The late Elizabeth Taylor was known for her extreme beauty, her many husbands, her two Oscars and her chic style. Born in 1932 Elizabeth Taylor lived through some of fashions most glamorous decades, which helped shape her killer style!

The 1920s and 1930s had seen the liberation of women’s fashion with shorter hemlines and loose fitting dresses, even trousers – and actresses of the 30s such as Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich would have influenced the young Elizabeth Taylor enormously. Coco Chanel would have been an early fashion favourite, as the designer pioneered comfortable yet incredibly stylish clothes for women.

In the late 40s fashion took on a more structured, sophisticated look following the war, with Christian Dior leading the way with his ‘New Look’. Worn by the likes of Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth, the Dior label became an instant hit. By this time Taylor had become a star  following her performance in the film National Velvet in 1944, and she signed a long-term contract with MGM, which brought her both fame and money.

She entered the 1950s as a young woman of wealth and could therefore afford the designer fashions of the era. Dior was a leading name in the 50s and labels such as Balenciaga, Balmain and Givenchy had emerged on the fashion scene. The style of the 50s was demure and ladylike with a bit of sex kitten thrown in for good measure. Nipped in waists were key, and big full skirts, kitten heels, little cardigans and dramatic sunglasses defined the era. Elizabeth Taylor’s slim curvacious figure suited the fashions perfectly and her beauty only served to highlight everything she wore. Taylor was also a big fan of designer sunglasses, and in particular she was fond of cats eye shaped sunglasses and oversized lenses. Of course these style of sunglasses were very popular in the 1950s and the 60s among women and are copied to this day. The recent fashion for vintage style sunglasses has seen Tom Ford, Prada and Dior all produce homages to the feline shaped lenses of the Fifties. Taylor’s film ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ is a great portrait of 50s fashion.

The 1960s was of course the decade of the mini skirt, as popularised by Mary Quant. Fashion became more colourful and fun, and the sophistication of previous era’s was laid to rest. Elizabeth Taylor’s most talked about movie ‘Cleopatra’ was released in 1963 and it was at this time that she met Richard Burton. The combination of the popularity of the film and the couple’s celebrity ‘power’ elevated Taylor’s status and as such she became a definitive symbol of the 1960s. Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses made their mark in the 60s and stars like Audrey Hepburn helped popularise their style.

During the following decades, Taylor’s acting roles began to dry up and she concentrated her efforts into raising awareness and money for HIV and Aids victims. To this day she is considered one of the worlds greatest humanitarians having raised in excess of $100 million for Aids related charities.

For all her charity work, acting and lovers, Elizabeth Taylor will always be remembered for her incandescent beauty and her incredible style.

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 Italian 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!

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!

In 1999 the House of Chanel introduced its first line of sunglasses despite the iconic designer Coco Chanel passing away 28 years previous. Inspired by her own creations, Karl Lagerfeld, at that point the creative brain behind Fendi, decided to launch a line of Chanel eyewear which has risen dramatically in popularity due to grand advertising campaigns and of course, being featured on the silver screen.

Every time I think of Chanel, I immediately immerse into a dream filled with luxury, sophistication and glamour. There is definitely no wrong time to be seen wearing a pair of Chanel shades – they are absolutely appropriate for every occasion be it the oversized frames or a chic visor style. The brand always exceeds expectations and with a range of diamante designs, luxuriously styled arms, intertwining C’s and the Chanel’s unique flower designs, Chanel is a brand which always manages to achieve classic styling with contemporary trends. Some of the frames are beautifully patterned with a crystal weave effect for example (as with the Chanel Sunglasses CH5145) and the iconic CC logo located on the arms. Let’s face it, a pair of Chanel sunglasses are a to-die-for accessory which every girl desires to own.

Indeed celebrities have a huge impact on establishing the popularity of a brand but Chanel is one of those classic labels whose identity will also benefit the celebrity spotted wearing it. A stunning pair of sunglasses, as we all know can make a huge statement about the wearer’s personality, status, wealth and of course style. Hiding behind shades might certainly portray an air of mystery, but can also reveal a great deal. The celebrities and members of the fash pack who wear Chanel sunglasses include Lauren Conrad, Lindsay Lohan, Madonna, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mary Kate Olsen and Anne Hathaway to name only a few.

Despite being designed and launched by Lagerfeld, with the range of Chanel sunglasses he has perfectly encapsulated the essence of Coco Chanel’s love of exquisite yet simple designs which portray character, personality and ultimate femininity. A pair of Chanel sunglasses will look fantastic for life and are a sure winning investment.

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