Sunglasses and Eyewear

So if you are looking for a designer pair of sunglasses then this pair from Tom Ford might just be the perfect retro pair for you.

With thick rims reminiscent of Jackie O and a distinctly sixties-inspired shape, they’re a great statement pair.

1. Don’t rotate them upward so they’re sitting on top of your head. Instead take the protective case that came with your sunglasses and make sure it’s always in your briefcase or workbag. Get in the habit of using it.

2. No briefcase? If you’re wearing a suit or a jacket, put your sunglasses in your top inside pocket, with the lenses facing out for optimal protection. Stowing in any other pocket increases the risk of frame damage or lens scratching.

3. No jacket? Lay them on the table, lenses up. Admire them occasionally. Do not forget them when you get up to leave.

Saturday February 23, 2008
The Guardian

The Meaning of Sunglasses: A Guide to (Almost) All Things Fashionable
by Hadley Freeman
224pp, Viking, £15There is much to admire in Hadley Freeman’s A-Z of fashion, not least because of its sound good sense on such crucial matters as the uselessness of mittens, the horror of the polka dot when viewed through a hangover, and the unnecessary agonies of the stiletto heel.

She refrains from taking the sideswipes at feminists that have become de rigueur among many style writers, nor does she attempt to defend the more autocratic behaviours displayed by some of the emperors of fashion. Here, instead, is a wry - if a little repetitive - book that will make gently enjoyable reading for anyone wondering how best to clothe themselves for this new century.

Designer Shades
Marc Jacobs, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Guess?, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Fendi, Kenneth Cole, Vera Wang, Hugo Boss, Valentino. The list goes on and on.

Designer names are the mainstay of the clothing business, and nearly every notable designer name that you can associate with fashion has found its way into the sunglass business. Even some of the very high-end names, such as Chanel, Dior, and Prada, have recently gained attention by launching sunglass lines.

If you crave a fix for a designer name, then you have come to the right place — the sunglass market. For even if you can’t swing the cash for that Chanel suit, Armani dress, Fendi handbag, or Cartier necklace, you will find the price for their sunglasses much more palatable.

If you are looking for designer sunglasses but are unsure which name is right for you, be sure to shop at a variety of stores or one shop with a large selection so that you can try on styles from many different lines. Each designer has a certain image that he or she has created through clothing and accessory designs as well as through advertising and promotions.

Most optical shops, department stores and sunglass specialty stores will have materials in the sunglass section that portray the images of the designers’ lines they feature. You can also question the sales staff about the qualities of each designer.

Certainly the true test is in trying the frames on and finding what’s right for you. Some lines are more conservative, some are feminine, some are urban and cutting-edge, and some are simply but beautifully designed.

Typically, however, if you like the clothing styling from a designer you will also like their frames. Most designers maintain a large amount of control over the design, pricing and imaging of their sunglasses. This, even though the lines are produced under a license with an eyewear company that has great experience and knowledge in manufacturing and distributing eyewear. The result is a product that is right for that fashion designer and the designer’s loyal customers.

Celebrity Collections
In addition to the designer names on the market, there is also a variety of celebrities who have become involved in producing sunglasses.

Britney Spears, Lauren Hutton, Kathy Ireland, Sophia Loren, Cheryl Tiegs, Shari Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Linda Evans, Donald Trump, and even George Burns and Jerry Garcia all have sunglass lines. (Most also offer eyeglasses as well.) One of the newest collections was designed in cooperation with the international actress and singer Thalia.

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Each celebrity has an image created through movies, television shows and appearances, modeling, music performances and books he or she has written. The celebrity’s eyewear is typically consistent with this image. Some consumers choose to go this route when purchasing sunwear because they can identify better with a celebrity than with fashion designers or their products.

Jennifer Lopez is not just an actress and a performer, she’s also an astute businesswoman. She has commoditized the name by which she has become more famous – JLo – into consumer products, coming up with JLo lines of lingerie, perfume, apparel, and sunglasses. Of course, many people want the glamour of designer products without having to pay a high price for them. Thankfully, marked down items of high quality are available, such as discount JLo sunglasses.

