(See what we did there? Like the love child of ‘Got milk’ and ‘You’ve been tangoed’)
Laura Reynolds looks at the hype surrounding the collaboration.
Just a week to go until the man in red arrives...
You know the phrase “I’m just not a hats person”? I have the same relationship with sunglasses. I don’t suit them, full stop. Though it isn’t really, because sunglasses are actually the only thing standing between my delicate little eyes and the sun’s harmful rays. Damn. I have no choice; I’ve admitted I have a problem, now I need to confront it…
The same rules apply to choosing sunglasses as to anything else; just because it’s ‘in’ and screaming at you from the pages of every celebrity magazine that you ‘accidentally’ find yourself perusing, doesn’t necessarily mean you should wear it. Though bigger may be better, it’s vitally important to ensure that your choice of frame suits the shape of your face. If you’re particularly pint-sized then bear in mind that going too big may leave you looking more like a fly and less like a fashionista. Match your sunglasses to your size however, and you can’t go far wrong.
Once you have size covered it’s time to move on to shape. Rule No.1: Choose sunglasses in a shape that is the OPPOSITE of your face shape. I’m sure you don’t need this spelling out and I don’t mean to insult anyone’s intelligence, but in the interest of ensuring that the one thing which York does become notorious for is bad taste in sunglasses, this means choosing rectangular frames if you have a rounded face and round frames to soften the edges of a square face. If your face is of the oval variety; then you are in many ways blessed, for you can carry off almost any style. Damn you.
By far the most widely available style is the simple yet classic ‘Jackie O’ design. (Primark’s version are selling out so fast only the niftiest shall succeed). However this does not necessarily mean thick frames and dark lenses. Variations upon this theme in terms of colour, the tint of the lenses and detailing mean that although you can always play it safe with unadorned black, it is now just as easy to find coral or purple, olive or indigo. One of the top pairs on my own shortlist go by the name ‘Cherry Butterfly’ (Accessorize £12). And whilst the tortoiseshell of last summer is still a big hit, white frames and the darkest of dark lenses are the emergent style of summer ’07. Topshop and H&M have possibly the largest selections on the high-street with student friendly prices to match. However if your budget’s a little larger then French Connection also have a great range, with prices from £30 upwards.
Expect also to see a resurgence of the aviator. My personal opinion is that the perennial popularity of this particular shade is based entirely upon the male population’s deluded belief that upon donning a pair they are instantly transformed into the fighter pilot they dreamed of one day becoming. If you associate runways with catwalks rather than airports however, then you’ll find an extremely wearable gunmetal aviator (£15) at Monsoon.
As for detailing, less really is more and should only be attempted if you are planning to invest in a pair of designer shades. If the bill is being covered by the student loan then go for designs which achieve details by removal e.g. cut out circles or squares along the arms. Topshop have a fantastic pair of oversized wood-grain sunglasses for £15. Add-ons such as fake Chanel/ Dior logos are identifiable from across campus. And unless your facebook profile includes the word ‘plastic’ or you unashamedly carry a miniature dog in your handbag, then leave the diamantes to the under tens.
How to be Sunglasses Savvy:
