A Tribute to Amy Winehouse
We were sad to learn of Amy Winehouse’s tragic death last weekend. She was a great talent and touched many people with her soulful, beautiful music. Although she’ll be remembered for her heaving drinking and substance abuse, she leaves behind a legacy of wonderful records. Amy was in the middle of recording her third album and if we’re to believe the press, these songs could be released posthumously, towards the end of the year. As well as her music, Amy Winehouse was well known for her individual style. With her numerous tattoos, bee hive hair and rockabilly style of dressing, Amy made brave fashion choices which added to her enormous appeal.
As a little tribute to the magnificent Miss Winehouse, we’ve compiled a few images of Amy rocking various pairs of sunglasses, as only she could!
Amy was a fan of colourful fashion and these red Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses were no exception. With her usual aplomb, Amy wore her Wayfarers with sass and attitude.
Kitsch and cool, Amy wore these pink heart shaped sunglasses regularly and they suited her original, playful style down to the ground!
These sunglasses are pretty tame for Amy. Similar to the classic Aviator sunglasses style, with slightly squarer lenses, nonetheless she managed to pull them off!
Poking fun at herself, in a magazine shoot Amy wore these quirky pink framed sunglasses, lending her a cartoonish quality.
RIP Amy Winehouse
Sunglasses Style Update – Spring 2010
With summer on the way, a pair of sunglasses provides the essential accessory to protect your eyes and ensure that you look super stylish. Whether you prefer your sunglasses to be chic, sophisticated, super glamorous, sporty, or perhaps a combination of each style, we definitely have something that will appeal. With a huge array of designer brands to choose from, you need look no further than Shade Station when finding your perfect pair of sunglasses.
Carrera sunglasses are going to be huge this summer and we have already seen both Lady Gaga and Alicia Keys rocking a pair of Carreras in their recent music videos. With celebrities such as Kanye West and Paris Hilton also working the Carrera sunglass look, these retro sporty inspired sunglasses with vibrant coloured and fresh toned frames are effortlessly cool, great for everyday chic and offer something a little alternative.
A new exciting brand just added to our list is Pucci sunglasses . This designer label is famous for its vibrantly printed scarves with beautiful swirly, psychedelic style patterns and the brand has now launched a sunglasses range. Capturing the key trend of colour, the collection comprises of some wonderfully glamorous oversized retro style sunglasses with the iconic boho style Pucci pattern as well as block colours including stunning aqua tones as well as feminine violet and purple. The detailing incorporated into the Pucci sunglasses is also striking.
Next up we have the ever stylish and faithful Police sunglasses brand which with their understated yet effortlessly cool range, you will never fail to look chic and stylish. Police shades have also added some new styles to their collection which include sleek wraparound sunglasses, classic style sunglasses with narrow frames and aviators and even some retro oversized styles with a sporty edge. Great sunglasses for both the guys and girls!
Fendi is also a hot designer brand to look out for and following the launch of the new Fendi Chef handbag, the luxury brand thought it only fair to launch a pair of Fendi sunglasses to match – perfect for every fashionista! There are some wonderfully dramatic but elegant Fendi oversized sunglass styles with pretty embellishments such as a small flower positioned on the frame making for a delicate touch. Perfect for channelling a high fashion and polished edge.
Who could forget Prada? The ultimate in glamour, Prada sunglasses have some incredibly styles for both men and women ranging from classically oversized to cool aviators and some new geek chic styles with narrow lenses and thick frames. The Prada butterfly sunglasses which are nipped in at the centre are still a huge must-have for this season and add definition and a unique edge to your look – perfect for something that little bit different. In an array of vibrant colours as well as classic tones such as black and brown, Prada sunglasses tick every style box.
Prada Sport sunglasses are also a new addition and offer something a little more sports orientated and great for everyday on-the-go chic with understated classic styles complete with the vibrant Prada Sport logo. Wraparound sunglasses, visor style sunglasses, geek chic style sunglasses (thick frames and narrow lenses) and aviator sunglasses are the hot designs to look out for and perfectly capture that summer chic look with a casual edge.
Ray-Ban sunglasses never fail to be a hot favourite and the style icons cannot get enough of the revamped and on-trend colourful Wayfarers which are constantly seen when the sun comes out (and even when it doesn’t!). This season, Ray-Ban have also launched Limited Edition Wayfarers which of course, are only available for a limited amount of time and are going to be a firm style favourite this summer an sure to be seen at the music festivals. One of the most classic of all the Ray-Ban’s and one of the first styles of sunglasses to be launched is the Aviator RB3025 sunglass which is still going strong and a classic that has been adapted to incorporate various lens and frame colours but retaining the original edge that makes it so popular and again, a favourite among the celebrities!
