Forget about flowers and chocolate, if you really want to make her heart flutter this Valentines Day say “Be Mine” with the gift of one of these seven hot sunglasses from Urban Optiques.

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.”

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Looking for a French alternative to the Wayfarer? Check out the “Tom” Sunglass from Lanvin-Paris.

Okay, so you like the shape of the Ray-Ban Wayfarer, but would prefer to have something with a little French flair?

Check out the “Tom” sunglass from Lanvin-Paris.

We love the classic, Audrey Hepburn-Breakfast-at-Tiffany’s inspired shape of this sunglass.

While it certainly takes some styling cues from the classic Wayfarer, Lanvin put their own subtle twist on this sunglass, rounding the frame out just a touch and adding nice little accents, like the delicate striping across the tops of the frames and temples.

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… Or How We Took A Different Approach With Displaying Our New Lanvin-Paris Eyewear Collection

We try as much as possible to do things differently around Urban Optiques.

For example, we tend to carry a lot more in-store frame stock than most optical shops and optometrist offices (we like to have plenty of cool stuff on hand for you to try on); we don’t schedule our eye exams in 15 minute blocks like the chains (we actually believe in spending time with you to help you care for your eyes); and we don’t display our eyewear in the usual, factory-made, run-of-the-mill display cases (we use “rescued” antique furniture and cabinets.)

If you’ve been in our eyewear studio, you’ll know that displays are something that we spend a lot of time on.  Lately, we’ve been experimenting around with some different display approaches to enhance the visual experience of shopping for eyewear at Urban Optiques.

How we decided to present our new Lanvin-Paris Eyewear Collection is a great example.

Highlighting Lanvin

Since we’re the first Michigan eyewear boutique to carry the Lanvin-Paris eyewear line, we wanted to try something different with how we displayed the brand in the store.

Fashion junkies will know the Lanvin-Paris label instantly, but for the uninitiated, “Lanvin” will sound like … well … “French.”

So we wanted to try to capture and present the essence of France’s oldest couture design house for people who may be finding out about this legendary brand for the first time.  Despite its venerable roots, Lanvin isn’t as widely known in the U.S. as a brand like Prada or Chanel (although we think it should be.)  So we needed to somehow capture the spirit of this line and pass it on to our clients.

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These five fashion trends straight off the runway will be shaping eyewear this fall and into 2010

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.

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