Jessica Alba on Sunglasses: "I never felt right in small ones."

ubbing her "The Newcomer," People included Jessica Alba in its ranks of Hollywood's Best Dressed.


Ms. Alba granted a brief interview to the magazine to categorize her style. On oversized sunglasses, she stated:

"Big sunglasses have always been my style. Back when I was a skater kid from the Valley, I would wear Arnette sunglasses and look like I had big fly eyes. My grandma wore big sunglasses, and I always thought I wanted to look like her. Bigger is better. And you can go without makeup! That's why I wear them now."

[Source: People]

The single page spread, which hit newsstands on the 15th, offered several photos of Ms. Alba in oversized shades, including the Dior Aviadior 1 pair seen below.


[Source: GossipRocks]

Her use of a disposable camera is rather endearing, no?


Cost: $136-$149
Colors: Tortoise, Black, White, Dark Burgundy
Retailer: Otticanet.com

Get That Man Some Shades!

nd perhaps a side order of Methadone.

Pete Doherty and Kate Moss were photographed arriving in Dublin on Monday of this week. Though his blouse is lovely, I wish dear Kate would suggest he don some concealing shades.


[Source: People]

For Mr. Doherty, I suggest a pair of shades by Alexander McQueen, a friend of Ms. Moss' who has been tagged "the hooligan of English fashion". It seems a good fit. [Source: Wikipedia]

Might I recommend the AMQ 4024 S model?
Cost: $160-$164
Color: Dark Grey, Brown, Pink
Retailer: Otticanet

That Gwen Knows Her Flash

here are times when this almost seems too easy. Identifying Gwen Stefani's latest sunglasses was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Ms. Stefani has been captured wearing these YSL 6121 S on several occasions this past week.

[Source: People]


To let the world know you're down with Yves:
Cost: $144
Colors: Black, Brown, Pink, Dark Havana (the tortoise color at left; my favorite)
Retailer: Otticanet

Lindsay Takes Her MJ's Out For a Spin

ood old Lindsay Lohan (cast and all) was photographed going about her business Saturday. Her business being flashy shades, it seems.


While aviators are often disarmingly similar, the tell-tale MJ was visible in one of the photos, revealing Ms. Lohan's pair to be the MJ 016/S model.


[Source: GossipRocks]

Get your own:
Cost: $151
Colors: Silver, Black, Gold, Brown (as seen on Ms. Lohan), Blue
Retailer: Otticanet

Angelina Jolie for Asia's Shiseido Shades

mages of Shiseido's Asia sunglasses advertisement campaign surfaced this week on the internet. The face of their shades line: Angelina Jolie.

How very pouty! Ms. Jolie is also the face of their cosmetics collection. Its campaigns like this that make me wish I lived overseas.

[Source: Waleg.com]

Their website does not currently offer information on their shades collection, but I'm sure we'll be seeing more of it soon.

All Moss, All the Time

n Wednesday, speculation was confirmed when it was announced that Kate Moss would, in fact, be designed a clothing line for UK-based TopShop. How excellent.

Earlier in the week, Ms. Moss put in some front-row time at the TopShop show along with Sir Philip Green, TopShop's owner, and his family.

[Source: Getty Images]

To make like the billionaire's wife, try Diorly Logo Wrap Sunglasses:

Cost: $330
Colors: Brown Gradient, Grey Gradient
Retailer: Neiman Marcus

Kate Moss' Reign as The Coolest Continues

ith the ink on her TopShop design contract still fresh, Kate Moss steps out in London donning some tasty flash.

Photographed on Tuesday, Ms. Moss looked quite fit in her cropped (non-skinny) pants, black flats, and Marc Jacobs "Lola 2" (023/S) sunglasses. My lady crush lives on.

[Source: GossipRocks]

To emulate Kate before her line hits TopShops worldwide:
Cost: $185-$197
Colors: Black, Pink, Turquoise, Coral, Tortoise
Retailer: Otticanet.com

Avril Covers Nylon

have been remiss in my blogging duties and am long overdue in drawing attention to Avril Lavigne's spread in Nylon. I better get on that before Kirsten Dunst graces its cover in short time.

