Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunglasses in the Movie Wanted
Once again Angelina Jolie is busting caps and taking numbers in the new movie Wanted. This is perhaps her 7th role in which she is constantly shooting a gun, and I’ve heard it is just as “good” as the rest of them. Without spoiling the film, Wanted revolves around the stories of several underground hitmen, who have exceptional abilities with a gun, involving throwing “curve balls” with bullets. The main plot line involves involving and training “the one” who has the greatest skills of all of them, just as long as they can convince him of this. Heard of this plot before?
Angelina Jolie is of course the star of the movie Wanted. Sunglasses do not abound in this one, but there is one pair (pictured above) that I’ve been asked about. It is by Oliver Peoples and is called Strummer. I’ve seen pictures of Angelina with this on before, so I assume it is her own. If you want to pick this pair up you are going to need to part with about $350. Can I get some reviews on this movie?
Photo: Rotten Tomatoes
Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples
READ MORE!
Angelina Jolie is of course the star of the movie Wanted. Sunglasses do not abound in this one, but there is one pair (pictured above) that I’ve been asked about. It is by Oliver Peoples and is called Strummer. I’ve seen pictures of Angelina with this on before, so I assume it is her own. If you want to pick this pair up you are going to need to part with about $350. Can I get some reviews on this movie?
Photo: Rotten Tomatoes
Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples
8:37 AM View Comments
Friday, June 27, 2008
Review: Giro Havik
Giro, well known for their cycling helmets, have made great inroads into the sports sunglasses market with their first four styles, which were released last year. The glasses were designed with riders in mind, and all fit nicely with helmets, or so I’ve read.
The model I tested is called Havik, and it is certainly the sportiest of the four model set Giro has available right now. Giro got lucky (is it luck?) last year as almost immediately after the release of their sunglasses, Alberto Contador won the Tour De France, boldly sporting his new Giro sunglasses. It seems as though they’ve been doing well since then, as lots of people are writing about them and there is a bit of a buzz.
Feeding into the buzz and worthy of special mention is their relationship with Carl Zeiss, perhaps the world’s most well respected maker of lenses for all uses. Zeiss is relatively new in sunglasses, with only a few brands (I counted only 6 on the website) having the privilege of using their premium lenses. The pair of Havik I own do have these lenses. Take a look at the pair:
My Bad Camera Photo
From Giro Website
Frames: The frames are made of a TR-90 plastic, so are really flexible. The shape is 7-base, which still manages to fit my fat head quite nicely. On the inside of the arms are rubber pads which hold them in place, even when I shake my head violently.
Features: The most outstanding feature of Havik is without a doubt the Carl Zeiss lenses. The optical quality of them is almost unsurpassed. I don’t actually know if there is anyone competing at their level right now. When you place the sunglasses on your head, you immediately notice that there is no optical distortion in your field of vision, which is common with cheaper brands. When it is really bad, you can see waves in your vision, where the polycarbonate is uneven or not smooth. No problems here.
Testing: I wore these sunglasses several different times and in different situations. Firstly, I wore them doing what they are designed for, cycling. They were very snug and secure at all times, even when sweating and concentrating on the road ahead of me. The rubber on the arms grip really well, and I never worried about them falling off. Secondly, I wore them running, and they were perfect for that as well. Havik is reasonably lightweight, so they become hardly noticeable after your eyes are used to the brown lens.
Packaging: They came with a micro-fibre bag.
Cost: Havik retails for $140 - $170. The model I have is $170.
Conclusion: For professional quality and durability, Havik are really excellent. The Zeiss lenses are excellent for optical clarity, and I’ve read that their impact resistance goes beyond American and European standards. As for negatives, the most outstanding thing was the lack of a hard case. If I’m paying $170 for sunglasses, I don’t want to break them, and this is prevented with a case. For me, this is a big negative, cause that means I still have to go out and buy one. Overall, I would recommend this pair for any cyclist looking for an upper-class professional pair of sunglasses. Optically, they are unmatched and their fitting is simply excellent. I mean, this is a cyclist’s pair of shades, no question.
Rating: 8.822
Photo/Website: www.giro.com
READ MORE!
The model I tested is called Havik, and it is certainly the sportiest of the four model set Giro has available right now. Giro got lucky (is it luck?) last year as almost immediately after the release of their sunglasses, Alberto Contador won the Tour De France, boldly sporting his new Giro sunglasses. It seems as though they’ve been doing well since then, as lots of people are writing about them and there is a bit of a buzz.
