Style

Looking for More Inspiration On How To Accessorize Your Loree Rodkin Hunters? Today’s Look from Urban Optiques Dresses The Hunters Up.

Accessorizing eyewear with other pieces in your wardrobe is often less about the eyewear, and more about the rest of the outfit.

Today’s look, which again features the Loree Rodkin Hunter Special  Edition sunglasses, is the perfect example.

The first words that usually come out of people’s mouths when they see the Loree Rodkin Eyewear Collection is “edgy” or “gothic.”  And it’s true:  Loree’s distinct style of jewelry and eyewear design is rife with daggers, skulls, serpentine embellishments and crosses.

So you might be tempted to think the only way to wear her jewelry or eyewear is with a pair of leather pants and stilettos.

But as many of Loree Rodkin’s devotees will attest, her designs are combined with formal wear all of the time.  Watch the red carpet at any Hollywood or major fashion event, and you’ll likely see at least one luminary wearing Loree’s jewelry alongside their couture dress.  A quick glance at Loree Rodkin’s press book will settle any lingering doubts you might have.

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Urban Optiques and Sama Eyewear Featured Together in Women’s Wear Daily Accessory Edition Discussing the Trend Toward 24-karat Gold Sunglasses

We were just perusing the July 19th Edition of  Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) and were delighted to find that an interview we gave to fashion reporter Lauren Benet Stephenson at WWD a few weeks ago helped shape a full-page piece on 24-karat gold lensed eyewear in this week’s July WWD Accessories Issue.

While we’re a pretty modest group around Urban Optiques (aside from all of our flashy sunglasses), this is one of those times when it feels okay to brag a bit. After all, it’s not every day that a small, independent eyewear boutique like Urban Optiques receives this kind of exposure in the fashion industry’s premier global daily. We were also excited to see sunglasses from both Sama and Badgley Mischka featured not only in the article, but on the cover.  We love it when we can help our best partners get more exposure.

If the New York Times is where you go for world events, and the Wall Street Journal for financial news, WWD is the first place every fashion designer, retailer and industry mover-and-shaker goes to see what’s hot in the industry.  So serving as the primary, trusted retail source for this article (we’re actually the only consumer facing source in the article — everyone else quoted represents the brands and eyewear manufacturers)  is kind of a big deal for us.

We’re also particularly proud of the job that our Practice Manager, Lindsey Champine,  did working with the writer on this story. Lindsey’s quotes are golden (no pun intended), especially her response to the reporter’s question about why she believed ultra-lux eyewear products like 24-karat gold lenses continue to sell so well, even in a struggling economy.

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Urban Optiques Takes the Loree Rodkin “Hunter” Sunglasses & Goes a Little Bit Wild

As we mentioned earlier in the week, Urban Optiques has partnered with 944 Detroit Magazine to give away a pair of fab Loree Rodkin eyeCouture Special Edition “Hunter”  Sunglasses with 18K white gold lenses as part of 944’s new “Detroit Swag” feature.

I won’t go into all the reasons that these are amazing sunglasses worth every cent of their $1,200 price tag (okay, I will: They have genuine hand-cut calfskin leather inserts, 18K gold couture lenses and, of course, the jewelry-grade sterling silver Loree Rodkin signature skulls at the temples.)

The real question on everyone’s mind is how do I wear them?

So to provide some inspiration, we’re putting together five looks this month ranging from mild, to a little bit wild — to completely wild — to show you how easy it is to accessorize these super-lux aviators.

This is a unisex frame, so be patient men … we’ll provide some looks for you also. But today we’re going to start with a cool, urban look that combines the Special Edition Loree Rodkin Hunter with a pair of Alice + Olivia seamed biker pants, Brooke Western Snake Tee, and a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti pumps.

We also tossed in some great accessories that play off from the leather, sterling silver and platinum finish on the Hunter sunglasses, including a vintage Chanel ring, Sonora Leather bracelet and dog-tag style monogrammed charm from Helen Ficalora (you can customize it with your initial.)

