You’ll remember in late June that a brand new Badgley Mischka sunglass model — the Steve — was spotted on NBA forward Danny Granger at Sama’s West Hollywood boutique.  While the model hadn’t been publicly-released yet, we called up Sama and asked if we could get our hands on two of the Steves for ourselves.

We loved the big, bold frame — especially when coupled with the special edition 24K yellow gold and 18k white gold flash coated lenses from Sama.  The first of the Badgley Mischka Steve sunglasses arrived this week at Urban Optiques and all we can say is “wow.”

Guys, understand that this is not a sunglass for the man who wants to fade into the crowd. Nor is it for the faint of heart.

There is no way that you can put on the Steve and not get noticed.  It’s a very sexy sunglass, made all the sexier by the brilliant genuine 24K gold flash coating on the lenses. We see this working its magic best paired with a fantastic, custom-tailored suit — but Danny Granger shows that you can also pull it off with workout gear (not recommending this, just saying …)

The Badgley Mischka Steve is so new, in fact, that there’s a good chance that whoever buys the first pair will be one of only a handful of lucky men to be first seen in this very cool sunglass.  Will it be you?

Check out the pictures below that we snapped of the Badgley Mischka Steve in the boutique this week.

Badgley Mischka Steve Sunglasses

Our friends over at the Destination: Sama boutique in West Beverly Hills just sent us a picture they snapped of NBA basketball star Danny Granger in his new Badgley Mischka “Steve” aviator sunglasses.

The “Steve” sunglass that Danny Granger is sporting is actually a new model from Badgley Mischka Eyewear and Sama and will be released later this month.

Granger is pictured below wearing the “Steve” in gold with 24K gold lenses. We’re still waiting for confirmation from Sama on other color variations, but we do know it will also be available in Clove with special triple gradient-lenses.

If you are interested in pre-ordering the Badgley Mischka “Steve” please give us a call at 248-347-9090 or email us at: seebeseen@urbanoptiques.com and we’ll put you on the V.I.P priority list for this hot new model.

Danny Granger in Badgley Mischka “Steve” Sunglasses

Badgley Mischka “Steve” Sunglasses in Gold with 24K Gold Special Edition Lenses

Badgley Mischka “Steve” Sunglasses in Clove with Special Edition Triple Gradient Lenses

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:

We love it when designers prominently feature their eyewear lines in their seasonal fashion collections.

It’s even better when they put their eyewear on the runways.

Which is exactly what Mark Badgley and James Mischka did during their Spring/Summer 2010 preview at the 11th Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

The spring/summer ready-to-wear collection from Badgley Mischka was stunning enough on its own.

But what really made it sizzle was Badgley Mischka’s decision to place its couture sunwear on every single model on the catwalk:

This made for one of the most conspicuous displays of sunglasses in any major collection this year (and possibly in history), which of course makes us overjoyed, since we carry both the Badgley Mischka Couture Eyewear Collection and the very sunglass models featured in Amsterdam.

After more than a decade of silver dominating eyewear, it was also refreshing to Badgley Mischka pair gold sunwear with their spring/summer fashions.

White gold made a showing as well, but the emphasis was definitely on yellow, which perfectly complimented the warm browns, bronzes and golds in the Amsterdam collection.

Badgley Mischka and Sama deserve much of the credit for reviving the aviator style sunglass and making it chic and fashionable again.

The Perry with 22k gold lenses (which is repeatedly featured in the Amsterdam show) is a favorite of Angelina Jolie and other celebs and recently made an appearance in Rhianna’s So Hard video.

According to Brian Glascow of Sama Eyewear, the sunglass designs featured in the Badgley Mischka Amsterdam collection were custom made by Sama with special couture lenses especially for the show.

Out of this concept was the birth of the 22k and 18k gold lenses that are available as a premium couture option on select Badgley Mischka frames like the Boyd and Perry.

While aviators have been slowly making a comeback for the better part of two years, there really hasn’t been an ultra-premium, couture alternative to the classic Ray-Ban until Badgley Mischka and Sheila Vance of Sama introduced the 22k gold version of the Perry and Boyd sunglasses.

The Amsterdam show from Badgley Mischka also shows how versatile the aviator truly is (once you lux it up a bit.)

Notice how effortlessly the gold Badgley Mischka sunglasses move from formal wear, to flirty summer dresses, to swimwear.

There’s a reason that certain designs in eyewear become “classics” and the Badgley Mischka Spring/Summer collection clearly demonstrates the enduring appeal of the metal aviator.