Feeding into the buzz and worthy of special mention is their relationship with Carl Zeiss, perhaps the world’s most well respected maker of lenses for all uses. Zeiss is relatively new in sunglasses, with only a few brands (I counted only 6 on the website) having the privilege of using their premium lenses. The pair of Havik I own do have these lenses. Take a look at the pair:
My Bad Camera Photo
From Giro WebsiteFrames: The frames are made of a TR-90 plastic, so are really flexible. The shape is 7-base, which still manages to fit my fat head quite nicely. On the inside of the arms are rubber pads which hold them in place, even when I shake my head violently.
Features: The most outstanding feature of Havik is without a doubt the Carl Zeiss lenses. The optical quality of them is almost unsurpassed. I don’t actually know if there is anyone competing at their level right now. When you place the sunglasses on your head, you immediately notice that there is no optical distortion in your field of vision, which is common with cheaper brands. When it is really bad, you can see waves in your vision, where the polycarbonate is uneven or not smooth. No problems here.
Testing: I wore these sunglasses several different times and in different situations. Firstly, I wore them doing what they are designed for, cycling. They were very snug and secure at all times, even when sweating and concentrating on the road ahead of me. The rubber on the arms grip really well, and I never worried about them falling off. Secondly, I wore them running, and they were perfect for that as well. Havik is reasonably lightweight, so they become hardly noticeable after your eyes are used to the brown lens.
Packaging: They came with a micro-fibre bag.
Cost: Havik retails for $140 - $170. The model I have is $170.
Conclusion: For professional quality and durability, Havik are really excellent. The Zeiss lenses are excellent for optical clarity, and I’ve read that their impact resistance goes beyond American and European standards. As for negatives, the most outstanding thing was the lack of a hard case. If I’m paying $170 for sunglasses, I don’t want to break them, and this is prevented with a case. For me, this is a big negative, cause that means I still have to go out and buy one. Overall, I would recommend this pair for any cyclist looking for an upper-class professional pair of sunglasses. Optically, they are unmatched and their fitting is simply excellent. I mean, this is a cyclist’s pair of shades, no question.
Rating: 8.822
Photo/Website: www.giro.com
7:36 AM View Comments
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Worlds Most Expensive Sunglasses?
In fashion many things can get taken to excess, and sometimes it seems like prices are made up by giving a monkey a calculator and asking him to, “think freely”. The range in prices for sunglasses, like so many other accessories, is incredible, and the range in quality is just the same. You would think that somewhere along the line, someone will draw the line in pricing. A few of the most expensive brands charge the prices they do because they can, and others do because being the most expensive gives you exclusivity.
This exclusivity is reached in what I imagine is currently the most expensive pair of sunglasses, made by Luxuriator. The model is called Style 23, and is currently retailing for $65,000 US. It includes 18K yellow gold, ivory buffalo horn temples (are those legal?) and 132 hand cut diamonds with a total carat weight of 3.45. Wow. Don’t suppose they will send me a pair for research.
What could you get for $65,000 these days? A few things come to mind: A house (in Thailand maybe), a really nice car, a cryogenic freezing package (short term), or about 540 pairs of Ray-Ban wayfarers.
Source: Luxuriator
READ MORE!
This exclusivity is reached in what I imagine is currently the most expensive pair of sunglasses, made by Luxuriator. The model is called Style 23, and is currently retailing for $65,000 US. It includes 18K yellow gold, ivory buffalo horn temples (are those legal?) and 132 hand cut diamonds with a total carat weight of 3.45. Wow. Don’t suppose they will send me a pair for research. What could you get for $65,000 these days? A few things come to mind: A house (in Thailand maybe), a really nice car, a cryogenic freezing package (short term), or about 540 pairs of Ray-Ban wayfarers.
Source: Luxuriator
7:26 AM View Comments
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Be the Follower You Are - RayBan Wayfarer Sunglasses
From Corey Hart in the 80’s, to Mary-Kate Olsen today, and sadly including the pasty-white guy you saw trying to dance to Soulja Boy at the bar last week, everyone seems to be loving Ray Ban Wayfarers again this year.
