Fashion Week Autumn 2011
September is all about fashion. With ‘fashion week’ making it’s way around the globe, the start of Autumn offers the public a sneak preview of the trends that will be gripping us in Spring / Summer 2012.
Fashion Week begins in New York on the 8th September 2011 where designers synonymous with the Big Apple, like Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Michael Kors will take to the catwalk. The following week it’s London Fashion Week. In the grand setting of Somerset House, Vivianne Westwood, PPQ, Mulberry and other great names in British Fashion, will share their vision for the fashion landscape in 2012. Next up is Milan, with Italian stalwarts like Prada, Gucci and Armani dazzling an international audience with their high fashion jinx. Fashion Week then makes it’s way to the French capital of Paris, where designers such as Dior, Celine and Chanel will wow the packed aisles with their spectacular threads. Tokyo and LA are on the schedule for Fashion Week this Autumn, however the ‘big four’ remain – New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Now’s the time to book your tickets for the various shows and start thinking about your outfit choices! Shade Station is here to help ensure you accessorise for the occasion! With our fabulous selection of cutting edge jewellery, beautiful watches and designer sunglasses, you’ll be spoiled for choice and undoubtedly the best accessorised bod at Fashion Week!
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Shade Station Summer Photoshoot!
Here at Shade Station, we’re already preparing for the summer season and recently held an exciting photoshoot showcasing an array of some of the hottest sunglasses and watches that are either available to buy now or will be in stock over the next month. The photos will be up on the site soon, but we thought we’d show you a sneak peek at some of the images and the designs to look forward to this summer!
We had two models who did a superb job of making our sunglasses and watches look effortlessly stylish! First we had Marcus, who aside from being a model is also in the band The Council, and Erica who beautifully modelled a wide selection of looks ranging from Hollywood glamour inspired to boho chic.
The brands appearing in the shoot included Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Prada, Gucci, Adidas, Diesel, DKNY and Chanel to name only a few and the creative themes we selected were perfect to represent a cool and laid-back summer vibe!
The key sunglass styles to look out for this season definitely include oversized designs (for both men and women) as seen within the Tom Ford, BVLGARI, Dior and Oliver Peoples collections, sporty, as demonstrated in the Carrera, Dragon and Oakley ranges and colourful and retro – including Ray-Ban, Jee Vice, Pucci and Marc by Marc Jacobs. For watches, you still can’t go wrong with glitzy and glamorous using Guess watches and Juicy Couture watches as the perfect 
examples, and also for the ladies, androgynous watches are a hot look, as seen in the collection of Fossil watches.
You’ll definitely be able to get a feel for the looks and trends when the pictures go live on our site but meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at what’s to come this summer!
Exquisite and Elegant Chanel Sunglasses
Chic and Luxurious Chanel Sunglasses
It doesn’t get more luxurious and exquisite than Chanel! Though we’re still in the colder season, the collection of Chanel sunglasses, created by Karl Lagerfeld make the perfect winter accessory, protecting the eyes from the sun whilst also looking beautifully striking, show-stopping and chic.
There are some incredible new styles to look out for this season, all of which ooze the classic and elegant Chanel appeal whilst also boasting feminine and pretty detailing. The new CH5192 Chanel sunglasses are an ultra contemporary design by the iconic designer brand, featuring an oversized frame but one that isn’t too dramatically large and will suit a number of faceshapes. The striking feature can be seen upon the ornate hinge and the classic Chanel lettering logo is also displayed on the arms.
A further new style just added to the Chanel collection is the CH5185 design. The elegant frame is subtly oversized and also features a slight cat-eye finish. The arms also incorporate a textured metal section and display the distinctive double C Chanel logo on the hinge. This style is perfect if you like your sunglasses to be versatile but still with the luxurious Chanel appeal!
For a design that just screams Chanel, the new CH5171 sunglasses are the perfect choice! With a thick oversized frame and slim arms, the prominent feature can be seen on the hinge where there is a beautiful Chanel ribbon with the intertwining double C Chanel logo. This is a classic Chanel style with subtle yet striking detailing that immediately makes the sunglasses recognisable to the brand.
