Tennis Star and Fashionista Maria Sharapova Launches TAG Heuer’s First Eyewear Line Specifically Made for Women

Tiger is out, Maria Sharapova is in.

And we’re overjoyed.

Last fall, TAG Heuer announced that tennis star and fashion-lover Maria Sharapova would be the new ambassador and muse for a women’s series of TAG Heuer Eyewear, adding a much needed feminine perspective to the Swiss company that’s most recognized for its luxury watches and racing-inspired eyewear.

While the announcement of Sharapova as an ambassador for TAG Heuer Eyewear preceded the scandal surrounding TAG Heuer’s other marquis spokesperson, Tiger Woods, there is no doubt that marketing execs in Zurich are breathing a sigh of relief that they decided to bring the 6′ 2″ Siberian tennis star on-board when they did.

Even better, we just got a glimpse at Urban Optiques of the fruits of the TAG Heuer-Sharapova Eyewear collaboration and we’re extremely happy to say that it’s the complete opposite of last year’s Lindsey Lohan-Emanuel Ungaro partnership.

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The FT-5117 Women’s Eyeglass from Tom Ford Brings the Sexy Back in this Little, Sophisticated, Retro-Inspired Spectacle

One of the trends over the past year that we can’t get enough of is retro-inspired fashion and eyewear.

From cats-eye glasses, to heavier men’s frames with horned-rims, to the return of ’40s, ’50s and early-’60s-inspired oval shapes in women’s eyewear, retro continues to be extremely hot.

The great thing about retro-inspired eyewear and fashion is that their shapes, cuts and colors tend to be classical and enduring.

There’s a reason why vintage or vintage-inspired eyewear never really completely goes out of style: It works on a lot of different faces and can easily be matched to complement or contrast against a person’s own personal style.

One of our favorite retro-inspired women’s eyeglass frames is the FT-5117 from Tom Ford Eyewear.

Tom Ford doesn’t name his eyeglass models, choosing instead to use numbers versus words, so we usually end up developing nicknames around the shop to refer to different numbered models.  So the the Tom Ford FT 5117 is affectionately known around Urban Optiques as “that sexy librarian frame.”

Which pretty much describes this unique, half-moon acetate frame that’s meant to sit down just a tad on the bridge of your nose (or all the way down for that really smart, flirtatious-I’m-looking-over-my-reading-glasses-at-you-vibe.)

This frame feels like it’s straight out of a Mad Men episode:  Fuzzy sweaters, pencil skirts and all.

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Women’s Tennis Icon Epitomizes Fusion of Sport and Glamour as Latest TAG Heuer Eyewear Ambassador and Muse

It’s official:

TAG Heuer Eyewear has signed tennis star Maria Sharapova to serve as brand ambassador for TAG Heuer’s new dedicated women’s line of sunglasses and eyeglasses — the first line of eyewear from TAG Heuer dedicated solely to women.

“I am truly excited be involved in such a project and hope my supporters will like my TAG Heuer eyewear as much as I do,” said Sharapova.  “It’s  a challenging process designing eyewear and requires much time and dedication to produce a quality finished product. I have worked hard with the TAG Heuer designers to develop a frame that matches our requirements: quality, comfort, with a twist of glamour. I am delighted with the results and cannot wait to get hold of a pair as I am desperate to show them off.”

The 3 time Grand Slam Champion (Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006 & Australian Open 2008) has become one of the most recognizable faces in sport and has made not only a huge impression on court, but also on the world of fashion. The Siberian’s striking good looks and sporting prowess integrate seamlessly into TAG Heuer Eyewear’s mission of producing innovative, stylish yet functional eyewear.

This is TAG Heuer’s first foray into a line of eyewear designed exclusively for women. The first women’s models will be released in the Fall of 2009.