For something ultra dramatic, glamorous and show stopping look no further than BVLGARI sunglasses. These sunglasses are always regarded as on trend due to their high fashion appeal that never fails to attract attention. Regularly spotted on the most chic of style icons and celebrities BVLGARI sunglasses are the depiction of luxury fashion. With intricately designed hinge detailing, embellishments that often stretch down the length of the arm and the incorporation of exquisite colours the collection of oversized and visor style BVLGARI sunglasses are timeless accessories.
Tom Ford is the man of the moment in both movies and fashion and his collection of Tom Ford sunglasses are wonderfully chic and glamorous. One particular style that will definitely turn heads is the oversized Nico Sunglass style – these sunglasses are creatively designed with a triangular style frame but as this season is all about going bold and as fashion is about creating a statement then why not give them a try and assert your own unique high fashion style! Other styles include the more classic and slim framed oversized styles as well as some super chic new aviators which are timeless sunglass classics.
Lady Gaga shot to stardom in 2009 and she is now one of the most famous ladies in pop, also noted for her unusual but amazing sense of fashion. Whilst off stage Lady Gaga can often be spotted working the latest designer shades and she was recently featured on the front cover of V Magazine in a pair of MMJ112 Marc Jacobs peel-off style sunglasses! The MMJ112 sunglasses are an oversized retro style and look incredibly funky and stylish in hot seasonal colours. These are sure to be a favourite this spring/summer along with the other oversized and aviator Marc Jacobs sunglass styles.
The famous Oakley sunglass brand never fails to surprise and impress with its highly innovative and stylish range of sunglasses, perfect for every sporting need. Some of the new releases including the O Rokr and Split Thump incorporate added high tech features such as an MP3 player and Bluetooth so you can listen to your favourite tunes and keep in touch whilst on the go! The new Oakley Conduct frame is an amazingly slick visor style with Oakley’s unique High Definition Optics for precise visual clarity and a chic and bold aesthetic style. The Oakley M Frame sunglasses capture the futuristic style appeal and feature innovative M shaped lenses for function, style and comfort and the new Oakley Hinder sunglasses are an oversized style for ladies with that distinct Oakley attitude with a high trend edge. Oakley is always at the forefront of eyewear technology and the brand’s sunglasses never fail to look sleek and streamlined and convey that the wearer really means business!
Other hot brands to look out for include the classically sophisticated Chanel sunglasses in addition to Dior sunglasses, Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, Roberto Cavalli sunglasses, Gucci sunglasses and Armani sunglasses for a wide array of super glamorous sunglasses that make for the one faithful accessory that will remain stylish for seasons to come. D Squared sunglasses, Prada Sport sunglasses and Von Zipper sunglasses offer a fantastic range of sporty but cool sunglasses and are a hit among the extreme sport athletes and celebrities. For a classic touch of chic, look no further than Armani sunglasses, Roberto Cavalli sunglasses and for that injection of street style edginess, why not opt for a pair of innovatively designed Diesel sunglasses?
At Shade Station we are always on the lookout for the latest brands and styles and regularly update our sunglasses collections. Check out our style blog so you are up to speed with what’s hot and new in! Be sure to also check out our sales to get that sought after style at a fantastic price. Whatever style of sunglasses you opt for, or even if you are looking to try something new, we have all the latest and classic styles to ensure that we fulfil every sunglass style and function need.
Ray-Ban Sunglasses – The History of an Iconic Brand
Ray-Ban sunglasses are one of the most timelessly stylish sunglasses in the industry and never fail to look on trend. The brand is also the choice of many celebrities and fashion icons and the various styles are consistently making appearances at summer music festivals and high profile events.
So where did Ray-Ban begin? The brand certainly has a unique history and many young people who regard Ray-Ban as contemporary and bang on trend are often unaware that the company has existed since 1936. What prompted the design of the first pair of Ray-Bans was when General John MacCready permanently damaged his eyes on a high altitude balloon flight. He realised a specific type of eyewear protection was required for flights of this nature and thus in 1929, a pair of gold-coated Aviator style of sunglasses complete with anti-glare G15 lenses were created and Bausch and Lomb won the contract to work on producing a whole collection. In 1936, the first Ray Ban plastic Aviator style was launched to the public who quickly realised the high function was complimented by style appeal. Finally in 1937 a patent for the G15 lens was issued and the brand name Ray Ban was trademarked and officially launched.