A pair of Chanel sunglasses will make a timeless accessory investment and never fail to add a sophisticated touch to any look, making every lady feel elegant, chic and ‘dressed up’. Chanel is one of the most iconic designer brands of all time and style setters such as the Olsen twins, Nicole Ritchie and Rihanna have all been spotted wearing a pair of the brand’s sunglasses. Definitely a must-have for every fashionista!
Festival Sunglasses Trends 2010
Summer is officially here, the sun is shining and we couldn’t be happier! With the warmer months comes the usual smorgasbord of amazing festivals to get your hedonistic thrills at. Whether you enjoy moshing at ‘Download’, country pursuits at ‘The Green Man’, teenage kicks at ‘V Festival’, fancy dress at ‘Bestival’, glamour at newbie ‘Vintage at Goodwood’ or the mystic of ‘Glastonbury’, you must ensure you’re dressed for the occasion.
Festivals, fashionable summer gear and cool sunglasses all go hand in hand. Maybe it’s the influence of Gaga or perhaps Dita Von Teese, but this summer is all about kooky and vintage. With styles from the Fifties and Sixties making a comeback, we predict this year’s festivals to be awash with vintage shaped sunglasses in a cat’s eye style or small round frames, oversized sunglasses in reds, greens and brown and retro-looking shades.
The festival season kicked off with April’s Coachella Festival in California, where a host of celebrities dazzled with their fashionable threads and on-trend sunglasses. Kelly Osborne was spotted wearing small round framed lilac sunglasses, Katy Perry went retro in angular black frames with a bold white stripe across the top, Dita Von Teese personified Fifties elegance in oversized brown sunglasses with graduated lenses and Kate Bosworth dressed to impress in classic Ray Ban Aviators.
Aviators and Wayfarers from Ray Ban transcend fashion and will always be popular and current. For classic sunglasses you can’t go wrong with either of these styles for festival frolicking. The same goes for oversized glam shades. Designers like Gucci, Bvlgari, Versace, D&G, MDG Sunglasses, Chanel and Pucci all have great sunglasses for summer goddess style. On the other hand if you’re a seasonal type of girl with a desire to look fabulous and ‘now’ – take a leaf from Kelly O’s book and opt for small round shades. This style was all over the spring / summer catwalks and looks great in pastel coloured frames teamed with a floral frock or playsuit. Or you may want to play the vintage diva with cats eye shaped sunglasses – again a strong trend on the catwalk this year. Look to brands like Prada and Marc Jacobs to achieve this look.
We’ve got our Big Chill tickets and our festival sunnies sorted. Now it’s just a case of praying for sunshine! Here’s hoping….
The History of Fendi-Fendi Sunglasses
Fendi Sunglasses
The designer brand Fendi was founded in a small town called del Plebiscitom in Italy by a newly married couple called Edoardo and Adele Fendi.
Mr. and Mrs. Fendi opened up a small shop that specialised in leather goods and became renowned for their high quality bags and furs and the skill that was invested into crafting the products. As a design duo they quickly became very successful and the shop was incredibly popular and lucrative.
Spurred on by their new-found success, the Fendi couple had an ambition to grow the company and extend the product lines. Therefore they decided to open up a larger shop in Veneto. As the Fendi business expanded the notoriously high quality goods became even more popular and people would visit from areas far outside the area in which their shop was situated. Italian women were particularly fond of the exquisite style that Fendi had developed and it soon became the highly fashionable and stylish brand to be seen in.
Fendi Sunglasses
1966 marked a significant step for Fendi as this was the year that the brand released its first couture line which was designed by the iconic designer Karl Lagerfeld who is now the Creative Director of Chanel. This line significantly raised the Fendi profile and established it as a firm favourite on the high fashion couture map creating a much sought after and high class name for the brand. The line was extremely popular and allowed the Fendi name to be spread on an international level.
Fendi became synonomous with the essence of A List glamour, especially following the line of handbags which were quickly considered the hot accessory of the Hollywood stars. The Fendi Spy bag is one of the most iconic Fendi products. In the 1980’s, Fendi expanded their lines even further due to the success of their ready to wear goods and designed an extensive range of coats, dresses, jeans, hats, shoes and accessories including the collection of sunglasses.
