Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Leader of the Pack

by

I was amused by yesterday’s New York Times article about how round sunglasses are the hot look this summer. Here’s how it starts:

“Was it only last year that round sunglasses were considered square?

The hot eyewear look of 2008 was pretty much defined by plastic Wayfarer knockoffs, garish neon trapezoids often seen color-coordinated with a plaid shirt and sneakers. Or else it was ‘shutter shades,’ those ventilated blinders popularized by Kanye West.”

Alrighty then! Here’s a photo of me from March 2008. Click it to go to my original post.


The Times also said, “When Proenza Schouler introduced round sunglasses in spring 2008, the designers were actually so far ahead of the trend that they were at a disadvantage.” It’s true. Early birds have it rough. I only managed to get the glasses I wore in the picture thanks to my friend Evan Ross, owner of the vintage store Frock, who tracked them down for me a couple of years ago. No one was making what I was looking for at the time. Now I’m interested in a new sunglasses shape for this summer. I can’t find it anywhere so far, which, I guess, means that next year I’ll find it everywhere!

This is exactly why I started designing my own jewelry: I could never find what I wanted when I wanted it. Maybe a sunglasses line is next for me!

Speaking of people catching up to my fashion sense, I was equally amused by WWD’s piece on the popularity of Lanvin’s blue, leopard-print dresses. If you’re on my blog roll and wrote anything about the Golden Globes, chances are good that you, like Mahalo Fashion, have a comment from me that expresses my love for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Lanvin. MaggieG and Marisa Tomei were the standouts of the night to me, and I didn’t hesitate to say so, unlike some less adventurous souls who dithered over the print and the bow.

I called it!

Of course, I’ve always been a big fan of leopard, no matter what other people might think of it.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. A leopard to me, is best when he is blue. The red ones have the worst manners…

  2. you are definitely a trend setter. Why read mags when I can get all the trends right here.

  3. But FLS, I'm reading YOU for the trends. Where do you think I'm getting all these great ideas from? 😉

  4. Thanks for your comment 🙂 I'm a leopard lover, too, and your "Sunday Styles Strikes Again" post was hilarious.

  7. See, this is why you are a thermos full of hot awesome. I love it. You are way ahead of the game.

  9. you look very good in those glasses, i don't think too many people can pull of glasses that shape without looking like they have very round faces!

  10. You see I'd look like a dork in round sunnies – ya wear 'em well (trendsetter)

  11. Hi there-a sunglasses line will be fabulous, it would be great to see some uniquely designed sunnies for a change! Thanks so much for the Birthday wishes my dear and have a great weekend!

  12. Animal print is great, some people just do not know how to wear it. I think that is what gives it the bad name. Keep on staying ahead of the trend.=) I like to be out of the loop sometimes, that way you are always orginal. I like to keep my hair of my face a lot and scarfs can be to bulky all folded into a headband. So I use ties….started noticing some of the younger girls I work with wearing ties in their hair too.=) It was cute.

  13. I've kept all my old sunglasses – so one day I'll be in fashion again at every phase.

  14. I LOVED that print. Still do.

    I don't however feel the same way about round framed sunglasses.

  16. Wendy, thanks for the heads up on your post! I completely agree with you. We are SO ahead of the curve! My style motto is- always be true to who you are and you won't look like all the trend whores. I sometimes slip up, but that's what returns are for. I know that if I see something everywhere, I know to go in the other direction for inspiration.

  17. Maybe you could do jeweled sunglasses? If you had round sunglasses in 2008 time to move on- when the me-too crowd flocks to it.

  19. I have tendacy to loose or sit on my sunglasses 😀 I truly pitty any pair I own, be they instyle or not….

  20. I was always surprised by the outcry against Gyllenhaal's dress at those awards– when I think back to the awards of this past year, what I loved, that dress always stands out in my mind. Go Maggie for wearing something daring & fun (just like she is).

  21. I've always loved those round glasses, they have unfailing made me look like an utter idiot unfortunately so I stopped wearing them. I do miss the pair I had with a round clear perspex frame and purple lenses though.

  22. Hi!! I've been following your blog for alittle while now and this is my first time commenting! I love it! You keep me coming back daily 🙂

  24. I had some in the mid-90s, but fast realised they really don't suit my face shape. They look awesome on you though.

    (my captcha was 'fooke', a [nearly] Northern English faux-swearword seems highly appropriate for the WendyB blog)

  26. Believe it or not, we loved that dress, in large part because of the bow. No bow, no fabulousness, IOHO.

    Great post Miss Wendy. Of course, we are so-not-hip that when we saw that story yesterday the reaction was more of a "Oh, did they go out?" Heh-heh.

    Hugs and happiness to you,
    tp

  27. Yes, design sunglasses please! And I liked almost everything Maggie wore to big events last year, she was amazing in that dress.

  31. Love your round sunnies, and how that NY Times article traced the evolution of the trend!

    And that Lanvin leopard print is freakin' awesome, on everything from shoes to handbags to dresses ~ love it!

    xoxox,
    CC

    P.S. You definitely need to get some shorts, darling! I just bought my first pair since I was in my 20s and I feel totally liberated!

  32. your glasses are bang on trend and your obviously ahead of the trends honey!love that lnvin dress
    xx
    Marian

  33. I immediately thought of you when I saw that story. & you absolutely should start a sunglasses line.

  34. you are ahead of your time. i remember years ago i wanted hoop earrings and asked everywhere which the sa would only give me a blank look and suddenly hoops were everywhere.

  35. You are so cutting edge that I am thinking of using your name every time I mean c.e. "Those glasses are so WendyB!!!" You have Alpha style; you are a fashion pack leader and I am happy to be one of your bitches.

  36. Hail, dear leader! I agree–you do have the most acute sense of what's going to be hot. That's why I am your devoted follower.

    And that's why I gave you the Neno's Award (see my blog for proof!). You deserve it!

  38. When Mr. C was in his 20s and wore his round glasses in NYC, he was mistaken for John Lennon. I don't know what to think of this. (My word recognition is UMENS. Indeed.)

  39. Aww you look great in your sunglassses! And you definitely are leader of the pack; I bet there are coolhunters galore lurking on your blog…;)

  40. Yup, so did a post on leopard and that dress a while back cuz it was such a home run! I'm thinking the hubs might have to get me your zebra studs. So fabulous!

  42. I want big framed reading glasses! so sick of prada rip off peep overs which are fine for reading, no good for blogging.

    Whats up with the huge Jacqui O style sunnies, and teeny readers?

    going to have to buy vintage frames on line and get prescription filled.

    xx

    ps. I had those round specs as sunnies in 1984

  43. Ha, I NEVER pay attention to sunglass trends. I have a round face, so I have to wear rectangular shades. NOTHING else works for my face type. Rather than following trends, wear what works for you.

    As for leopard…I hate it when people OD on it. I saw one woman who looked like she threw up a leopard. It was quite disconcerting. Now, done right, it looks chic.

  46. That's funny…I've also been wearing my round glasses lately. I got them 13 years ago on my 10th b-day…lol
    Wow, you must have had an amazing time honeymooning in Positano:) why did you pick that location for the honeymoon? was it recommended by someone?

    xoxo
    Mimi