls them off really well, but could anyone else?

PS: Entire style blogs chronicle ADR's endless and extravagant wardrobe of straight-from-the-runway flash, but her own site, annadellorusso.com, is kind of amazing. "I don't want to be cool, I want to be fashion!"

Before They Were in Vogue

2011-03-10T09:33:00.000-05:00

Lindsey Wixson, the newest new face, is featured in not one, but two Vogue UK features this month. For "Pool Party", Alasdair McLellan photographed Wixson as a heavily-neon-accessorized Lolita. The standout shot, at right, features Fendi color-block sunglasses from Spring/Summer 2011.

Its not the first time these glasses have caught my eye. I was on the fence about them when Karlie Kloss and Freja Beha wore them on the runway.

The green version -- not my favorite -- was in Style.com's "In the Mood for: Resort Brights."

Karl Lagerfeld finally swayed me, though. The colorblocks look great in the Fendi campaign, which stars Anja Rubik for the third straight season.

The Road to Vogue: Constance Jablonski in the SS 11 RTW; Anja Rubik as the face of Fendi Eyewear

Fendi Colorblock Sunglasses, $395

Back in the Day: Very Valentino

2011-01-18T22:22:00.001-05:00

Vintage Very Valentino circa 1992, starring Linda Evangelista. And they're awesome. The lip liner, not so much.

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Supermodels Are So Last Season

2011-01-18T20:05:00.000-05:00

Landing yet another significant campaign, Crystal Renn has replaced Amber Valletta as the face of Jimmy Choo this season.

Congratulations to Crystal, can't wait to see the whole campaign.

[Photo: TheFashionSpot]

For Spring: January

2010-12-28T21:53:00.001-05:00

The Spring/Summer 2011 Versace campaign stars the lovely January Jones and is shot by -- who else? -- Mario Testino.

Lanvin XXX H&M

2010-11-24T06:18:00.001-05:00

The internet previews caused quite a stir, but this week's launch of Lanvin (Hearts) H&M has been an absolute frenzy. The collaboration's $19.95 sunglasses are even more exciting in real life. Love the shields, Alber.

Holiday Shine: Marc Jacobs Fall 2010 Campaign

2010-11-23T23:11:00.001-05:00

Playing Catch Up: Spring 2011

2010-09-21T11:14:00.001-04:00

On holiday last week, I missed the updates on the New York shows in their entirety, which means I'm leap years behind on my internet reading. Flashy will get their updates as I do -- and where better to start than Marc Jacobs.

[Photos: Style.com]

His Spring/Summer 2011 glossy runway show last week was devoted to 1970s retro splendor full-stop. And the sunglasses were no exception. The collection's oversized sunnies were brightly hued tortoise shells with drop-temple arms. (BTW "drop-temple" sunglasses' arms curve downward to meet the frame at the bottom of the lens. Like these Balenciagas.) Love.

Available Online: Alexa Chung for Madewell

2010-09-09T07:23:00.000-04:00

[Photo: Fashionising.com]

Congratulations to Alexa Chung, whose collection debuted today and is available for sale on Madewell's (newish) website. The Alexa Chung for Madewell collaboration is the British TV presenter/model/It Girl's first turn as a designer. But she's not exactly a novice, having served as the face of Lacoste fragrance, as a Chanel brand ambassador and as the inspiration for Mulberry's "Alexa" bag.

You should check out the collection sooner rather than later (even though it doesn't feature sunglasses), as its likely to sell out in short order. [Alexa Chung for Madewell]

And for good measure, I've included a shot (at left) of Alexa nailing the festival look at Glastonbury this summer in slightly cat-eye, vintage sunglasses.

Style.com Turns 10

2010-09-09T02:42:00.001-04:00

[Photo: Style.com]

In honor of their 10th anniversary, Style.com has compiled a few lists to commemorate the highlights of their first decade online. "The Top Ten It Accessories" is spot on: the Chanel 2.55, Louboutin platforms, Louis Vuitton's Murakami technicolor monogram purses.

The only sunglasses featured, Ray-Ban Wayfarers, have been undeniably influential. They've been seen on all the cool girls (Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, Sienna Miller) and have inspired countless designer interpretations (Karl Lagerfeld, Chloe, Stella McCartney). [And, of course, they made the flashyshades.com "Best of the 00s: A Decade in Shades retrospective.]

Well played, Style.com. Happy birthday and here's to many more!

