• • Return to Vision Direct
  • Facebook Fan Page
• • 
  • Have you ever wanted to row across the Indian Ocean in 45 days? Read more about how Vision Direct Is contributing to the 2009 Indian Ocean Rowing Race.

• Top 5 Designer Sunglasses

  • Oakley
  • Prada
  • Arnette
  • Ray Ban
  • Christian Dior

• Top 5 Designer Glasses

  • Gucci
  • Prada
  • Bvlgari
  • Oakley
  • Versace

• EyePod Links

  • Designer Eyeglasses
  • Designer Sunglasses
  • Budget Eyeglasses
  • Best Deal This Week

• Recently Written

  • The Best Sunglasses for Extreme Sporting
  • Why Red is the in-color in 2009
  • Eyewear for the Outback
  • Top Five Biggest Eyewear Fashion Trends
  • Best Eyewear for the Would-Be Model
  • Eyewear For Redheads
  • Eyewear for Extreme Sporting
  • The Best Military Eyewear
  • Update on the Go West Rowing Team Sponsored by Vision Direct
  • Australians Hoping to Keep Aussie Sunnie Laws

• Categories

  • Blogroll
  • Brands Wave
  • Celebrity Watch
  • Community Outreach
  • Designer Eyeglasses
  • Designer Sunglasses
  • Eyewear Knowledge
  • Fun with Eyewear
  • International Designer Glasses Blogs
  • Vision Direct Sponsorship

• Syndicate eyePod

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

• Archives

  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008

• Search

Sports, in the modern era, have taken on new meaning as technology advances. No longer is a bike ride a simple Sunday activity- now bike riding involves a thousand-dollar machine decked out with all the latest equipment and aerodynamic clothing.

Rudy Project sunglasses are the top-of-the-line in high performance sports like shooting, biking and rowing. These professionally engineered frames are even used by the Israeli military sniper units for their performance enhancing properties.

Oakley is, of course, the holy grail of the sporting community. Every true athlete knows the brand and enjoys the developments and designs that Oakley has produced. Lance Armstrong has even paired up with Oakley to design a model that has racing bikers in mind.

Ray Bans are a fun sporting eyewear used, mostly, once off the court. These fashion-forward frames are all the rage in the skateboarding, trick bike and snowboarding communities where harsh light is a daily occurrence and looking cool of optimal importance.

Bolle eyewear sponsors several amazing female athletes, from surfers to snowboarders and bikers, these sunglasses come highly recommended from some of the top female athletes in the field. With simple designs that highlight the natural curves and colors of a woman’s features, Bolle is a favorite on the beaches and on the streets from California to Sydney.

Serengeti outdoor eyewear is the Bolle equivalent for men. Focusing on driving, outback, racing and riding sports, Serengeti has created a name for itself in the male sporting community as the top-of-the-line option for classy protection.

Colors very rarely constitute an entire fashion trend, but in 2009 the most traditional of colors has made quite a splash in the fashion world. The trend began with the Ray Ban Wayfarer surge in late 2008 and has since morphed into an entire fashion ideology. Candy apple red is the color of 2009- and no other can compare this year. In the world of high fashion eyewear, designers are scrambling to make red frames in every red-friendly design. Here are a few tips when buying red.

For blondes, bright red is a breeze. The shark contrast with the natural splendor of lighter hair is startling and pleasing, if not a bit coquettish. For blondes trying to cash in on the red trend of 2009, the best bet is to capitalize on the childish look of the color by accessorizing with overly large or bulky red objects like the traditional Wayfarer and a clunky red bag.

Brunettes need to be a bit more subtle, but red can really work to bring out the highlights in auburn hair and darker skin. Brunettes should think ‘less is more’ with bright red, and accessorize with classy adaptations on traditional fashion trends in the new hit color. Try the red frames of Hugo Boss and Ralph Lauren which adhere to new trends but remain conservative. Pair your new red frames with black heels with a red sole and you’ll be in business.

