FAB AVE.

SunSatious SunShades

By Jonaye' Taylor

                 I know, I know "SunSatious SunShades" is quite a tongue twister, but it is all in fun and it is something to tease your brain as we inch towards summertime! So with summer on my mind and with all of this rapid warm weather (finally) it is only right to spring forward with the time, break out the divalicious sunglasses and act like wannabes, oops I meant celebrities! Speaking of celebrities, you will hardly ever see superstars like Usher, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Amber Rose, Kanye West, Victoria Beckham and a host of others without rocking their fabulously trendy shades. Now, some celebrities may need them more than others may, but being an ethical journalist I will not mention any names!

            Moving right along. You may or may not remember back in the day (circa 2001) when Jennifer Lopez popularized the honey-caramel colored glasses from her hit, "Love Don't Cost A Thing" video and then followed with similar pairs of shades that had miniature crystal designs in the corner. Well, back then every girl thought she was "J.Lo" and had to have a pair (including me). With that being said, that is the great thing about fashion, trends come and go, however some trends are epic, and that trend was definitely one of them.

Nevertheless, fast-forwarding almost 10 years later, we have so many selections to choose from and styles are revamped and constantly evolving, for example the biggest revamped sunglass trend is the "cat eye" look. I have yet to see any celebrities photographed in them yet, but they are sure to be a big hit!  They are very old Hollywood glamour and soon you will be able to collect them in all different types of colors like turquoise so that you can have them with a pop of color. Alternatively, purchase them in prints like cheetah so you can look kittylicious!

Next, the timeless styles of frames that are my personal fave are the "Aviators". They are sleek and chic, pictured in multiple ad campaigns from leading fashion designers. Most importantly, I love this style because they are unisex glasses, men and women can try their luck at the trend. If you are unfamiliar with the design simply Google: aviator glasses or the specific example I associate to them is that they are worn by police officers, so if you purchased a pair let us just say you would look "cop chic"!  The best color to cop (no pun intended)  this style in is black with a platinum tint to the lens, can you say hawt?

Additionally, another sizzling trend to follow is the classic Jackie-O style glasses! These are huge oversized glasses that she glamorized during her day and are now being worn by many fashionistas like Nicole Richie, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Rachel Zoe, Kim Kardashian, Halle Berry and Jessica Simpson. They are very "boho chic" and are great paired with maxi dresses, gladiator sandals and floppy straw hats for a relaxed comfortable beach vibe!  Of course, they are several other styles not mentioned, but I can only spend time shining light on the golden select few! Sorry if I did not mention your favorite pairs of sunshades.

            Furthermore, stores like Target, Sunglass Hut, Nordstrom, Wet Seal (usually has buy two for $10 deal), Arden B., For Love 21 (Foever21's all accessory store) and just about any clothing store may have a sunglasses section. The amount you want to spend on glasses is at your discretion, however, I do not recommend a splurge considering sunglasses break or get lost very easily, it just may be a waste of your hard-earned money. Yet, if you got it like that then so be it you show off! Didn't your mother ever tell you it is not nice to overindulge in a recession? No, I am not a hater, OK maybe a little bit, it is just not fair (feeling sad about having to be on a budget). Remember, do not shop out of your means, we all know you may want to look flashy in the real Gucci shades but everyone is not as fortunate, so get a good mimic, have the look for less and not only be a fashionista, but you will be a recessionista as well!  Keep in mind, at the end of the day, whatever your fashion fate may be let your style stay true to you! Nobody can do you the way you do!