Fendi Sunglasses
The range of Fendi sunglasses are incredibly fashionable and super stylish. With an extensive collection that comprises of beautiful ladies designs, this is definitely a brand of sunglasses that you wear to get noticed! From oversized to classic styles, Fendi sunglasses immediately give you that high style polished look and with stunning tones such as browns, bronze, gold and deep red and of course, staple black there is something to compliment every skin tone. Subtle patterns such as flowers positioned on a corner of the frame also make for an ultra feminine touch. The double F Fendi logo has become incredibly iconic and this is often featured on the sunglasses, whether this being on the arms or subtly placed on the arm hinge.
Fendi is a great example of a brand that began extremely small and with the use of creative skill and high quality materials, it has grown over the years to ultimately become a fashion and style phenomenon that has an A List following and desired by every fashionista. The overall Fendi style is classic and sophisticated with a strong Italian influence and Karl Lagerfeld’s input definitely gave the brand that extra creative spirit that pushed it right to the forefront of the fashion industry where is strongly remains today.
Chanel Sunglasses: Glamour, Drama, and a Necessary Luxury!
An amazing pair of sunglasses can make an incredible fashion statement and the ultimate classic label which depicts style, sophistication and timeless appeal is none other than Chanel.
Founded in 1914, by the originally stylish Coco Chanel, the designer primarily started the label having opened two small boutiques in France. As time went on, the Chanel name became synonymous with style and quality and the brand brought us such fashion classics as the little black dress, the quilted handbag, the Chanel suit, and the famous line of perfumes. Before her immense success, Coco Chanel was considered rebellious with her sense of fashion but her label has become possibly the most sought after in the world.
Chanel products now include clothing, fragrances, accessories, make up and of course, sunglasses. In 1999, in partnership with It
alian eyewear producer Luxottica, the House of Chanel introduced its first line of sunglasses despite Coco Chanel passing away twenty-eight years previous. Her influence on style and fashion remains one of the most prominent and heavily inspired by her own creations, Karl Lagerfeld of Fendi (who is now the Creative Director of Chanel) decided to launch a line of Chanel sunglasses which first became largely popular after been seen on the ladies Sex and the City.
One of the most attractive factors of Chanel sunglasses (aside from the beautiful designs!) is that they allow you to enjoy a part of the label at a smaller price – many of Chanel’s products are priced way out of the league of the majority of consumers, and therefore the glamorous sunglasses allow you to enjoy the glamour of Chanel and become part of the brand.
Over the years, Chanel has designed a large range of sunglasses but the brand likes to keep its styles typically oversized, classic and dramatic. These elements are synonymous with the Chanel brand in general and it is what makes the
products distinctive and unique. The CH5076H Chanel sunglasses for example are oversized with thick translucent brown lenses and definitely inject an element of drama and Chanel glamour into your look. For something a little classic, the CH5149B sunglasses with oversized black frames are perfect and the jet black quilted patterned arms make these sunglasses incredibly Chanel. The Chanel quilted bag is one of the most sought after and desired accessory in the world and these sunglasses incorporate the style. For something even more overstated, the CH5146 Chanel sunglasses with a black and white crystal patterned frame are the perfect option. All the sunglasses within the Chanel collection feature the classic double C Chanel logo upon the arm hinge and some also incorporate diamante detailing. Whatever the features, Chanel sunglasses are instantly recognisable by the timeless, dramatic style and exceptional high quality.
Oversized sunglasses are a huge style trend and are very much synonymous with the ultimate fashionista! Chanel is very much a trend leader that others try to emulate and the range of sunglasses are trendy and stylish but remain classic and elegant 
which is ultimately what the brand is all about. Chanel sunglasses will complete and compliment a refined, polite and sophisticated look in true A List style and celebrity fans of the brand who are regularly seen wearing their Chanel sunglasses include Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Nicole Ritchie and of course, American Vogue Editor Anna Wintour.
Coco Chanel once said that luxury was “the necessity where necessity ends”. Even if you are unable to afford other products in the Chanel collection, a pair of the brand’s sunglasses will definitely allow you to experience a little bit of that necessary luxury!
The Lady Who Rebelled – Coco Chanel – Chanel Sunglasses
We all know that Chanel is quite possibly one of the most sought after, elite and highly desired designer labels of all time. The various collections which include, clothing, jewellery, make-up, handbags and sunglasses are all stunning in the unique Chanel manner, conveying a sense of exclusivity, elegance and that feeling of owning something incredibly special. The lady behind the name Coco Chanel in addition to being an innovative and talented designer was also an avid business woman and entrepreneur and when Time magazine published its list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century, Chanel was only the person in the fashion industry to be named. Chanel was a renowned workaholic and would never settle for second best in her work. A famous quote by the designer was “When I can no longer create anything, I’ll be done for,” and when she died at the age of 88 this was also the day that she stopped working.
