Clear shades are popular with the fashion folk this summer. Hardly a day goes by that we don't see a pair of acetates staring back out at us. For Fall acetate frames will still be around, but in the form of eyeglasses (we're down with going it seventh grade style and wearing them even if you don't require them), our pick in that regard is the Selima pair for J. Crew. Alas, we are still in shades weather and in that regard the Nicole 002 by Benjamin Eyewear takes the cake (left). Forget looking like the Terminator with thick all-black shades, the acetate trend is letting the real thing show-off (i.e. your face!). If you're stuck in between two worlds, Wayfarer put out a two-tone number that we've seen a few chicsters sporting. We think the two-tone kind of makes you look like your eighty years old but in a good way. Also on our radar is this pair, by Grey Ant. The case these shades come in is as big as a briefcase but the shades are pretty amazing and aptly named, The Status Sunglasses. If you can't be asked to drop some dough, Urban Outfitters has a pair of acetate shades for less than it costs to fill up your tank (minus a million).

It almost pains us to have to bring this issue up in the first place but let's just call it our last word on the matter. The fact is, in the summer, when it's ninety degrees and you've striped down to your underwear because you're air conditioner accidently fell out of your three-story window, sunglasses are the last fashion item standing. They neither require an 'ideal' physique nor an 'ideal' budget; they are the fashion pool party everyone's invited to and so we can expect some particularly fiery wars to be waged in their honor. This we know. If everyone wears them, then everyone's bound to have an opinion. That said, we don't think we've seen such a hostile divide as we've seen with the wayfarer since, well, since ever.

Last night Marie Claire threw a party at Bendel's in honor of their partnership with Rayban. This means three times the ads in upcoming issues of the magazine and cosmopolitans all around (Yes, yes, yes. As if the drink said it all.). Our Network Partner, Fops and Dandies was there by coincidence and reported on the event as it went down. We couldn't agree with her sentiments more.

The thing is, this whole shift in opinion reminds us of that part in The Wiz when at a moments notice, the whole disco loving fashion crowd of Emerald City (New Yorkers do love disco) suddenly decides to change their 'color' at the insistence of the all-powerful Wiz (Anna?). Suddenly green becomes passe and the new color, whatever it may be, is now the only thing to be wearing. Yes, this is fashion as we know it but it seems a particularly apt analogy to the wayfarer divide. Marie Claire scoops up last summer's trends to their financial benefit and it angers the young downtowners who recklessly indulged in the statement, gasp, last summer.

We couldn't agree more that wayfarers are very 'last summer' (to one of our editors, so was the dj at the Bendel party, hehe) but we have to say that the divide seems a bit predictable. It's just like when Williamsburg gentrified and everyone got really angry by seeing people who looked like them on the sidewalks. Or farther back, when everyone in your grade started getting perms even though, like, you were totally one of the first people to get one.

Stick with what you think makes you look nice. We won't judge you. So long as you put down that cosmopolitan, get the hell out of that Bendel's party, and come get some mexican food with us. We'll even let you borrow our Persol 714s (wink, wink).

We reached our saturation point with sunglass trends seasons ago, and alas, nothing looks fresh or interesting to our weary eyes. With so many options having emerged in recent years, there doesn't seem to be any one direction to follow when it comes to summer frames. Having tried them all, we're yawning at the latest interpretations and nostalgic for the days of iconic shades. Unlike seasons past, which showed us oversized rounds, aviators, shields, and various hybrids as "the" shapes to covet, we're now left with a hodgepodge of styles that leave us lukewarm and unwilling to commit to their ever-increasing price points.

How to rid ourselves of this ennui by finding a pair we can deal with and half commit to like a summer boyfriend? Surely there must be some among the heap that will pique our interest, if only for a moment. If you plan on dealing with the nauseating panoply of options by ignoring it and sticking to classic styles, there are a variety of Ray Bans and Persols to keep you chic and shielded. Persol 714s should be your summer staple. Popularized by Steve McQueen, these iconic shades channel the too-cool-for-school vibe, and hey, school's out for summer.

For those who find themselves capitulating with a sigh to the next throwaway trend (day-glo much?), but want to go a bit more high end than, say, St. Marks Place, that neverending horror of shutter shades, try a vivid pair by Super. Conceived by the folks behind Pig Magazine, the Zeiss crafted lenses are set to replace wayfarers as summer's accessory du jour. Our network partner High Snobiety gives them rave reviews.

If it's inimitable style you seek, try a unique, limited-run frame from Colab, an Australian design company that works with artists such as Perks and Mini (P.A.M.), Geoff McFetridge, and Neasden Control Centre to craft unusual, often vintage-inspired styles. They also come in whimsical packaging, such as decorated cardboard cylinders, in lieu of a sunglass case.

Designer groupies can check out Proenza Schouler's much-lauded, recently launched eyewear collection, or pay tribute to Yves St. Laurent this season with a logo style. For those who are having trouble deciding, peruse this assortment of Coutorture-approved styles for some inspiration.

These Ksubi Write Sunglasses demonstrate the illustrious power of limited edition accessories. With only 50 pairs made worldwide (in New York they went to OAK, of course) in the gunmetal and white versions, if you don't have them already, you probably never will. Never fear, that's what ripoffs are for, and they don't have to be from the street vendor (funnily enough we saw a vendor selling a rip off yesterday on Broadway, making us wonder if street vendors might be just as skilled at trend forecasting as the agencies). Maison Martin Margiela turned out an even pricier version of these wrap around glasses for Spring 08. Also, hey, there's always those grandpa versions from the drug store.




Image courtesy of OAK
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In today's original Coutorture editorial we've featured sunglasses from the likes of Theo, Anne et Valentin, and Selima Optique. We chose styles that were a departure from the aviator and wayfarer shapes that have been so popular these last few seasons. That is, we think something new is deserved for Spring 08. Sunglasses have a way of changing your aesthetic drastically, and, in the Summer, when it's 90 degrees, they are the basis of your look. Why not take a few chances? Theo, featured on Dustin and Ann in today's shoot, is a brand started by two opticians who now reside in Antwerp. The two bring an unconventional aesthetic to the market which is the result of steel cut frames, light-as-a-feather plastics, and shapes that most Americans consider inherently European. Selima Optique, the more widely know brand in today's shoot, has boutiques in London, Paris, and New York (most notably, Soho). This is most likely the result of a comprehensive range that would cover just about any stock character in your social registry. Fortunately, new styles are almost always immediately available, so when you see them editorialized, they can be yours by lunchtime. You can see the Selima shades on Jennifer and Carissa, in today's shoot. Lastly, Anne et Valentin, the French eyewear line featured on Lys and Chris, is every girl and guy's dream when it comes to classic shades with standout details. Whether a pair of classic tortoise cat-eye glasses is given a blue tint or a pair of thick -rimmed, black men's glasses given an extra angle at each corner, the range encompasses the desire to be different without having to wear something your friend's wouldn't be caught dead in. All three of the lines featured in today's editorial are notable for their giving us something to wear besides your average designer shades. These brands, we think, have as much personality as our subjects do, making for some serious star power.