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.

The key to accessorizing the Loree Rodkin Eyewear line is to treat it like jewelry. When stylists put their clients in Loree Rodkin jewelry, they will typically use it either as a surprising contrast against an elegant or chic outfit, or will use it to amplify an already edgy look.  Because the designs are so striking, a little bit of Loree Rodkin goes a long way.

Just to prove it, we put together a look today with the Loree Rodkin Hunter that is night-and-day from the last pairing we did.

For this outfit, we built everything around a Derek Lam wool crepe dress from Saks.  While the jewelry, shoes and handbag all play off from the browns and silvers in the Hunter sunglasses, this is a daytime look that most women could pull off.  The Report Signature booties could easily be swapped with this pair of Stuart Weitzman croc slingback, the Bally Eddi pumps or L.A.M.B. Finsburys if you wanted to tone things down even more.

Of course, the real icing on the cake are the Hunters, which give this fairly conservative, but still chic, ensemble just a little bit of danger — especially when paired up with the John Hardy Naga head ring, stainless steel leather cuff bracelet and truly amazing Donald J Pilner chain satchel.

Remember, we’re giving away a pair of these exact Loree Rodkin Hunter sunglasses as part of this month’s 944 Detroit Swag.  So register now for your chance to win them.

Tell us what you think ….

A Little Bit Mild: Featuring the Hunter Sunglasses from Loree Rodkin.

Featured Accessories

• Report Signature Vandalia Bootie
• Donald J Pilner Adela Chain Satchel
• Leather and Stainless Steel Cuff Bracelet
• Derek Lam Wool Crepe Dress
• John Hardy Naga Head Sterling Silver Ring
• Loree Rodkin Hunter Special Edition Sunglasses with 18K White Gold Lenses

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.

Lindsey’s answer:

“They always say that in hard times, women are known to keep the home front pretty and will spend extra for things like lipstick and perfume. I think the same can be said here of these “feel-good” items.”

The perfect sound byte.

You can check out the entire article below, as well as the front page photo spread featuring the Sama Pyramid of Gold sunglasses. Higher resolution, PDF versions are available if you click the link below the images.

“A Golden Era for Eyewear” featuring Urban Optiques: WWD July 19, 2010

Get PDF version

WWD July Accessory Cover Featuring Sama Eyewear

Get PDF version

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

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:

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.That said, we still think the Chloé Tilia’s personality really comes out when it’s accessorized with beachwear.  To inspire you, we put the Chloé Tilia together with a couple of our favorite seasonal pieces from Missoni, Shay Todd and Michael Kors. We topped the whole look off with a fantastic Melissa Obadash straw hat that would look simply amazing with these big, oversized suns.

What we especially love about this look is that it goes from the beach to dinner-on-the-water in a matter of minutes: Just slip into the Missoni dress and Kors wedges and stow the Valentino flip-flops in your straw tote.

Effortless … just like summer ought to be.

Steal This Look: Beach Chic Featuring the Chloé Tilia Sunglasses

The Chloé Tilia is available in three colors: Black, Creme and Brown and Pink and Creme.

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

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

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.

While Carrie’s oversized gold aviators in Sex and The City 2 are at the center of the most recent surge in interest around gold sunglasses, Sama made waves in the eyewear and fashion industry last July when they debuted their custom 24K yellow and 18K white gold plated couture lenses during the Badgley Mischka runway show during Amsterdam International Fashion We

In that show, the gold plated lenses were ever present and served as an early prototype for the lens coating that eventually made its way onto the  Badgley Mischka Special Edition Perry aviators seen last year on Angelina Jolie and Rihanna.

One-Up Carrie’s Sex and the City 2 Gold Aviators with Customized Couture Sunglasses from Sama & Urban Optiques

The special gold coating technology and process (which literally fuse genuine gold onto the lenses surface) developed by Sama and used on the Carrie Bradshaw’s Mykita sunglasses, can be applied to lenses on nearly all of the Sama, Badgley Mischka and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture sunglass models. We’ve worked with Sama to put the special edition gold lenses in everything from the Badgley Mischka Grace to the Lola sunglasses.

The advantage to this approach is that we can work with you select a sunglass shape and style that is uniquely yours, and then customize the lenses to give you the same opulent, gilded look of Carrie’s sunglasses in SATC 2, but with your own individual expression of style.

So if gold plated sunglasses are on your must-have accessory list this summer, you’ll definitely want to check out the special edition sunglasses from Sama below.  To find out about customizing other Badgley Mischka, Sama or Loree Rodkin eyeCouture sunglasses with special edition white or gold lenses, call us at 248-347-9090 or drop us an email.

To see some ways that Sama’s gold sunglasses can accessorized, make sure you check out the Lookbooks Urban Optiques has put together around the Sama Heart of Gold sunglass.

Sama Special Edition Heart of Gold with 24k Yellow Gold Lenses

Sama Boa with Snakeskin Temples and Special Edition 24K Gold Plated Lenses

Badgley Mischka Perry Special Edition Gold with 24K Gold Lenses

Badgley Mischka Alfie with 24K Gold Lenses

Badgley Mischka Boyd in Espresso with 24K Gold Lenses

Badgley Mischka Lola in Brown with 24K Gold Lenses

Badgley Mischka Lola in Gold with 24K Gold Lenses

Badgley Mischka Grace in Gold with 24K Gold Lenses

Loree Rodkin Owen Gold Aviator Sunglasses with 24K Gold Special Edition Lenses

Loree Rodkin eyeCouture Scarlett in Brown (inner lenses can be customized to 24K yellow or white gold)

For availability and pricing on any of the  sunglasses above, please contact us at the boutique.

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.

If you want to tone-down the flash factor on the 24K gold plated lenses, you can always opt for the Sama Heart of Gold in “Desert” which combines the gold-plated frame shown here with a brown, non-mirrored gradient lenses.

Finally, we punched the entire look up with a fierce pair of L.A.M.B “Delva” booties which may or may not be office appropriate (maybe if you worked at Vogue?)  But they just worked so well with the ensemble, that we couldn’t resist adding them.

Don’t worry though, we’ve added a couple of additional shoe options below that should work in the office and then you can slip into the L.A.M.B.s after work for cocktails or dinner.

Day to Night

Here are several other options in terms of shoes that work well with this look:

Camilla Skovgaard “Saw” Plateau Pumps

Fendi Raffia Pumps

L.A.M.B “Zada” Sandals

For more inspiration, check out the Day One Look: Guilded Pleasures and Day 2: Platinum Play.

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!

Platinum Play

To order the Sama Heart of Gold, please contact us at Urban Optiques.