A Note on Fashion Week

2010-09-08T21:58:00.000-04:00

I know, I know. The New York Fashion Week Spring 2011 shows start tomorrow. And I'm as excited as the next blogger. But I'm leaving for Rome tomorrow and won't be as devoted to the show pictures as I would normally be. Enjoy it, flashies.

Clearly: Translucent Sunglasses are Back

2010-09-04T08:35:00.003-04:00

Reminiscent of Balenciaga's "cybergoddess goggles", the New York Times this week sings the praises of clear sunnies in "Browsing - Translucent Sunglass Frames Are Hot".

"TRANSLUCENT sunglass frames make a perfect chic-geek statement."

I'd get the look by going the vintage route in Gucci 2103s seen at left. They're available on Amazon for $200.

Want: Tod's Eyewear

2010-08-30T12:09:00.000-04:00

These days I'm fully smitten with the pretty close to perfect Tod's eyewear collection. So I'm not surprised to see they caught the eye of Style.com's Style File blog earlier this summer. "Though its new optical line is just a season old, the collection picks up the same unfussy chic for which the brand is known."

You can't really go wrong with the Tod's 02s (at left). Want.

Everyday Awesome: Fabien Baron Eyewear

2010-08-28T02:55:00.000-04:00

In their "Ten Essentials" column, GQ asks men of style to reveal their, well, ten essential pieces, the everyday basic (or not so basic, as the case may be) items that shape their overall aesthetic.

This month, CFDA Swarovski Award winner Richard Chai's must-haves ran the gamut from No. 2 pencils to Rolex timepieces. Chai also included his "Frames for Every Occasion", Baron and Baron sunglasses, saying "Fabien Baron's a genius."

One would be hard pressed to disagree with his assessment. Fabien Baron Eyewear is known for its discrete (read: logo-free), hand-carved perfection of classic shapes. Says director Baron: "This is a collection that is bold in its simplicity."

If I was in the market for $375 awesomeness, I'd opt for the FB 011 aviators. Or, like Richard Chai, you can pick up "a few pairs—a pair of sunglasses as is, another pair with Transitions lenses, and then another with clear reading lenses."

Return of the Super: Amber Valletta for Jimmy Choo FW 2010

2010-08-24T23:37:00.003-04:00

Looking like Diane Kruger's older, less German sister, Amber Valletta fronts Jimmy Choo's FW 2010 campaign.

Arched: Prada FW 10

2010-08-24T23:04:00.006-04:00

Prada's FW 2010 campaign was front and center in my new Vogue and I was excited to see their "eyebrow" eyewear made the cut (on the left hand side).

Below, a peek back at their debut in the Prada Fall/Winter show held this February.

[Photo: Style.com]

The Dark Arts: Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford Campaigns

2010-08-19T00:57:00.007-04:00

The most interesting eyewear campaigns for Fall 2010, in my opinion, are Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford's. Both border on the macabre. And both are successfully awesome because of it.

Freja Beha is as pretty as ever as the face of the Tom Ford campaign, which was shot by the designer and inspired by the Hitchcock classic The Birds.

I like these shots quite a bit, but if I'm honest, I could do without the nipple-biting raven one. Ow.

The Alexander McQueen ads, starring only a human skull, are pitch perfect. Well played.

Athletic Supporters: Staple X Oakley

2010-08-18T20:48:00.005-04:00

In a move sure to make hipsters' eyewear dreams come true, Oakley has released two pairs of sunglasses from their collaboration with Jeff Staple, a graphic artist/branding expert/ultra-hip gallery owner (the Lower East Side's Reed Space). The Staple X Oakley Collection will consist of six pairs, each influenced by a particular sport with optics accessories.

The first two models are the Eyeshade (as shown at left) and Radar, inspired by tennis and golf respectively. The Eyeshades come complete with tennis ball fuzz, while the Radar's yellow lenses have a special coating to prevent virtually anything (sweat, pollen, etc.) from sticking.

The newly released models are available in limited numbers -- only 150 pairs worldwide -- at Reed Space and at some Oakley retailers.

The hyper-stylized collection will appeal to neon-loving athletes and non-athletes alike, but the New York Times' T Magazine insists they're still good enough for the pros: "the British Open golf champion, Louis Oosthuizen, won wearing the Staple x Oakley Radars."

For more pictures, check out The Freshness Mag's coverage.