So what separated Chanel from other designers and what made her and her creations special and regarded today as so iconic? Quite possibly the fact that everything about her character and her work was unique and extremely unconventional. Chanel brought a completely new vision of women’s fashion to the industry which saw women’s clothing become more androgynous with tailored and simple structures that were both comfortable, practical yet 
oozed elegance and style. If it wasn’t for Chanel, the idea of women wearing trousers may have not come about quite so soon.
Chanel was also considered rebellious with her sense of fashion. She designed elegant women’s dresses out of the same material that was used to create men’s underwear which at the time was very much frowned upon! Women would typically have long hair and wear tight corsets whereas Chanel cut her hair short and wore loose yet incredibly stylish clothing. Everything she did was going against the grain of society which was definitely a risk, but she didn’t do it just to make a blasé statement; it was her belief that fashion needed a new path and the idea that every individual male or female, should be entitled to look uniquely stylish and be comfortable.
People who met or worked with Chanel always mention that there was something hypnotic about her and it was her personality, passion and ambition in addition to her talent for design that made her an iconic success. She believed that style and beauty was not just about looking good – it was about presenting yourself well and in a manner that earned you respect from others. Looking good only contributed to this as if you look as though you take care of 
your appearance, this would also make others believe that you were powerful and successful, even if actually this wasn’t the case. Of course, Chanel did become successful but it was at the grand age of 71 when she reinvented her designs, the Chanel name was completely escalated to the forefront of high end fashion and today, most of us dream of owning a piece from one of her collections. The range of Chanel sunglasses, though on the higher end of the price scale are a fantastic way of adding that exquisite and chic Chanel essence to your look. By refusing to license out the Chanel name, the brand has also achieved strict quality control over its products which has allowed it to remain highly elite in the years since Chanel’s death. Today, Chanel’s elegant and instantly recognisable double ‘C’ logo is synonymous with sophistication, couture and a highly desired and sought after sense of style that leaves us swooning!
Wimbledon Celebrity Spotting!
Wimbledon 2009 has been a scorcher and this rare display of great British weather has given us a grand opportunity to see just which sunglasses the celebs favour.
The first day of the tournament saw Jude Law hanging out with actor Jonny Lee Miller and unsurprisingly both opted for traditional and stylish Ray Ban sunglasses, with Jude modelling Wayfarers and the Trainspotting actor in aviators. The same day Razorlight’s Jonny Borrell was also seen sporting his black Ray Ban Wayfarers whilst enjoying the tennis.
Wimbledon appeals to all ages and older fans including Sir Cliff Richards, Sir Trevor Macdonald, Sir Bobby Charlton, Bruce Forsyth, Rolf Harris and racing driver Jackie Stewart were seen cheering on their favourites this year. In the younger camp Aleesha Dixon was in attendance, as was Sam Mendes and his Oscar winning wife Kate Winslet, who watched Federer secure his place in the semi’s. Ewan Macgregor was seen cheering on fellow Scot, Andrew Murray and both Eddie Izzard and Noel Fielding were spotted in the crowd at SW19.
This year’s celebrity talking piece came in the form of Justin Timberlake who took time out of his schedule promoting his ‘William Rast’ clothing label to support Andy Roddick on Centre Court. Displaying his usual effortless laid back cool, JT accessorised with a flat cap and a pair of Wayfarer style sunglasses with a stylish navy coloured frames. International pop sensation Grace Jones also rocked Wimbledon wearing an outlandish hat and oversized black sunnies.
To score your own fashion ace in similar oversized sunglasses look to brands like Gucci, Prada, Pucci, D&G and Chanel for classic ’leading lady’ style.
Celebrity Sunglasses at Cannes 2009!
If you’re celebrity savvy like us you will have been watching all the action at the recent 2009 Cannes Film Festival with interest. The stars, the dresses, the parties and the gossip kept us entertained for at least a week!
