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.”

continue

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.

continue

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.

continue

See and Be Seen in Lanvin-Paris Eyewear from Urban Optiques!

We love deliveries at Urban Optiques — especially big, brown boxes from the UPS guy filled with box-upon-box of new eyeglass frames and sunglasses. We get even more excited when the box is filled with a new designer eyewear line that we haven’t previously carried.

So when we received our first shipment of Lavin-Paris eyeglasses and sunglasses this week, the office was filled with “ohhs” and “ahhs” as we unwrapped each these chic, sophisticated frames (and yes, we typically try on each of them while we do it.)

Lanvin Eyewear:  From Paris with Love

Previously unavailable in the United States, getting your hands on a pair of Lanvin eyeglasses or sunglasses meant either jumping a jet to Paris, or calling up that long-lost French pen-pal from grade school and having them ship you a pair.

Luckily, Lanvin-Paris struck a international distribution deal, so this high-quality, very fashionable eyewear line is now available in the U.S.  As soon as we had an opportunity to add Lanvin to our designer collection, we did. From our market research, Urban Optiques is one of the few Metro-Detroit eyewear boutiques to carry Lanvin-Paris eyewear.

Fantastic Eyewear from France’s Oldest Couture House: The Lanvin Story

Fashionistas will already be familiar with the Lanvin-Paris label.

continue