Redheads rarely get the chance to go red. In 2009, ignore the standard complaint that red will clash with your skin and hair tones and embrace the color with passion. For optimal effect try a creative model from a trusted brand, like a flashy Dior or stunning Gucci. Pair this with bright orange or yellow shoes and you are ready for a night on the town.

When one thinks of the outback, one thinks of rugged, handsome men who are well prepared for any contingency and who can carry their own in the wild. One thinks of a person with a cowboy hat, boots, a pocket knife and a plan. For the outback enthusiast eyewear can be of prime importance. The sun can not only severely damage your skin, but it can cause damage to your eyes, even blindness. Proper eyewear is packing 101 for the real outdoorsmen.

For anyone who will be spending time out with the kangaroos, Ray Bans are a great way to protect your eyes, stay in style and fit the bill of the rugged and handsome outdoorsmen. The frames are lightweight and durable while the lenses are tinted to block out unwanted light and glare. In addition, Ray Bans are the most classical design and look for any outdoors men.

Police eyewear has skyrocketed in popularity recently and is a top pick for the manly outdoorsmen seeking adventure. While the designs were created for urban motorcyclists, they translate well into the business world, the outdoors and even to extreme athleticism. The aerodynamic designs and sharp, confident lines give the impression of a man who means business.

While many may scoff at the name dropping, Armani eyewear is not only durable, high-quality and sleek, but ruggedly handsome in design with simple colors and frames that don’t detract from a man’s natural features. Armani eyewear, especially sunglasses, are great for the outdoors or for the ladies man.

In recent months several trends have emerged which are likely to be prevalent throughout 2009 and well into 2010. Police, Prada and Ray-Ban have stolen the show and are likely to remain popular.

For men, Police sunglasses have reached epic heights, in the fashion world, and surprisingly, in Hollywood. It is not a common thing to see several hot celebrity men dressing in similar fashion. In Hollywood, for a man the name of the game is standing out. Yet men across Hollywood are donning Police sunglasses and proudly wearing them in public, as well as sponsoring the brand. Antonio Bandaras and George Clooney are already spokesmen; that’s two of the world’s hottest men. Perhaps Brad Pitt will be next seasons model?

Meanwhile, Prada is making a near Olympic comeback from their recent dud season in 2008. Having revived their accessories department and ushered new creative fervor into the designs the 2009 release was a breath of fresh air compared to the dull and unimaginative release of the previous season. In addition to killer eyewear, Prada has rocked the women’s shoes segment this year.

Ray Ban Wayfarers have made a colorful and lasting come back with the recent re-release of the Ray Ban Clubmaster series as well as the color-your-own Wayfarer set. Because these re-released are a bit more difficult to come back, the Wayfarer has surged to the front of the fashion race in recent months among young women. Some say it is more fun being blonde, and many a friendly and chipper blonde has donned the colorful red, blue and green Wayfarers to show the pep in their step.

For the aspiring model, there are very few things more important than how you present yourself on your first introductory meetings with fashion houses. Do you wear Dior or Paul Smith? Here are a few tips on how to accessorize for your introductory meeting, what to expect, and more importantly, what to wear.

Arrive exactly ten minutes early. More than that and you are putting your host in an uncomfortable position of having to shift his or her schedule for you. Less than ten minutes early and if there is paperwork or preliminary photos to do you will keep your host waiting. Neither is acceptable.

Ensure that you are wearing at least one item from the fashion house if it is a larger house. Do some homework to discover who their competitors are and avoid wearing their clothing. For the rest of your clothing go either vintage or mid-level designers.