The Badgley Mischka Eyewear models featured in the Amsterdam collection include: Perry, Boyd, Alfie, Corset, Bradley, Grant (Optical Frame) and the Marilyn.

Tomorrow we’ll post the second half of the Amsterdam show, which pairs these fantastic sunglasses up with beach and swimwear designs from the Badgley Mischka summer 2010 collection.

In early January we noticed an upsurge in people asking about the Badgley Mischka Perry sunglasses.

But not just the usual Badgley Mischka Perrys — clients kept asking whether we stocked the gold Perry with gold lenses.

At first, we couldn’t quite understand the sudden interest.

Angelina Jolie had been spotted earlier sported the gold Badgley Mischka Perry with gold mirror lenses, and that caused a minor uptick in sales, but nothing like the buzz we saw over the past two months.

And then we noticed something in Rihanna’s “So Hard” video:

Yes, those gold sunglasses on the very lovely Rihanna are Badgley Mischka Perrys.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

The lenses Rihanna is wearing look like gold because they are literally gold: 24K  to be exact.

The lens itself isn’t made of gold, obviously, but its flash comes from a 24k gold coating that creates an amazing gold mirror that can’t be found on any other sunglass.

The photo above doesn’t do this sunglass justice, although you can get a much better idea of how stunning this gold aviator is from seeing it on Rihanna in the video clip.  Or you can just stop in a try it on for yourself.

The frame is also available in a white gold frame 24k white gold mirror lens and in a black frame with black lenses.

We currently have two Badgley Mischka Perry sunglasses in stock with the gold coated lenses:  One with the yellow gold frame and gold lenses that Riahanna wears in “So Hard”, and one with a black frame and white gold lenses.

Stop in to try them on and channel your inner Rihanna.

Tanks, machine guns and battle fatigues not required … although a killer sense of style is.

Guys, a Valentines Day Gift Tip: Next to shoes and handbags, there is only one other accessory that a woman can’t have to many of …  Sunglasses.

So while flowers are beautiful and chocolate is delicious, sunglasses are eternal.

Well, maybe not eternal, but they have a longer shelf life than roses or Godivas.

So if you’re scratching your head over what to buy your sweetie this Valentines Day, Urban Optiques is going to take the guesswork out of picking out the perfect Valentine’s Day gift by recommending seven sunglasses that are sure to please even the most discriminating woman.

All of these sunglasses are currently in-stock at Urban Optiques. In some cases, we have certain models in other colors, so please call for more information. We stock more than 100 designer fashion and couture sunglasses, so if you don’t see the perfect Valentine’s shade here, there’s a good chance we’ll have it.

And ff your sweetheart is particularly picky, gift certificates are also available.

Chrome Hearts “Queenie”

If the “Queenie” sunglass from Chrome Hearts is good enough for bored hotel heiresses like Paris Hilton, it’s sure to be perfect for your fashion-conscious sweetheart.

All jesting aside, this is a really fabulous, big sunglass with a unique square-ish frame that works on just about every face shape.  So if her sunglass collection is filled with giant round sunglasses, she’ll love the “Queenie” because it’s still big and dramatic, but breaks the mold in terms of shape.

In other words, it’s a sunglass that her girlfriends won’t have.  BIG points for you.

We have the Queenie from Chrome Hearts in “Cherry Stripe.”

Tom Ford Astrid

This little retro-inspired beauty from former Gucci-designer-turned-award-winning-film-director Tom Ford is looks great with any outfit … from a suit to jeans and a leather jacket.  We love the Astrid’s vintage lines which make it a classic shape that has legs for years to come.

Lafont Jamaique

The Lafont Jamaique bucks the giant, oversized round trend that has dominated sunglasses for the better part of a decade. What’s great about the Jamaique is that it skillfully combines both a rectangular shape with some rounded edges, which make it a truly unique and versatile sunglass.

The shape of the temples is simply gorgeous and it’s one of the first things people notice when holding the sunglass in their hands.  Even better, you can’t just walk into Sunglass Hut and buy Lafont.  This Paris legend only sells through independent optical boutiques.

Lanvin 2136 Square Aviator

Aviators are in, but Lanvin-Paris takes the aviator in a different direction with it’s square and rectangular shaped frames.

There are actually several lens color variations on this aviator from Paris’ oldest couture fashion house. Lanvin is available exclusively in Metro-Detroit at Urban Optiques, so this is not a sunglass that you’ll find anywhere else.  Lens tints include brown, rose-brown and gray/silver.

Tom Ford Raquel (TTF76)

Yes, we included two Tom Ford sunglasses in our picks, because the TF are not only super hot right now, but are also one of the popular brands among fashion-conscious women.