Cheap sunglasses are a dime a dozen, and they can be found in any discount store, department store, street markets, and garage sales. But beware of the quality of such sunglasses; more often than not, they are nothing more than fragile frames with tinted lenses, to be used more for fashion than for function. Discount JLo sunglasses, while inexpensive, cannot be called cheap. Older models are marked down to make room for new models, but many of them are much more than just glamorous dress accessories.

For instance, the Selina Rhinestone Flower Sunglasses are whimsically designed crystal rhinestone flowers and thin metal stems. They are perfect for looking cool, but that’s not their only attraction. The solid tinted lenses offer 100 percent protection from ultraviolet radiation. The same can be said of the rhinestone-encrusted Allegra Sunglasses and the Alma Sunglasses. The lenses are also made from polycarbonate, which is scratchproof and shatter-resistant. They are a perfect mesh of function and style.

Some types of eyewear are in every way cheap sunglasses, both in looks and features. One thing that can be said of Jennifer Lopez’s signature eyepieces is that they were designed with the fashion-conscious consumer in mind. Some models have minute details that contribute to their glamour: small JLo logos etched on the frames, metal studs on the sides, among others. They are trendy and can be worn for just about any occasion.

Where to find these discount JLo sunglasses? They can be purchased virtually everywhere. Department stores like Macy’s carries them, as do optical shops and specialty stores that deal solely in eyewear. Most of them are available at a lower price during special sales and promotions. The Internet is also a good source of discount JLo sunglasses. Many sites offer various brands of discount sunglasses. They can also be found on Internet auction sites, either brand new or pre-owned.

However they are found and purchased, buyers can revel in the pleasure of owning a piece of eyewear that is inexpensive, yet has the cachet of being associated with a famous celebrity like Jennifer Lopez.

Golfers recognize the importance of good vision and visibility on the greens during a game, whether making a drive or just staying on the sidelines and watching the competition. We’ve seen golfers wearing sun visors to shield their eyes from bright sunlight and reduce glare, but these are often inadequate. Golf sunglasses fill the need for players to be able to see the golf course and everything in it clearly and with visual accuracy. Plus, they must look good, too!

Many golf sunglasses, just like other athletic eyewear, have polarized lenses. These have the effect of eliminating glare that is caused by light waves bouncing off surfaces. If you have ever found yourself squinting at the bright light reflected on water while fishing or on the hood of the car while driving, you’ve experienced the distracting phenomenon called glare. Some people even get headaches from it. Polarized lenses in sunglasses for golfers neutralize certain light waves, thus eliminating glare while keeping vision true.

Visual conditions can be affected by the position of the sun, whether it is high overhead or is on its way up or down. The color and types of lenses on sunglasses for golfers can help retain visual acuity and show true colors on the course. Some even enhance vision, showing each blade of grass in crisp detail and helping the ball stand out in a sea of green. So-called amber lenses (which are not really amber at all) act to screen blue light and enhance the color of the golf course.

Probably the most important aspect of wearing sunglasses in general and not just golf sunglasses is the protection they afford the eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. These rays from the sun have been proven to be one of the causes of not only skin cancer, but eye disorders as well. They contribute to more rapid aging of the eyes, resulting in diseases like photokeratitis, macular degeneration, and cataracts. This is why it is imperative to wear sunglasses that have 100% ultraviolet protection, even when the day is not that sunny. Just because the sun isn’t shining brightly doesn’t mean that ultraviolet rays are not present – they are.

Beginning golfers, expert golfers, and those in between have a plethora of golf sunglasses from which to choose. Many come in lightweight wraparound or conventional frames in various colors and designs and are of top-notch quality. Some of the more known brands that carry golf sunglasses are NYX, Oakley, and Bolle. They even offer prescription sunglasses for those who need them. Wearing sunglasses for golfers is a figurative hole-in-one in terms of eyesight for those individuals who frequent the greens.