The best way to show that you are up on the latest trends is through accessories. You’ll want to express your sense of style with a few key items: shoes, sunglasses, purse and watch. Leave off everything else. Keep in mind that designers want to imagine you wearing their clothing, so wear simple designs and plain colors (no patterns) to your introduction so they can easily view you as a canvas on which their clothing will hang. Simple but stylish accessories are the best way to compliment your canvas wardrobe. Make sure you are wearing heels, ladies, so you can show off your runway walk. Men, be prepared to show your walk in a variety of shoes or barefoot, and always wear lace up Dockers or other plain but stylish shoes.

For your other accessories, go mainstream vague, meaning a mid-level designer. This shows that you are in-tune with the up and coming group of designers and that you really know your industry. For sunglasses, you should make sure they accentuate your natural features and skin and hair tones. Make sure you pick an up-and-coming or creative designer like Alain Mikli or Alexander McQueen.

Many a redhead wonders what to do about their wardrobe, should one accessorize with Versace, like a blonde, or with Prada, like brunettes? With bright hair, there are several colors that are not as appealing on a redhead. Yellows, reds and oranges make a redhead look washed out and sickly. For redhead women, fashion can be a frustrating and challenging hurdle. Here are a few tips to optimize your looks and make fashion less intimidating.

First of all, don’t shy away from the red. Red hair is feisty, powerful and bold. You can embrace these traits by accessorizing to meet the boldness head on. Dark colors, especially black, blue, grey and brown, make the red really stand out. When choosing accessories for a bold redhead, go dark and defined; the designs of Gucci, Dior and Ralph Lauren work well for this. For Sunglasses, the bolder the better, jump past simple designs and try Persol, Police and Miu Miu sunglasses to really bring out the feisty. 

Another method of selection fashion accessories for redheads is to find muted and simple designs so as not to detract from your natural boldness. Accessorizing with fragile and delicate designs helps to even out the bold nature of the red hair and gives a gentle and nurturing look. Try frameless eyewear by Hugo Boss or Paul Smith and the classic designs of Tom Ford sunglasses.

A third tactic is to use the tone of your hair as a personality trait. Many redheads find accessorizing in natural-looking or natural tones helps to make the red more natural and thus subdued. Dressing in khaki, cotton and simple floral or tie-died prints helps to create this look. For eyewear, anything simple but natural works best, for sunglasses try classic Ray Ban aviators while for eyewear try the classic designs of Oliver Peoples.

Depending on your sport of choice, there is a specific sunglasses brand designed just for you. Adidas, Nike, Oakley, Bolle and others are perfect for the dedicated athlete. From snowboarding to surfing, biking to hang gliding, there is something for every adrenaline junkie to increase performance and look stylish while doing so.

For biking sports, we recommended Oakley, as even the great Lance Armstrong wears these to complete his races in style. Not only do they enhance performance by increasing contrast so you can detect changes in the road before you, but their polarization and anti-rain coatings make them impervious to changes in weather. Oakley also provides high-quality, performance enhancing goggles for snow and water sports.

For traditional sports like basketball and baseball we recommend Adidas eyewear, which is stylish, sporty and sure to perform at the highest levels of perfection and enhancement. For the sports addict who isn’t into high fashion, Adidas is a great choice. Adidas also has goggles for snow sports, or when slippage isn’t an option.

For running and aviation sports, Nike is the best because their temple bars are designed to keep eyewear firmly in place. With comfortable nose bridges, light weight frames and minimalist obstruction, these glasses are perfect for higher impact sports, or any activity where shifting would occur with normal frames.

Bolle eyewear is perfect for outdoor sports that are medium impact and high profile, like hiking, climbing or volleyball. They will keep firmly in place, are lightweight and reliable, but have the added benefit of being fashionable and classy.

Tested by the Israeli military, Rudy Project eyewear is the best in the business for police and snipers in training. Naturally, the brand is advertised for extreme sporting, but various militaries have picked up the brand because of its adaptability, long-range focus capability and snug fit. Additionally, the eyewear brand is as technologically advanced and aerodynamic as any pair of sunglasses can be. While they are a bit spendy, for the professionally there are fewer pieces of equipment more important than eyewear for long range shooting. For modern hunters and riflemen, Rudy Project eyewear is a creative way to up your game.