Ms. Lavigne's profile, titled Happily Ever Avril, included several full page photos, including the covergirl in an over the top pair of John Galliano-designed Christian Dior shades, which she took a shine to.

[Source: HollywoodTuna]

Nylon's "Under Cover" section gave a behind the scenes glimpse into Avril's photoshoot and sense of style. They reported:

"Lavigne, who was adamant from the get-go about not looking too girly, was thrilled with all of the clothes, and spent extra time admiring Chanel's equisite black mini-dress and a pair of oversized bedazzled Dior sunglasses."

[Source: Nylon]


The sunglasses were originally shown at Christian Dior's Fall 2006 Ready-to-Wear runway show. Far left, the flash on the runway. Left, the designer himself, John Galliano.

See that show in its entirety here on style.com.




Frankly, I don't care if Avril likes them; I don't get them. Can you see out of them? Or is your vision Swarovski-obstructed? I couldn't find them on the web, but truth be told, I wasn't looking that hard. I don't want you to buy them!

But I will recommend another pair of Christian Diors that recently graced a starlet's face. Yesterday, People.com posted this shot of Kate Bosworth here in New York City. [Source: People.com]

Seen once before here on Flashy Shades (See: J'Adore Paris), they are Dior Homme Black Tie 39S:

Cost: $149
Color: Black/Grey (as seen on Ms. Bosworth), Brown/Grey, Black/Pink, Black/Yellow (as seen on Ms. Hilton), Red/White, Blue/Red, White/Red and Black/Grey
Retailer: otticanet.com

Personally, I like the Blue/Red model, but none of the colors (not even Paris' hot yellow) is a bad option.

Anne Hathaway Wears Bvlgari

ittle Annie Hathaway has a boyfriend. His name is Raffaello Follieri and like any self-respecting Italian, he wears dashing shades.

Anne is no schlep either. Below, she and Raffaello take to the streets of SoHo in their respective flash.


[Source: GossipRocks]

On Her: Bvlgari Parenthesis Sunglasses Model 860
Cost: $300
Colors: Black, Tortoise
Retailer: Bergdorf Goodman

The same design with Swarovski highlights is available on SunglassHut.com.

Bvlgari is a cool sunglasses purveyor, as their designs are inspired by their jewelry line. Love that brand extension.

Now, if we could just get a little closer to his shades, eh?

Snooze

am horrorstricken at what passes as paparazzi-worthy these days. On Monday, Sharon Stone went to lunch at The Ivy. This was tabloid material.



I am so over everything about these pictures. Sharon Stone? Puke. Horsebits? Sorry, Gucci, we're ready for something new. Botox? Are we honestly to believe that the possessor of those neck wrinkle-rolls has nary a laughline on her forehead? Please don't insult us. And take those pink shades (Gucci 2900/S) elsewhere.

[Source: GossipRocks]

Cost: $192-$204
Colors: Brown, Red (as seen on Ms. Stone), White, Black with Gold (slightly less offensive), Black with Grey lenses
Retailer: SunglassesItaly.com



I guess I shouldn't expect good shades judgment from someone who thought Basic Instinct 2 was a good idea.

Karen Walker's Eyewear Debut

ast week: Karen Walker took her eponymous line to the New York runway shows for the first time. This week: Her eyewear collection premiered in her native country, New Zealand.




Her inspiration for the collection was the eyewear of 1970s dictators. A different theme, I like it.

The collection features uniformly oversized lenses, typically encased in large, dark plastic frames. A pair of large aviators is also offered.

Ms. Walker's premier collection is modern and quite fun; one of my favorites is pictured at right.

Thread, a New Zealand-based fashion magazine, covered the launch party and had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Walker:

"The campaign, shot by Derek Henderson and styled by top fashion stylist Rachael Churchward, shows models posing as dictators in Walker's shades in a cheeky take on world politics. 'I’ve always been amused by that South American and African dictator look and how the size of their eyewear always seems to have some sort of correlation to the size of their power, perceived or real.'"