All of the elements of the ensemble (minus the Loree Rodkin sunglasses) are available at Shopbop.com.

To enter the 944 Detroit/Urban Optiques giveaway and have a chance at winning the Special Edition Loree Rodkin Hunter sunglasses, visit the 944 Detroit Swag Microsite.

A Little Bit Wild

Experience First Hand The Sama Eyewear Runway Show at the Angiolucci Lunettes Boutique in Catania, Italy.  Featuring Sunglasses from the Sama, Badgley Mischka and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture Collections.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, we adore Sama Eyewear around Urban Optiques.

Why?

Well,  Sama is simply producing some of the most amazing, contemporary couture eyewear on the planet.  Forget about Chanel, D&G, Dior, Burberry and Coach.  Anyone can buy that at Sunglass Shack or Lenscrafters.  If you want something truly unique, you’ll want Sama.

If you don’t believe us, check out this great video filmed at the Angiolucci Lunettes Boutique in Catania, Italy. Not only does it feature some of Sama’s hottest sunglasses, but it also includes some great clips from Sama founder and lead designer Sheila Vance.

It speaks for itself.

The footage includes sunglasses from Sama, Badgley Mischka Eyewear and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture.

Enjoy and Grazie! to Angiolucci for sharing this with us all:

Nothing Whispers Long Days at the Beach like the Chloé Tilia Sunglass. Today’s Look Shows You How to Rock These Born-for-the-Beach Sunglasses All Summer Long.

Sometimes you run across a pair of sunglasses with such a distinct personality that everyone who sees them uses the same adjective to describe them.

That’s exactly what happened when we first set our eyes on the Chloé “Tilia” sunglasses.

When our Chloé rep pulled out the Tilias, the first word out of all our mouths was: “Beach!”

From the oversized, 50s-inspired cat-eye shape to the muted, earth-tone pastels and adorable little metallic star in the corner of the lens, the Tilia just seemed to evoke images of toes-in-the-sand or lounging poolside with a mojito in your hand.

It turns out, though, that the Chloé Tilia is a remarkably versatile sunglass.  Combine it with a pair of vintage jeans and billowing peasant blouse and it takes on a decidedly Boho vibe.  Not bad for a single pair of shades. continue

Our Final Look for the “Sama Heart of Gold Sunglass Five Ways in Five Days” Style Series Draws Its Inspiration and Materials Straight from Nature

The final look in our “Sama Heart of Gold Sunglasses: Five Ways Over Five Days“ Style Series is all about nature.

We centered the entire look around the beautifully light and airy purple and orange Diane Von Furstenburg “Layly” Tiger dress, which puts a new, colorful twist on this season’s continued obsession with animal prints.

We tried to carry the “Au Naturale” theme through the entire look, choosing accessories that utilized natural materials like wood and cork:  Purple D Squared wood platform heels, a Tahari cork clutch and a wood and gold bangle bracelet to finish it off.

Of course, there are also the Sama Heart of Gold sunglasses, which complement the rich, royal oranges and purples that dominate the ensemble.

Enjoy!

Au Naturale

You’ve Seen this Look, Now See the Rest!

Don’t forget to check out the other four looks we put together with the Sama Heart of Gold sunglasses:

• Look One: Guilded Pleasures
• Look Two: Platinum Play
• Look Three: Day to Night
• Look Four: Street Scene
• Look Five: Au Naturale

Can the Sama Heart of Gold Sunglass Hold Up to A Casual, But Chic Urban Look? You Tell Us After You’ve Seen Today’s “Heart of Gold: Five Ways Over Five Days” Look from Urban Optiques.

With just one more day left in our “Sama Heart of Gold Sunglasses: Five Ways Over Five Days“ Style Series we decided to put together a more casual, street-smart and urban look with the Sama Heart of Gold Sunglasses.