Angelina and Brad put on a show of togetherness in answer to reports of an imminent split. Penelope Cruz braved the festival whilst suffering with flu. Twilight’s Robert Pattinson’s non-stop partying was widely reported. Surprise at the pairing of Hero’s Hayden Panettiere and T4’s Steve Jones, seen canoodling onboard David Furnish’s yacht for the duration of the festival. Paris Hilton and her beau Doug Reinhart courting the paps as usual and Mariah Carey promoting her new film ‘Precious’. As well as 2 films depicting the life of Mademoiselle Chanel and an appearance from Chanel‘s Creative Director, the unflappable Karl Lagerfeld, made for an exciting festival.
The French Riviera was awash with Hollywood Glitterati and the sun shone brightly, so unsurprisingly we were treated to a role call of the latest, most fashionable designer sunglasses as modelled by the A-Listers.
Police sunglasses were a popular choice amongst the men, with director Quentin Tarantino, rapper Neyo and the newly reformed Spandau Ballet all sporting various cool looking styles. Brad Pitt took to the Red Carpet for his movie ‘Inglourious Basterds’ wearing top to toe Tom Ford including a sharp looking pair of Tom Ford style aviators. Both Robert Pattinson and Orlando Bloom flew the flag for Ray Ban, with the Twilight star rocking some Ray Ban Clubmasters and Bloom wearing nothing but swimming shorts and a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarers.
German born Diane Kruger is rarely seen without her Ray Ban Wayfarers and Cannes was no exception this year. Eva Longoria turned up the heat with a sizzling pair of large red Gina sunglasses by Louis Vuitton accompanied by her husband, basketball player Tony Parker. Red head Julianne Moore was pictured wearing a stunning pair of oversized black Gucci sunglasses and singer Mariah Carey chose a fabulous pair of Roberto Cavalli sunglasses for her photo call. Closing this year’s festival was Chanel muse and actress Anna Mouglalis with her film ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Strvinsky’ wearing… Chanel sunglasses – bien sur!
Trend report 2009 and a colourful eye over 2008
Those fickle fashion designers and trend setters that dictate our yearly flings and love affairs with countless styles of sunglasses are to blame. We enter a new year and our much prized glasses from the previous season are cast aside, just as in years gone by, as we clamour to see what we should be buying in 2009 to keep up with the fashion crowd and stay one step ahead of the girl next door.
2008 was a colourful year for sunglasses, quite literally. British style was optimised by Lily Allen and her plethora of rainbow hued shades, just as Paris Hilton paved the way for our compatriots in the USA with enormous white rimmed sunnies. It was a year of kiddie style, joke glasses, that when worn amongst other trend followers seemed acceptable, yet worn in the wrong situation or within an ill-informed crowd, elicited sniggers and strange glances. These sunglasses were accepted, expected and rife throughout the long summer of festivals and frivolity, but like all fun trends were forgotten by the end of the year.
In the same year Ray Ban’s Wayfarers showed no sign of lagging as the Eighties trend held strong. Similarly Oakley’s limited release of their iconic frogskins filled a gap in the market and were embraced by celebrities and fashion followers alike. And who can forget Kanye West’s ’shutter shades’, which spawned a host of copycat disciples and ran away with the prize for the most ridiculous glasses of the year, despite a strong field of contenders.
2009 looks set to become a vintage year. Along with the re-emergence of bygone styles, those in the know are cautioning you to hold on to your ray bans and aviators as these classic styles are set to continue their steady growth. The big news though is ’round’ mod-like sunglasses. Yes you heard me correctly and no, this time we’re not channelling John Lennon. Think Jackie O and Audrey but smaller. These beauties were crawling all over the Spring/Summer 09 runways, leading the way were big hitters Ralph Lauren and Lanvin. Of course the celeb’s are hot on the designer’s heels and both Mary-Kate Olsen and Lily Allen have both been papped wearing them. Another surprising trend is classic horn-rimmed styles, which Chanel were sporting in their new season’s collection. Colour wise it’s all about tortoiseshell this season, which is a welcome change to those who felt left out in the cold by last years crayola colour shades.
And there you have it. Your definitive guide to this years coolest sunglasses. It’s a bit of an odd-ball mix and there’s some howlers in there, but wouldn’t fashion be dull if we didn’t shake it up a bit and look silly occasionally?!