1. Gok Wan

Known for his fashion advice, Gok Wan is a true patron of the spectacle wearing brigade. He has even launched his own range of eyewear mostly in the style of those he wears himself and is famous for. Bold, edgy and chunky acetate frames are his statement (whether they make you look good naked however, is a matter of opinion).

2. Johnny Depp

One of the coolest names in Hollywood this smoothster is often seen in his vintage inspired tortoiseshell rounded frames with keyhole nose bridge, which do compliment his face shape and quirky image. This shape has proven popular in recent months in smaller sizes as well as oversized models such as Four Eyes Fashion’s Barnes model.

3. Buddy Holly

A 50’s icon, Buddy Holly’s glasses are still popular today with thick acetate rims very similar to Ray Ban’s RB 2132 Wayfarer shape. Nowadays you don’t need a signature suit and teddy boy hair-piece (you probably don’t even need a prescription) as they’ve become an essential fashion accessory sported by the trendy kids on the high street.

4. Dame Edna

OK, so you’ll need balls (no pun intended) and a pretty ‘out-there’ personality to pull off Dame Edna’s specs confidently, however what better way to make an impact?! Always a winner with fancy dress and a drag queen favourite, these bobby dazzlers are a work of art! If you’re looking for a more subtle be-jewelled pair then try Four Eyes Fashion’s Rosebud.

5. Woody Allen

Not the best ambassador for promoting multiple pairs of spectacles for different occasions, Woody Allen is well known for his (only pair of) glasses which helped establish himself as a successful comedian and entertainer. A versatile style of glasses which have clearly served him well!

6. Austin Powers

Everyone’s favourite, Austin Powers’ thick rimmed acetate specs are as popular today as they were in the 60’s. His iconic image is clearly defined by his prominent eyewear accessory as well as his hideous teeth and personality. If you were likened to Austin Powers, would you take it as a compliment or an insult?

7. Ugly Betty

The female Austin Powers? Whether you think her thick rimmed specs are complimentary or not, one can’t deny that her image is a recognisable one. Complete with braces Ugly Betty does seem to struggle with the concept of ‘geek chic’ rendering her plain geek. However, colourful specs are making a comeback this season with various designers including them in their collections.

8. Penfold

Danger Mouse’s clumsy assistant Penfold’s round glasses and crumpled blue suit are a classic favourite of most kids born in the 80’s. A tricky outfit to pull off successfully and certainly not one to swagger into a first date with, Penfold certainly has charisma with his unique, bespectacled appearance.

9. Alan Carr

Perhaps taking inspiration from our entry number 8, Alan Carr is well known for his chatty (silly) man persona, using his trademark specs as part of his image. Rectangular rimmed glasses with thick temples are his favourite style which compliments his round face, wacky character and on-screen presence.

10. Harry Potter/John Lennon

We couldn’t compile a list of iconic spectacle wearers without including Harry Potter! Round metal rimmed glasses similar to those worn on John Lennon in the 60’s have made a comeback in popularity. Last month we showed Mary-Kate Olsen wearing round shaped glasses. A truly versatile and timeless shape – which other frame shape can look acceptable on a teenage wizard and a world famous 60’s music legend?

Picture from Amanda Loves Clothes

Contrasting frame colours are a must have, especially if your lenses are single colour. If you have a gradient lens, dual coloured frames are the way to go. Fendi have an inspiring collection of contrasting and dual coloured frames which are big and bold, their dual colour trend has been prevalent since 2010 when they made a striking appearance on the catwalk.

The 2011 neon look with bold colours have been carried over with yellow, orange, green and red being big favourites.

Early last week we mentioned Wayfarer sunglasses are a still a classic style that continues to live on and most likely throughout the next decade. With slight tweeks to the design, these retro sunglasses by Ray Ban have been popular for over 50 years, fading in and out on regular basis. With the new Ray Ban Wayfarer style and older retro style, this design is a signature model for Ray Ban and should be going strong for another 50 years!

John Lennon, famous for his vintage teashade sunglasses are another timeless frame. Tom Ford and Ray Ban feature this frame style in their collections and are available in a range of sizes and colours leaving no excuses for a wardrobe malfunction. Mary Kate Olsen is a big fan of the John Lennon round style.

Pictures from Dolly Goes Fashion

Have you got the sports bug? Curved sunglasses are a comfortable design that are aesthetically cool and functional for sports activities.. Not only do these wrap around styles provide additional protection to the sides of the eyes but also provide more grip for running, cycling and other sporting endeavours.

Do you prefer half-framed or half-frameless (supra) glasses? Just to let you know, they are the same. A lot of designers are taking on board this new style so we expect it to be fairly big this season.