The Raquel is celebrity favorite, showing up on everyone from Jessica Alba to Angelina Jolie.  This is a sunglass that was made to be seen in.

Badgley Mischka Josephine

The Badgley Mischka Josephine sunglass is the perfect gift for the woman who appreciates couture-inspired eyewear and wants a pair of sunglasses that ooze luxury and style.

The Badgley Mischka eyewear line is simply gorgeous and comes courtesy of the designers at Sama Eyewear, one of the world’s leading designers of couture eyewear (Sama sunglasses have appeared on countless celebrities and recently were featured in “The Book of Eli” starring Denzel Washington.)

Oliver Peoples Vanadis

There’s so much to love about this big, glamorous sunglass from Oliver Peoples.  Oliver People’s continues to be one of the most worn sunglass brands in Hollywood, and once you pick up the Vanadis, you’ll understand why.

We’re seeing five trends in fashion this fall that we think are going to be shaping choices in both eyewear and clothing and accessories through fall and winter.

From big shoulders, to animal prints and Twenties- inspired glamour, the runways this season served up a decidedly eclectic fusion of past, present and future.

Girl Meets Boy

Donna Karan Fall 09 Collection

First, men’s-inspired shapes made a return, including built-up shoulders, tuxedo jackets and narrow fitting blazers.

While we saw early signs of an ’80s revival as far back as 2008 with the resurgence of Ray-Bans and Wayfarers, the presence of so much ’80s-inspired clothing on runways this fall suggests that the decade that brought us “Wall Street”, Madonna and Tom Cruise singing in his underwear in a pair of Ray-Bans has clearly weaved its way into this season’s styles.

For those of you who have been waiting two decades for the return of the 80’s “power suit”,  2009/2010 might finally be the year.

Big, padded shoulders have returned, as well as oversized buttons balanced with long flowing silk scarves.  On eBay we’re seeing vintage ’80s suits from the likes of Dior and YSL get snapped up, so it seems this is one fashion trend that has some legs.

For men, it’s a continuation of some of last year’s ’80s inspired clothing, including the return of solid or striped shirt with white collar, popularized by Michael Douglas’ Gorden Gecko in the 1987 movie Wall Street.  Can suspenders be far behind?

Vogue VO-2584

In terms of matching the “Girl Meets Boy” look with eyewear, you’ll do best to choose a frame with strong geometric shapes and a heavier, more robust materials.

Keep the overt bling to a minimum on these frames, and instead opt for something that incorporates more subtle, integrated embellishments like small crystals, polished metals or unusual textures into the temples.

Pulling off the “Girl Meets Boy” look demands bold, power-eyewear that is balanced with softer, feminine touches.  We like Ray-Ban Wayfarers with this look as well, since they are the quintessential ’80s eyewear.

Ray-Ban RB4140 Wayfarers

Prada PR65HS

For men, pair that solid or striped shirt with the white collar with a pair of classic round Oliver People’s eyeglass frames in gold or silver metals, or a Prada men’s aviator sunglass like the Prada PR 65HS in silver.

Or, depending on your facial structure, we love the bold sophistication of the Tom Ford men’s frame.

Animal Instinct

Animal prints and safari-inspired stripe, spots and materials also made a strong appearance on runways this fall.

We’re not talking Nanny Fine head-to-toe double suede leopard, but rather the use of both bold and subtle animal prints alongside earthy palettes of khaki, beige and tan. Texture-rich materials like leather, fur and snake skin (whether real or faux) also were a re-occurring theme on the runways, especially from designers like Miu Miu and Ferragamo.

This same nature-inspired aesthetic made its mark on shoes and accessories. Check out the fabulous reptile-inspired Anaconda booties from Donna Karan.  Love them.

Choosing eyewear to work with these looks is actually a cinch.

Select subdued colors in browns, beiges, tans, bronzes and tortoise-shell acetates.

Ray Ban RB-3415Q

Lafont Parasol

Gold framed aviators with brown tinted lenses work particularly well with the whole “safari-in-the-city” vibe of the Fall collections.

For the bold-at-heart, try adding a pair of leopard spotted frames or sunglasses (like the Lafont Parasol we have in our front window) alongside a outfit predominated by solids. We’re big fans of this look, since a little bit of animal print goes a long way.

Twenties’  Glamour

DKNY Fall 2009 Runway Collection

Classic “Jazz Age” opulence and drama made it’s return in fall-winter fashion with clothing featuring sumptuous shapes and layered textures that harken back to a day when the stock market was on the rise, gin was made in bathtubs, and bobbing your hair was deliciously scandalous.