What’s so great about this style is that it looks good on most people, men or women, and is very stylish. It can morph from upper class to street nerd by just changing faces. After RayBan’s patent on the model expired, a plethora of companies have copied it, and even the high-end fashion brands have their own version of it. If you are thinking of getting a fashionable pair of shades at a decent price, you really cannot go wrong with Wayfarers. This year the most popular colors I’ve seen are white and turquoise. So stop thinking about it and just get on the bandwagon.
READ MORE!
The Wayfarers are perhaps the most classic and timeless sunglass style to be found, with aviators being a very close second. The list of people that have made this style cool to wear is a bizarre and long one, and perhaps the only list that all of these people would be found on together (Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Tom Cruise, Corey Hart, Dan Ackroyd!). Perhaps the first star to make them big were Audrey Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in what is maybe the classiest photo I’ve ever seen.
What’s so great about this style is that it looks good on most people, men or women, and is very stylish. It can morph from upper class to street nerd by just changing faces. After RayBan’s patent on the model expired, a plethora of companies have copied it, and even the high-end fashion brands have their own version of it. If you are thinking of getting a fashionable pair of shades at a decent price, you really cannot go wrong with Wayfarers. This year the most popular colors I’ve seen are white and turquoise. So stop thinking about it and just get on the bandwagon.Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
5:37 AM View Comments
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunglasses in the Movie Hancock
Sometime probably about three years ago, a bunch of marketing wizards in suits decided that it would be original to remake the “modern” superhero into a toque-wearing alcoholic homeless guy, and Hancock is the spawn of this idea. It will hit theatres in the next few weeks (despite the premiere being put back) and there is some hype around it. I must say that I feel like I know the whole plot of the movie after having seen the trailer and I’ll break it down like this: Will Smith saves the day, again. Or how about four steps: Will Smith is an idiot, goes through some kind of life challenging experience, becomes a better superperson and then saves the day.
Christian Dior Sunglasses Mist 1/S
READ MORE!
The glasses featured in the poster that is plastered all over this globe are Dior Mist Black. Odd that a homeless guy would choose to wear Dior sunglasses, or that a superhero would even need them. Forgive my cynicism, but I’m usually not a fan of action movies and I’m not buying into this. Are a lot of people planning on see this? If you have, what do you think?
Available at Frames Direct:
Christian Dior Sunglasses Mist 1/S
7:23 AM View Comments
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Trainer Spotter's Vintage Look
If you don’t think the eighties are back, you are either denying it out of fear of a complete eighties revival (God be with us), or you just haven’t seen the remake video of Utah Saints’ song Something Good Coming. Vintage is back in every way, and this is even more so with sunglasses as wearing a pair of vintage looking aviators is a lot easier to pull off then a neon purple and green polyester waterproof jacket. Even you can do it. I came across a brand I had never heard of the other day called Trainer Spotter, and they have the vintage thing in control. Take a look at a few pairs of shades they have available now.
At £25 a pair, it’s a pretty good deal. Available in neon colors. Check out the website link below.
Source: www.trainerspotter.com
READ MORE!
These styles are a lot like the Carrera/Boeing styles of the 80’s and are cut differently than your average aviator. The lenses are more of a teardrop shape than rounded. At first glance, they look like something Tom Selleck or Hasselhof would wear (the top pair actually being inspired by Night Rider). Thankfully, wearing these won’t make you look like those two. These are street fashion in its purest form.
At £25 a pair, it’s a pretty good deal. Available in neon colors. Check out the website link below.
Source: www.trainerspotter.com
12:02 AM View Comments
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Renting Sunglasses
Believe it or not, there are several places where you can rent sunglasses online. I’ve never seen any actual stores that rent out shades, but there are a few popular online sites for renting designer goods which have now made eyewear available, the most popular being Borrow Bag or Steal. They have many different bags, earrings and belts available, but now even sunglasses!
I really have a hard time seeing how this would be popular, even in the most extreme cases. The rental fees are anywhere from $65 to over $166 if you are not a member, and that is just for one month. Of course the rental fee depends on which pair you want, but at $170 to rent a pair of sunglasses that retail for $250 (one example), it’s hard to justify spending that much.
Paying for insurance is up to you, but that might be a good idea (you scratch it, you bought it), as they could call you on any small imperfection as being your fault and charge you the full price, plus what you’ve already paid for rental.
I don't think I would do this. What do think of the idea?
Source: Bag Borrow or Steal
5:47 AM View Comments
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)