[Source: Thread]

Ms. Walker's launch party also included a photo call for guests to model the sunglasses on stage as the 1970s dictators behind some evening news-style mics. You can check out the results here. The entire collection is visible on her official eyewear website.

The New Zealand Herald also covered the launch party and interviewed the designer, who shared her enthusiasm for the line and some insights into the latest sunglasses trends:

New Zealand Herald: What was the inspiration for this range of sunglasses compared to last year's range?

Karen Walker: We really looked to the dictators and revolutionaries of the 60s and 70s... strong, classic, very masculine shapes, moving on from the round, soft feminine shapes of last season. These are quite angular.

NZH: What's your favourite style in the new range?

KW: Very hard to say. I couldn't give you my favourite, I've got about four pairs of them! I can't make up my mind. It's quite fun, I have different ones for different moods.

[Source: NZHerald]

The coverage went on to report:

[The] guests loved the glasses so much some discreetly disappeared.

[Source: NZHerald]

I applaud your flashy shades, Ms. Walker, and look forward to seeing them in stores.

Jennifer Garner Wearing the Sunglasses I Want.

ennifer Garner took her Bentley for a spin on Saturday in Santa Monica.


She was wearing the Gucci 1536 model I have been meaning to get forever! That jerk!


[Source: GossipRocks]

Cost: $162-$172
Colors: Black/Grey, Havana/Brown, Brown/Brown, Cherry/Grey, Green Opal/Grey (as seen at left)
Retailer: Where else? Otticanet.com

She has them. I don't. I'm upset.

Flashy Sunglasses at LAX (The Airport, Not the Club)

slew of celebrities were photographed this week at LAX going about their air travels this week.

1. Alessandra Ambrosio in Dior

Last Sunday, Victoria Secret model and smoker Alessandra Ambrosio was photographed sharing a cigarette outside of Los Angeles International Airport with celebrity ex-boyfriend DJ AM.


[Source: GossipRocks]

She was wearing Christian Dior's Cannage 1 Sunglasses:
Cost: $164-$179
Colors: Bordeaux with Red, Havana with Bronze, White with Pink, Brown with Orange (as seen on Alessandra), Black with Grey, Black with Pink
Retailer: Otticanet.com

I didn't really know anything about Alessandra, so a quick Google search yielded her official site, where she listed sunglasses as one of her passions.

No way, Alessandra. Me too! At right are some of the shades pictures she included on the site.

Nice flashy shades.

2. Denise Richards in Chanel

The previous day, Denise Richards arrived at LAX flaunting her gorgeous hair and questionable taste in men.



They're Chanel obviously.

I got bored looking at interlocking C's and pictures of Selma Blair figuring out which model they are.
[Source: GossipRocks]

3. Carmen Electra in Tom Ford

On Wednesday, Carmen Electra returned to Los Angeles wearing the same Tom Ford shades she sported to lunch at Mr. Chow's earlier this month. [See 9/6/06 Carmen Electra at L.A.'s Mr. Chow]

I really like seeing celebrities wearing their shades on a regular basis. Its humanizing; it lets me know that Carmen is quite taken with these Tom Fords.

[Source: GossipRocks]



Ms. Electra's shades:
Cost: $329-$360
Color: Shiny Black with Smoke Grey lenses
Retailer: aclens.com, Bergdorf Goodman


She was returning from New York's Fashion Week, where she modeled in the Imitation of Christ show and became fodder for The New York Times:

"When did Carmen Electra (nee Tara Patrick) start occupying the front-row seats once reserved for people who had highly developed ideas about kick pleats and the cut of a sleeve?

'At one time I wasn’t into it,' Ms. Electra explained before the Diane Von Furstenberg show on Sunday. 'I was about sexiness.' By now any self-respecting Pussycat Doll knows what happens to those who fail to keep up with fashion. They turn up as pictorial one-liners in the Star.

'You have to be into fashion,' said Ms. Electra."