Finally, you guessed it. The classic Ray Ban aviator style sunglasses are a popular choice for fashion followers who want to be a little safer. The iconic aviator design has been around since 1936 and became a popular hit with Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun. Take a look at Ray Ban’s ‘Outdoorsman’ and ‘Outdoorsman II’ models as well as the old favourite ‘Aviator’ model RB3025. If you’re looking for the old school trend, packing a contemporary punch then take a peek at the ‘Road Spirit’ style model RB3428 and a more classic RB3422Q.

Aviators are a design that will (most likely) never go out of fashion. They are big enough to give good sun protection, hide identity and have many different models both classic and contemporary to fit different types of heads, styles and face shapes.

If you want to see some more ideas, check sunglasses for 2012 on Pinterest.

Iron Man

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Google X (the Google development team) have been working on some AR glasses that provide augmented reality to the everyday user. Who would have ever thought that a search engine company would be doing this? Sergey Brin, one of Google’s co-founders was spotted promoting Project Glass in early April at The Foundation Fighting Blindness event. A bluish flashing light was seen coming from the glasses, however Sergey said that this is only the prototype and it was the device rebooting screen.

The AR glasses are said to be using voice commands – seeming very similar to Siri, the iPhone based application that uses Wolfram Alpha, Google to give an intelligent life form. Maybe personal assistants will be a dying job?

Want to see how Google foresee the final vision? Watch this short 3 minute video called “One Day…” It shows how Google’s glasses might work in the future with common tasks that smart phones are handling every day.

It is unsure yet whether Project Glass will be standalone device that has its own microprocessor or paired with a mobile device with Bluetooth instead. A problem with Bluetooth is that it requires a lot of battery power so mobile devices will last only a few hours instead of a day or two. If the AR glasses are paired with a mobile device, then it will also lead questions to on whether the devices will be compatible with the iPhone and other mobile device manufacturers.

With these glasses being the first prototype, we’re not too sure whether the AR device will be available as a clip-on option for people who wear glasses or sunglasses, but will be interesting to see how their functionality diversifies into new product development.

Do you want a pair of these Google AR glasses? Rumours are that they will be available at the end of 2012 or beginning of 2013. I wouldn’t be surprised if similar glasses and AR devices start developing in the very near future. To keep up to date with Project Glass, follow the developments on Google+. Google is gathering feedback on the project which will help with developments over the coming months.

In the early 1970s the Wayfarer culture became dormant with drastically less people buying into the design. Almost at the verge of extinction in 1981, Ray Ban signed a $50,000 (USD) deal to place them in movies and television shows. Throughout the 1980’s Ray Ban was appearing in over 60 movies and TV shows per year. You probably recognise the very first sign of Tom Cruise wearing some Wayfarer sunglasses in the film Risky Business.

Moving forward a decade (and century in fact), we get to 2001 where Ray Ban decided to redesign the Wayfarer after becoming unpopular in the 1990s – the Oakley style wrap around frame was the new in trend. The Ray Ban RB2132 sunglasses were redesigned to make the frames smaller, less angular and changed from acetate to injected plastic.

The celebrity watchers of the early 2000’s noticed that a number of celebrities, including Mary-Kate Olsen began wearing vintage Wayfarer frames. In 2008 the fans of Robert Pattinson (Twilight Film) will notice the black Wayfarers that he wore at school. There appears to be a split in the old school and new designs which caused Ray Ban to reintroduce the classic Wayfarer RB2140 for the edgy and rebellious designs.

The iconic design has now become a part of main stream summer fashion and appears to have captured both the vintage lovers and the new stylists. Which do you prefer?

And while Cyber Monday is paradise for online retailers and festive bargain hunters alike – there are always those out there who want to exploit a jolly good thing. Enter the The Crooks [insert menacing instrumental here].

Counterfeit goods are big business and along with handbags, designer sunglasses are one of the most popular faked items on the market. This year as part of a giant initiative to crack down on illegal, U.S. authorities Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Justice have seized over 150 domains selling cheap knockoffs – namely Oakley sunglasses, Ugg boots and NFL jerseys.

While consumers are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to seeking out The Genuine Article (Looky Looky men take note), even the most shrewd can fall prey to online rip-offs. It’s not like you can ‘see’ what you’re buying.