Oakley is well known for its performance enhancing capabilities like snug fit and high-impact resistance. While everyone knows Oakley makes the best in extreme sporting eyewear, few are aware that the designs are also being used by the military for their winter warfare training. Oakley goggles (with prescription inlets) are perfect for snowmobiling, skiing and winter survival where snow blindness is an unfortunate likelihood. Similarly, with tinted lenses, Oakley goggles are perfect for increasing contrast (making shapes in the snow appear more visible) and decreasing glare from snow and ice.

Ray Ban’s are used in the military for various low impact activities, including workmen in the air force and navy whose goals are scouting and reconnaissance. While also stylish, Ray Ban’s have a military tradition that make them a must-have for the career officer. Gen. Douglas McArthur was photographed in Aviators in WWII and their popularity on military bases has skyrocketed since.

The Go West team has completed their first round of compulsory equipment testing for the pan-Indian race set to launch later this month. The boat, named the “Whatever it Takes” will complete its inspection phase soon and needs to be in top condition to handle the rough waters ahead.

After passing their RYA Yacht master Theory courses on the 1st of April the crew have given several interviews and have now begun to mentally prepare themselves for the arduous task ahead. While training has dwindled in intensity due to boat preparations and yacht theory training courses, the crew feels they are ready to take on the Indian Ocean.

Vision Direct sponsors the Go West team and applauds their dedication to extreme sporting. Vision Direct has also supplied the four crew members with the best in designer sporting eyewear, including Rudy Project, Oakley, Burberry and more.

Australia is one of the few countries still defying international sunglasses standards that would, if enacted, actually lower the sunnie standards in Australia. Australia has labels on deep red, yellow and brown tinted sunglasses that warn consumers of the danger of driving in these tinted sunglasses. Under current standards, blue-light blocking sunglasses are labeled unsuitable for driving if they block over 30% of blue light, because they block much of the blue-green light emitted from traffic lights.

Because a sizable percentage of the population suffers some sort of color blindness or color dulling (over 8% in men and 1 in 200 for women) the traffic lights have been imbibed with a subtle blue tint, which is easier for color blind or deficient people to see than green. The dark red, brown and yellow sunglasses that block over 30% of blue light are dangerous in driving situations and are thus properly labeled. In a study performed recently many color blind/deficient test subjects wearing the European standard 60% blue block sunglasses could not distinguish light colors varying from yellow, green, blue and in some cases red. The dangers pointed out by this study are obvious for color deficient citizens wearing the international standard sunglasses while driving.

If Australia were to adopt international safety standards it would mean dropping the warning labels off of the potentially dangerous eyewear. Many Australians are unhappy with the European pressure to change the warning from all 30% blue blockaded eyewear to a drastic 60% blue-block. While the economic crisis worsens, some Australians see the pressure to change warning labels as a sign that manufacturers in Europe see the labels as hampering sales in Australia.

Next Page →

Vision Direct Poll

Quotations

• "I think hearts are very much like glasses. If they do not break with the first ring, they usually last a considerable time."
• Letitia Landon
•  
• "Do not expect the world to look bright, if you habitually wear gray-brown glasses."
• Charles William Eliot
•  
• "People have a tendency to see country life through rose-colored glasses."
• P. J. Harvey
•  
• "Everybody was starting to grow long hair and wear pink suits and purple glasses and stuff and then, I suppose, some people thought we were crazy, but we weren't really crazy because we're all still here!"
• Noel Redding

• Blogroll

  • Canada - Designer sunglasses and glasses news and trend updates for Canada.
  • Japan - Japanese designer sunglasses and glasses news and updates.
  • United Kingdom - News and overview of designer sunglasses and glasses trends in the UK.
  • United States - Designer glasses and sunglasses news, articles and updates.