Here Comes the Sun(glasses)

The sun has been making a very major star turn in my hometown, Los Angeles, this week, along with shell-colored toes, gladiator sandals, and all the other obvious signs of summer. The thermometer is meant to go back down to a nice brisk 72 this week –as opposed to the high 80’s it’s been – and the toes might take a hike for a month, but the new summer ‘08 sunglass shapes, styles and colors are not going anywhere- but right in our faces. And, no doubt, ON our faces.

In L.A, having the newest, newest sunglasses is as necessary a status symbol as one’s car – or one’s body. And sunglasses are more on display than either of those.   Sure, you’re ready to plunge on the pink, orange and green print dresses that are turning up in the stores right about now– but my advice is, start with new sunglasses. The Cannes Film Festival is only six weeks away, and the new “Batman” movie and “Sex and the City” a few weeks more. Holy Cosmo! Blockbusters are the official start of summer. You can wear old jeans, a white shirt, new sunglasses, and a little coral lipgloss, and you’re this summer’s Carrie Bradshaw 2.0 - new and improved, upgraded and uploaded.

This year’s eyewear look is not the same-Nicole Richie- Rachel Zoe-Olsen Twins style. Sure, that look won’t totally go away – not while US Magazine is still in business – and young girls are still convinced that dwarfingly large frames make them look thinner. But if there’s one truism about sunglasses, it’s that - like Paris’ Hilton’s boyfriends - every season they MUST change.

So instead of black and tortoise giant square or rectangular shapes, get ready for the return of the RayBan Kennedy-sixties Clark Kent look. If you think it’s geeky, check out Julian Schnabel in his square black frames with citrus lenses –he always wears them.   

There are also new round shapes, grey glasses, aviators (especially hot for men), and two-tone gradiant lenses glasses that are smokey as opposed to a full-tilt black out. This means you can wear them indoors when you’re holed up watching the Olympics this summer. Turn to TheFind.com to find stores in your area have the new looks – or you can just look at all the delicious options while dreaming of St. Tropez or Capri or the Hamptons (or the backyard grill). Or you can order them up now, given that they will most assuredly sell out soon – and you will be left out in the heat...