Today’s look starts with a pair of sleek, latex-look leggings from Alice + Olivia paired with a cool, over-sized graphic jersey by Pagano.

We then added the Sama Heart of Gold sunglasses in platinum and 18K white gold, a fantastic Costume National black leather purse with silver accents and finished it off with a dangerous flash of red under the outfit’s monochromatic theme thanks to some truly killer Michette Daniele black leather patch sandals with sky-high red heels.

If the Michette Daniele heels are bit too edgy for your taste, this ensemble also works great with a pair of black leather booties, pumps, slingbacks or even chunky leather knee boots.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Street Scene

The Gold Aviator Sunglasses Seen on Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw Character in Sex and The City 2 Are Causing an Eyewear Buzz. Who Makes Carrie’s Gold Sunglasses in SATC 2 and Where Can I Buy Them?

With this week’s box office debut of Sex and The City 2, we’ve received a deluge of e-mails asking who makes the gold aviator sunglasses that Sarah Jessica Parker wears in her reprise of the Carrie Bradshaw role in Sex and The City 2?

The good news is we’ve identified Carrie’s gold aviators from SATC 2:  They are Mykita & Bernhard Willhelm’s “Franz” Limited-Edition Aviator Sheet-Metal Sunglasses ($525.)

The bad news is you’ll likely be waiting some time to get your hands on these sunglasses (maybe as long as the end of summer.)  The Mykitas have been on back order at Patricia Fields since the gold sunglasses first showed up on Sarah Jessica Parker in advanced publicity shots last year. No word on when they’ll be available.

How to Still Get Carrie’s Gold Plated Look: Sama

Although Urban Optiques doesn’t carry Mykita,  the lens coating technology that is used on the Mykita “Franz” Limited-Edition Gold Aviator sunglasses in Sex and The City 2 was actually developed by Sama Eyewear out of Los Angeles and is currently available on a wide-range of  Sama, Badgley Mischka and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture models at Urban Optiques.

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Today’s Look Is All About Pairing the Heart of Gold Sunglass by Sama with Cool Whites and Neutrals for a Perfect All-Day-Long Summer Look

One of the things we wanted to accomplish with our “Sama Heart of Gold Five Ways Over Five Days” was to demonstrate how exceptionally versatile these handmade sunglasses by Sama are as an accessory.

The Heart of Gold is really jewelry for your face;  so like a ring, necklace or pair of earrings, you want to know that your investment has legs in terms of how many different ways you can pair it.

The first two looks we put together were a little more opulent — perfect for a summer wedding or formal event when the days are still long and you can wear your sunglasses into the evening hours.

Today’s look is a bit more understated.

We wanted to show how you take the Heart of Gold and accessorize them with day wear — letting you transition flawlessly from the office, to lunch, to dinner without doing much more than perhaps swapping out your shoes.

The look below combines the cool whites and neutral grays of an sophisticated shirt dress from Alice + Olivia with jewelry in yellow gold, diamonds and precious stones that once again play off from the Swarovski crystals in the Heart of Gold’s temples.

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Sama Heart of Gold Sunglasses in Platinum with 18K White Gold Couture Lenses, Michael Kors Tulip Hemmed Dress and Python Heels Coupled with a Gorgeous Versace Silver Bracelet.

It’s Day Two of  our “Sama Heart of Gold Five Ways Over Five Days“  and we’re changing things up with a platinum and white gold look.

Yesterday it was all about the warm, golden hues of the Sama Heart of Gold sunglass in yellow gold,  but today we’re creating an entirely new look around the cool, sleek Heart of Gold in Platinum with 18K white gold lenses.

In the look below, we’ve paired Sama’s platinum Heart of Gold sunglass –   featuring 18K white gold couture lenses — with an amazing black Jersey dress and pair of silver python sandals from Micheal Kors.

To top it off, we added a fabulous multi-chain bracelet courtesy of Versace.

Today’s look is all about contrasting the luster of platinum and 18K white gold off against the  classic little black dress.

Check out the look below!

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