At Savvy Specs, we only ever retail authentic designer eyewear and support any measures to police the unlawful sales of counterfeit goods – particularly sunglasses. While cheap fakes may look ok, the build quality is often very poor and they do nothing to protect the eye from UV exposure – which can lead to long-term sight problems. To make sure you don’t caught out this Christmas we compiled a nifty guide to help you spot (and avoid) counterfeit goods online:

The Genuine Article: How to Spot Fake Designer Sunglasses Online

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The biggest giveaway when spotting a fake is the price. Even wholesalers won’t drop their prices to rock bottom on genuine designer goods.  The general rule of thumb is if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Research

Online reviews are the best way to suss out a retailer before you buy. If they don’t have any, or have bad reviews, then there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a fake. Similarly, it’s always a good idea to Google the brand with the word ‘scam’ in the search field. If something comes up here, AVOID.

Made in Taiwan?

Designer sunglasses are usually manufactured in Italy. This isn’t true for every brand, but if any other country is mentioned you would be wise to research the brand to find out where they manufacture – particularly if Taiwan is listed.

Extras?

Genuine designer eyewear should come with the original case and dustbag. If these aren’t mentioned, email the seller and ask if they are provided. Genuine retailers will usually respond to questions in a timely manner, and if they don’t, it may indicate that they aren’t what they seem.

Language

If a domain ends in .uk or claims to be working out of the US and the site copy features obvious typos or broken English (think scam emails) it could indicate a foreign scam business in disguise. This isn’t a given, and there are many genuine retailers outside of these countries, but this is usually one of the biggest giveaways of a fraudulent online retailer. If in doubt, research.

If you come across anything suspicious, report it directly to one of the above named authorities or Consumer Fraud Reporting.

If you really want to avoid counterfeit goods this Christmas, you need to purchase from trusted retailers, and remember, you get what you pay for. Why not check out our online store for authentic designer eyewear brands such as Ray Ban, Vera Wang, Elle and many more. While we may not charge bargain basement prices, we strive to keep ours as low as possible – passing down savings to you wherever we can. At Savvy Specs, it’s the customer who always gets a genuine deal. Happy shopping!

We’re talking sunglasses.

Even if you’re not going away on holiday this season, if you’re regularly exposed to sunlight (in particular if you work outdoors, or drive long distances) you should be wearing sunglasses with UV400 (100% UV) protection daily. Because long term, your eyes will thank you for it.

Just because your legs aren’t getting a suntan, don’t assume that your eyes aren’t. Granted, they don’t tan in the Strictly Come Dancing sense, but the delicate membrane of the retina (not to mention the skin around the eyes) is extremely susceptible to UV damage, even in the depths of winter.

As with all sun exposure, the greatest risk period is between 10am and 2pm, so if you know you’re going to be outdoors during this time don’t forget to slip a pair of high-protection shades in your pocket. That is unless you want to add cataracts, eyelid sunburns, Photokeratitis (cornea burns) Pterygia, (growths on the white of the eye) skin cancer and solar retinopathy (retina burns) to your medical wishlist.

A decent pair of sunglasses should take you seamlessly into any season, but if you want to update your winter portfolio with a new pair of sunglasses, here at Savvy Specs we have plenty to choose from. So whether you like to fly high in Aviators or bug out in oversize Jackie O’s, check into our online store today and choose your signature all-weather frame.

Within the optical industry things are no different. Recognising a need to extend the life of spectacles beyond consumerist whim, schemes like Vision Aid Overseas and Second Sight Project encourage people to donate their old glasses to those in third world countries for whom eye health is a luxury, not a necessity.

Still, every year millions of inexpensive frames are dumped into landfill, particularly high-fashion acetate sunglasses imported from the Far East. While acetate may not be the most eco-friendly of materials, it remains the industry standard at present. Thankfully, more designers are ‘thinking outside the box’ when it comes to sourcing materials for their frames.

At this year’s Royal College of Art graduate show Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves AKA Studio Swine exhibited their Human Hair glasses. An innovative collection of frames made from real human hair fused with 100% biodegradable bioresin, Studio Swine prove that the key to sustainability is already under our hats.

Here at Savvy Specs we support and commend those making a strong commitment to sustainability and encourage the production of eco-friendly eyewear wherever possible. Which is why we are committed to bringing you frames which are as good for the environment as they are for your eyes. The Four Eyes Otto frame is a quirky and inexpensive bamboo frame that is a stylish alternative to acetate frames. These delicate supra frames are available in black, dark wood and light wood (shown).

Originally designed in the 1936, they featured G-15 tempered glass lenses to protect pilot’s eyes during flight. By the 60s, they were beginning to gain momentum as a fashion accessory, but it wasn’t until the 1980s when Tom Cruise played hotshot pilot Maverick in the cult movie Top Gun that they really started to fly. Soon every major player was wearing them, from Michael Jackson to George Michael.

