Archive for December, 2010


The Many Shades of Lady Gaga: Is There a Sunglasses Style She Hasn’t Worn?

Blog Styleite recently did a piece about the many sunglasses styles Lady Gaga has worn over her brief period of fame. It’s only been about two years since her debut The Fame appeared, and since then, Lady Gaga must have looted through every designer sunglasses store to find this eclectic assortment of shades.

To follow the Styleite piece, Lady Gaga has often been spotted with a pair of rounded frame sunglasses or, as they call them, Lennon-esque shades. Perhaps John Lennon might have preferred something more modest, but considering the singer sported the style in the “Paparazzi” video and on the street, it’s safe to say that this seems to be her preferred look. The Paloma Picasso frames – a combination of rounded, gradient lenses with an angular frame – is a variation on this. To get your own Lady Gaga look, consider these rounded frames by Ray Ban.

Gaga’s style isn’t always all over the place, and from the pictures Styleite gathered, she appears to go for a classic look on occasion, donning a pair of Ray Ban wayfarer sunglasses. Finding this style isn’t difficult. Everyone from designer eyewear retailers to Claire’s and Target carries this frame. How you wear it, however, may make you look like Lady Gaga – or like a poor Katy Perry imitation.

Shield frames are a common look seen on the singer, but rather than being average club wear, the frames often reflect her unique style. A while ago, we saw rapper Kid Sister in a pair of studded shield sunglasses, and Gaga, similarly, does her own thing with this versatile style. Worn in the “Just Dance” and “Poker Face” videos and in variations in concert, shield sunglasses offer Gaga the largest space for style experimentation.

In fact, outside of the Styleite piece, Gaga has been seen wearing an ‘80s-style pair of cat eye sunglasses.

If you’ve been keeping track, oversized and aviator shades are two looks we haven’t seen Gaga sport. A basic Google search for both of these comes up with little evidence she has worn either out in public. Are they too trendy to be worn by this avant-garde pop star? Maybe she has a few stashed away in her closet for casual days.

Christian Roth Sunglasses Worn by Kurt Cobain Re-Released

Grunge music may not be at the top of the charts (and emo pales in comparison), but a 1990s revival has appeared to be going on. Although merged with many ‘80s styles (off-the-shoulder shirts, skinny jeans, and ra-ra skirts), the looks of the early ‘90s are back on the racks with a modern interpretation. Let’s hope that the ‘70s revival and designer logo overload of the late ‘90s don’t resurface any time soon.

With flannel and skinny jeans everywhere, fashion seems to be considering Nirvana style icons again. Because of this, Kurt Cobain’s Christian Roth sunglasses may be coming to a store near you. If you can recall, Cobain sported a pair of women’s sunglasses that, if you analyze them from a modern perspective, are a cross between cat eye and oversized styles. Silver Lining Vintage, working with style restoration experts, will re-release the sunglasses at Opening Ceremony.

These sunglasses, however, aren’t exact copies of Cobain’s. The frames from the 6558 and 6556 styles by Christian Roth will be replicated, and Silver Lining Vintage has added their own tinted lenses.

Not everyone was a grunger from 1991 to 1996, however, and if you’re looking to capture this ‘90s style, various brands of designer sunglasses offer a few options.

Wayfarer frames, for example, didn’t die on January 1, 1990. Instead, they hung around for about the first half of the decade. Although the style is often associated with the ‘80s, it blends in well with any 1990s-inspired outfit. As flannel, skinny jeans, and Dr. Martin’s (or combat-style boots) are everywhere from Nordstrom’s to Forever 21, why not add a basic black pair of wayfarer sunglasses to your look?

Wraparound styles, on the other hand, are the definitive look of the ‘90s. Now relegated primarily to athletic brands, wraparound sunglasses often had dark or mirrored frames 15 years ago. For an authentic 1990s look, find a pair with a black or silver frame and black or mirrored lenses.

Punk vs. Western: Selena Gomez’s Handbag Does It Right

Selena Gomez handbag

Selena Gomez sports a ripped leather handbag. Photo from Purse Page.

How many times do you see a studded or fringed handbag on a celebrity and see it labeled as “punk” or “rocker chick” in a magazine? Often, it’s one times too many. As early ‘90s (think grunge), ‘80s (Madonna-esque fashion), and western styles are all in at the moment, how do you tell which one is which? And, if you go western, are you being less rebellious – at least in appearance – than someone with a studded handbag?

Too many celebrities straddle this line and don’t appear to be changing any time soon. But if you’re looking for a celebrity that at least moderately captures this new grunge aesthetic, Selena Gomez and her ripped handbag do it right. While her outfits don’t consist of flannel and ripped jeans, her handbag, excluding the price tag, has the do-it-yourself look that Lady Gaga tried to capture over the summer with the self-studded Hermes handbag.

The primary culprit of this western-or-punk look is the studded handbag. Although Lady Gaga’s studs were put in by hand, most designer and designer-inspired handbags have them organized – perhaps even too organized. While studs are embellishments in both clothing styles, organization is strictly western.

Fringe appears to have this same effect. On nearly all pieces of clothing, from shirts to handbags and other accessories, some fringe has an early-‘90s appearance, the haphazardly cut t-shirt look. Although this look could compliment Selena Gomez’s bag (and not look bad with the skinny jeans she’s sporting), most fringe has a western appearance – think clean-cut leather. Many handbags this season are designed with this look, as this fringe handbag from Best Handbag Wholesale indicates. Additionally, this particular bag takes the western trend a bit further. Beyond clear cut leatherette material and rhinestones, the material is dyed turquoise.

Ultimately, all of these trends will pass, some sooner the better. Regardless of whether a look seems more western or punk, how it fits into your personal style should determine if you should wear it – or put it back on the rack.