[Source: NYTimes]

Tara Patrick! Haaaaha.

VALENTINO: XTina Abroad; Stefani & Child Stateside

arlier this week, Christina Aguilera was photographed in the United Kingdom, where her European tour will kick off in mid-November.


She and her husband, Jordan Something, were captured leaving London's private members' club, Home House. Though her luggage and trucker hat (really, Christina? Trucker hat?) were Louis Vuitton, her shades were all Valentino. See below.


[Source: GossipRocks]



For 100% UVA/UVB/Made in Italy splendor, try these Valentino Grommet Shield Sunglasses, 5434 at home:

Cost: $240
Color: Shiny Black with Grey Lenses (as on XTina); Brown with Bronze Lenses (at right)
Retailer: Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman
ON SALE ONLINE: $133 at Otticanet.com. They have way more color options too, including Dark Grey, Dark Violet and Green. Sweetness.
SunglassesItaly.com has them for $226.



Earlier this month, I was perplexed by Gwen Stefani's flashy gold sunglasses that she was photographed wearing on several occasions. Were they a prototype of her own design? (L.A.M.B.'s website currently does not offer any sunglasses.) Did she pick up a rare vinage pair with her Don't Speak royalties a decade ago?

[Source: GossipRocks]

But, then it struck me: I had seen those jeweled arms before! The answer had been on my own site this whole time! Blast!
[See: 8/7/06 e-Valentino]

They are Valentino 5453:
Cost: $340
Colors: Ruthenium; Ruthenium Black; Gold-tone (as on Gwen)
Retailer: Neiman Marcus
ON SALE ONLINE: $233-$262 at Otticanet.com Once again, Ottica has more color choices.
SunglassesItaly.com has them for $317.
Italian sunglasses websites are the jam.


The internet is a wonderful place! Enjoy your Valentinos, ladies.

Fashion Week! His Shades [Spring 2007]

y word! Fashion Week is nearly over and I have yet to begin documenting the Spring 2007 sunglasses!

Let's begin with the guys.

1. Lanvin

At the Lanvin show, muted colors were all the rage on suits and Hammeresque pants. Clothes schmoes. Their eyewear designers seemed to exhibit environmental concerns, as they were obviously (and perhaps overly) influenced by An Inconvenient Truth. Or that is my explanation for their excessive eye protection.

2. Givenchy

In their runway show this week, Givenchy showed a modern, masculine take on cat-eye frames, a sprinkling of white shades, and a few pitch-black mirrored lenses.

Their collection of mens sunglasses was, in my opinion, one of the strongest.

I liked their mod suits, too.

3. Yves St. Laurent

Eh. More muted palette. Less sunglasses.

4. Dries Van Noten

White sunglasses on dudes? In April?

I don't know, Dries.

5. Dior Homme

Do I hate it? Do I love it?

I just don't even care, Hedi Slimane.

6. Louis Vuitton

Nice job, Pharrell!

My only complaint is that there could be a stronger sunglasses presence. I do love the runway's background print, though.

7. John Galliano

The overall "look" here is very caveman meets Ibiza rave chic. Ha.

The sunglasses? They were small. Boo.

8. D & G

D&G's Spring 2007 collection was the lovechild of American Eagle and American Indians. They omitted shirts for their male models and instead sent each and every one of them down the runway in some just-the-right-amount-of-funky shades.

I loved it. I want to buy them. I'm getting choked up just typing about it.

9. Gucci

Another confidence-inspiring show from Gucci. These are the shades I'd wear if I was a guy. Maybe I'd wear them anyway.

10. Etro

Ugh. I am offended. Is no one else offended? This is eyewear for inside a tanning bed.
Be gone, Whig Party.

11. Giorgio Armani

Basic black. No objections here.

12. Dolce & Gabbana

Nice, crisp uniform look. True to form, this collection exhibited more maturity than the D&G line, I like.













[Source: NYMag; They have tremendous coverage of fashion week. Create your own album like Tim Gunn, Tinsley Mortimer, Melania Trump and I did.]