The ultimate goal of these unique large curved glasses was to protect the eyes from every angle for optimal protection from the sun. In the 1940’s, Ray Ban was hired by the US Air Force to develop these glasses even further for use by air force pilots. The Aviator glasses soon became popular with the other branches of the US military as well and when General Douglas MacArthur was photographed landing on a beach in the Philippines during World War II, he was wearing a pair of Ray Bans.
It didn’t take long however for the flattering style of Ray-Ban sunglasses to come to the fashion forefront and the sunglasses steadily became the hot accessory to be seen in. In 1952, the iconic Wayfarer was launched which subsequently went on to become the world’s best selling type of sunglasses from any brand. Ray-Ban became the leading eyewear brand which has continued through to today.
Ray-Ban became incredibly p
opular and being featured on the silver screen only helped to create a further buzz. Since the early 1960’s, the collection has made numerous appearances in a wide selection of the world’s most iconic films. In 1961 the Wayfarer was seen on the ultra glamorous Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Other films whereby Ray-Ban’s have been featured include Donny Brasco, Reservoir Dogs, Risky Business, Blues Brothers and who could forget Tom Cruise’s famous Ray-Ban Aviators in Top Gun!
In addition to film, Ray Ban is also synonymous with the celebrity and fashion scene. Fans of the brand include Brad Pitt, Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, Nicole Ritchie, Sinenna Miller, Natalie Portman, Demi Moor and countless other A List stars. Where there is a great band or musician, it is also likely that there will often be a great pair of Ray-Ban’s to complete 
their look. Ray-Ban was particular popular at the time that Rock and Roll burst onto the scene and artists such as Madonna, Bob Dylan and David Bowie were often seen rocking out wearing their Wayfarers. More recently front men such as Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs) and Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream) have been spotted out and about or on tour wearing their Ray-Bans. Effortless thrown- together style is the look that many Indie or Rock bands go for and Ray-Bans definitely compliment this depicting the essence of a cool and retro inspired trend.
Music is hugely association with the Ray-Ban brand and the recent revamped Wayfarers which have retained their original style but added a splash of vibrant colour, have been a massive focal accessory at the recent iconic music festivals such as Glastonbury and V Festival and the fact that both the audience and the artists, musicians and bands were wearing them is testament that they are accessible to everyone and actually look fantastic on both men and women and also on a variety of face shapes.
In 2008, Ray-Ban launched Ray-Ban rooms whereby the brand makes appearances at the most popular music festivals and has designated spaces or ‘rooms’ on site whereby they host DJ sets and performances from cutting edge new bands as well as past icons and current favourites. Within this space they also use the opportunity to showcase their new styles. At the recent the Isle of Wight festival, presenters, actors, celebrities and bands or artists including Fearne Cotton, Nick Grimshaw, Jameela Jamil, Tim Burgess, Samantha Morton, The Prodigy, McFly, The Pixies and Razorlight were just a handful of people who made an appearance at the Ray-Ban rooms which took place in various themed locations on-site. The celebs and audience were also able to sneak a peek at the new Colorize collection. By collaborating with highly popular current events, it gets the brand seen and associated with some of the coolest and highly regarded in the entertainment industry. This initiative also allows people to interact on a dedicated online site to vote their favourite Ray-Ban style and favourite bands as well as being able to try on the new styles at the locations and find out a bit more about the brand and what it represents. Ray-Ban recognises that getting closer to the consumer helps to raise their profile and understand the wants and needs of their customers to design new styles accordingly.
What is also favourable about Ray Ban is the brand’s ability to consistently update their styles yet maintain that original retro appeal. The hot new styles recently launched include the Clubmaster which has been seen on numerous celebrities and incorporates a bold splash of colour to inject a contemporary edge. Featured in all the iconic fashion publications such as Elle Magazine, this is definitely a hot style to be seen in. High quality materials and the use of innovative technologies is incredibly high on Ray Ban’s agenda and the brand uses specific types of material to create its products which then undergo numerous amounts of testing to ensure quality and durability.
Polarised lenses are also a defining technical feature of Ray-Ban sunglasses which provide ultimate glare protection as well as incredibly sharp and precise vision. The use of carbon fibre also means that the sunglasses are lightweight, strong, durable, flexible and comfortable for all day wear. One hundred percent UV protection is also used on each pair of sunglasses.
Ultimately Ray-Ban has certainly come a long way since 1936 but despite keeping up with current trends and always placing themselves at the centre of the action, the brand has maintained its core values. Ray-Ban sunglasses today are one of the most stylish and trendy but in addition provide the best eye protection and durability which was the purpose of why they were originally designed. If you are looking for incredible style and the best function, Ray-Ban will certainly be top of the list for many more years to come.