Adding to the Twenties-inspired dazzle are rich embellishments and over-the-top colorations of cherry red and deep gold.

In terms of accessories, we’re seeing layered jewelry (especially antique silver and gold and pearls) combined with Noir eyewear in dramatic, contrasting textures of both matte and gloss.

Badgley Mischka Josephine Sunglass

Glittering stone detailing and charming bow-ties add additional flair to eyewear.

We like to pair this look with a Badgley Mischka couture eyeglass or sunglass (the “Josephine” works particularly well or the “Dorothy“) or a classic, colored Lafont with some subtle crystal work.

A big, black bold Vogue sunglass also meshes well without breaking the bank.  As always, vintage eyewear provides a twist of authenticity — especially if you find a frame with some little splashes of crystals or gemstones.

Lafont Audace

For a sense of the different ways designers are reinterpreting this look, check out the Lanvin-Paris Fall/Winter 2009-2010 ad campaign, which does a remarkable job of rolling together three of the fashion trends this fall (Boy Meets Girl, Retro-Noir Glamour and Futuristic) into a surprisingly cohesive blend of yesterday, today and tomorrow. I also love all the black cats in the ad campaign.

Poetic License

Chanel Fall-Winter 2009 Runway Collection

As if to counter-balance the stronger, more masculine, 80s-inspired designs of Donna Karen, both Chanel and Chloé debuted looks that incorporated delicate floral patterns in feminine pastel tones.

For these lines, the emphasis is on clothing that is curvy and flowing, with a timeless look that expresses a sense of romance and poetry-in-motion.

Eyewear designs that work well with this aesthetic include eyeglasses and sunglasses that complement the ethereal nature of these collections — styles that feature soft silhouettes and light, translucent colors.

Chloe 1165

Wavy temples, floral motifs and Art Deco accents seem to work especially well.

In a optical/ophthalmalic frame no one typifies this look better than Chloé — one of the most recent additions to the Urban Optiques eyewear collection.

A vintage frame can also work wonders  with this style.

Fred Pearls

We also really like the idea of pairing up the stunning FRED Pearl Lunettes with this romantic and airy look.

While the shield-style of the FRED Pearls might make it at first seem like an unlikely pairing, the FRED Pearl embodies the same transluscence and lightness as the fashions we saw come out of Karl Lagerfeld/Chanel.  Also, because the FRED Pearl is available in several lens tints — including a pink — we’re dying to see someone try this match.

Futuristic

While the past certainly played a major role in defining this year’s runway looks, designers didn’t shy away from presenting futuristic designs alongside their vintage muses.

YSL Fall 09 Fashion Collection

Interestingly enough, even the forward-looking designs this fall had a clear “retro” feel to them.

Lively graphics from head-to-toe and shiny metallics evoked a world of holograms and futurism not unlike what you’d expect from a couture version of the Jetson’s.  Clearly, the inspiration was 1960s Mod meshed up with The Matrix.

Ralph Lauren, Prada and YSL all served up some version of this “back-to-the-future”  concept.

There was definitely an emphasis on shades of black, gray and silver, with pops of bright florescent colors adding interest and excitement. Playing around with the many lens tint options now available on eyeglass frames and sunglasses can also let you personalize your look. From mirror lenses to smoky tints, they all work.

There are a surprising number of different eyewear shapes and materials that work with this futuristic look — everything from funky “Atomic Age” inspired eyeglass frames in metallics and metals, to boldly-colored acetate Ray-Ban Wayfarers in shades of yellow, blue and purple.

Prada PR04IS Sunglasses

High-tech metals like carbon fiber or titanium also complement this look well. In terms of shapes, wrap-arounds and shields are natural fits.

Prada shields, as well as some of the modern, sleek frames from ProDesign | Demark  are especially suited to the whole into-the-future vibe of these collections. We especially like the Prada PR04IS sunglass.

ProDesign Zense 7349

The  ProDesign Zense 7349 optical frame is another great fit for this style.  The Zense 7349 as an ultra-modern look, with mixed metallics in blues, bronzes, silvers and blacks.

Since this style is all about past meets future, you can create some bold juxtapositions and really rev up the retro-feel by layering on a pair of Lanvin-Paris 3132 round acetates.

Lanvin-Paris Mystical 3132

Yes, if you don’t wear them right, you can end up looking like Harry Potter — but these frames can really pop on certain people, creating a daring, sophisticated look.

If round isn’t your style, then try the Lanvin-Paris 3136 rectangular frames in grey for a great optical frame to complement this season’s future-forward styles.