With its clean masculine lines and cool metallic glint, this oversize frame oozes masculinity and teamed with leather it’s the ultimate embodiment of male sexuality. George knew this only too well and, in what has now become an iconic style snapshot of the 80s, his sexed-up Aviator and leather jacket combo on the cover of his platinum selling Faith album captured hearts – and loins – worldwide. That’s not to suggest that the Aviator is just for boys. It’s not a delicate frame – smaller faces tend to drown under its androgynous glare – but girls just love the nicked-it-off-my-boyfriend nonchalance it evokes.

Today, no self-respecting celebrity is without their flying glasses, as Victoria Beckham, Zac Efron, Johnny Knoxville, Johnny Depp, Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Alba well know.

Supermodel Elle Macpherson clearly can’t get enough of her Ray Bans. Recent shady appearances on Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model prove that when it comes to the Aviator, there’s no such thing as overwear.

It’s hardly surprising that the Ray Ban Aviator remains one the most popular frames at Savvy Specs. The Ray Ban RB3407 is a worthy wardrobe investment and comes in a range of four new season shades, including these show-stopping gunmetal frames with rainbow gradient mirror lenses. Leather jacket optional.

[George Michael has Faith in Aviators][Tom Cruise takes flight in Top Gun][Zac Efron mans up in leather & Aviators for GQ Magazine][Kate Hudson’s flying glasses are Almost Famous][Michael Jackson cements the Aviator in style HIStory][Blogger Bohemian Mannequin does retro with a do-rag & Aviators][Superglue: Elle Macpherson is stuck on Ray Bans][Cute boho boy trends in a scarf & Aviators]
[Taylor Momsen looks like she just rolled out of bed & borrowed her boyfriend’s shades][Oh Johnny! Depp’s yellow Aviators pop in Fear and Loathing, & Jackass Knoxville is the epitome of cool in his]

Due for release this autumn, the eyewear collection has been aptly named the ‘Vintage series’ and will feature classic frames with new lens coatings, creating a fusion between retro design and contemporary technology, while maintaining the brand’s sporting heritage for which it has become renowned.

The frames can be seen at Heuer Tag Eyewear

The frames will have a variety of lens options, all of which will feature an eyecatching graduated photochromic lens with hydrophobic (for preventing water and mist smear) as well as oleophobic (oil smear and dust prevention). The Vintage series collection will consist of four lightweight models which are handmade in France and will all feature a self hinge opening mechanism and temple detail. The lenses are where these frames really come into their own though. With polarised and photochromic options they add to the overall quality (and price) that you would expect from a Tag Hauer product.

The new Tag Heuer sunglasses collection is only due to be available in authorised Tag Heuer eyewear retailers and will retail between £285.00 and £325.00

The NHS frames’ noughties metamorphosis into cool probably went something like this: a couple of fashion students think it would be ironic to reference Brains from Thunderbirds. Suddenly, hipsters start flaunting their geeks in trendy clubs and bars and SNAP! they wind up in a super cool street style blog. Next are the fashion magazines and music videos. Finally they hit the catwalk, promptly followed by a ‘trickle down’ to the high street nationwide. You may argue that this is a trend, which it undeniably is. You may also, if you’re one of these ahead-of-the-curve fashion people, think that ‘geek chic’ is dead. But, there’s more to this than meets the bespectacled eye. This eyewear trend belongs to a style tribe. For those of you who aren’t familiar with such jargon, a style tribe refers to a group who aspire to a collective mentality by means of personal style – a sartorial membership badge if you will. In this case, we’re looking at the tribe of The Geek.  Ah, that misunderstood brainiac who wore his prescription glasses for corrective purposes, and who for the best part of his youth was labelled ‘Four Eyes’. Then he hit university and met other open-minded souls, who like him wore their frames with pride; suddenly, he belonged. His despised glasses became a signifier of something cool: intelligence. And so, every fashion forward Tom, Dick and Harriet started ditching the contacts and letting their glasses do the talking – the thicker the frame, the cooler they became. In their slogan pop culture tees, and custom kicks they represented what The Geek did too.

Ah yes, suddenly it’s hip to be cool, and love him or hate him, The Geek is here to stay. So, if you can’t beat him with his own briefcase, the very least you can do is join him and his tribe of merry sock-wearing boffs. Forget Brain Training, Ray Ban’s RX5184 frame provides an instant IQ upgrade. And don’t worry if you’re blessed with 20/20 vision, non-prescription lenses are available at no extra charge on all geek glasses – although if anyone asks, you’re blind without them. What happens in Geek Club, stays in Geek Club, OK?

[Music man Mark Ronson hits a black note in geek glasses]  [Geek’s in Fashion: Iconic Brit Designer Henry Holland] [Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker in his trademark NHS frames] [Justin Timberlake ‘Brings Specsy Back’] [Johnny Depp looks more professor than pirate in his geeks]