J&B MET 2012

I have avoided events like these in the past but Sunglass Hut hosted their own tent at the J&B Met this year and so I had to check it out. Not only was the 'Inner Circle' a buzzing but chilled version of the hubbub across the tracks, it was lined with tents for various companies spilling with the most interesting attire I've seen in a while. Granted, there were many outfits I wish my eyes had not seen but despite what I have heard it wasn't all bad. Woman wore hats and fascinators (as seen with my hot date below, Kelly Gray), large and colourful dresses and even got their men to dress up too. I opted for shorts so it surprised me how many men came dressed in 3-piece suits. And SUSPENDERS! They were everywhere. 

In the SGH tent ticket holders were treated to drinks and snacks and got to take home a new pair of shades. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. Did you go? What did you think?

RAYBAN BLOKS 1083/32 AT SUNGLASS HUT

I popped into Sunglass Hut last week while they unpacked their new stock and I was a little surprised when I saw these new Rayban Wayfarers. Although I doubt their objective was to make the frames look wing-like in any way it reminded me of dragon fly wings. This new special series is meant to give you a three dimensional pair of shades. They look like they could be quite loud, but in fact don't look out of place at all, in fact they look rather cool. 

These new shades are only R1890 at Sunglass Hut stores nationwide. 

PERSOL SUNGLASSES FROM SUNGLASS HUT

Nothing like a comeback kid, right? Persol is a little like Alec Baldwin. We kind of forget about him for a while and then boom, he's back. Persol is actually more like the cool kid that isn't detected on everyones raydar. It isn't the obvious choice when you walk into a Sunglass Hut. You may go for the Rayban's or Gucci's or what-have-you instead.

Next time you swing past a Sunglass Hut go take a look at the Persol selection. You remember my post on the Steve McQueens? Well I finally got myself a pair, but these are some other great options too if you can't get the fold-ups. Priced between R2000-R3000 there is no reason you can't hang up your wayfarers for a little while you try something new out.

BRYAN BOY, SUNGLASS HUT AND WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT BLOGGING

When I started blogging on fashion and trends three years ago there were very, very few of us online. A year later I read this article in the YOU magazine on a mega blogger in Cape Town who was paid, to live the holiday. So this little website that I feed my personal interests and opinions could be a viable business? Pfff. 

Then a boy from the Philippines comes along with his own blog; a fashion blog that he thinks is more of a travel blog but let's face it, he has grown to immense fame for writing about fashion. Add to that his eccentric style and voice and he became a blogging goldmine. Sunglass Hut brought him over in September with Marie Claire where Bryan attended the Marie Claire Prix d'Excellence De La Mode awards and, as an added treat, joined bloggers from Johannesburg and Cape Town for a special workshop. 

Seeing all the Cape Town bloggers in one room was a treat enough but for a couple hours we got to pick Bryan's brain. His insight and knowledge of fashion is one thing but what I learned was that Bryan uses his smarts to run this business of his. Alex (Cape Town Girl) asked if he considered himself a brand but he doesn't see himself as one. In fact he blogs what he wants to without the need to please his readers, only practicing restraint when it comes to his younger readers who may be influenced by what he publishes. 

Over the course of the weekend I was able to learn a few things from Bryan, which included a crash-course in not giving a crap. We take ourselves too seriously sometimes. We blog for whatever reason we blog. As a reader it's up to you choose to read or not. We can only cater to so many people without upsetting somebody. 

One of my questions was if he ever felt jaded by blogging. I personally experienced this once or twice. You feed content into a blog from passion and inspiration and then you reach a point when it is expected of you on a regular basis. How do you fake inspiration? His response was that he has to step away from it and let the blog be what it is. You can only do so much. 

What I know for sure is I love blogging. We live in a modern time where information is spread so quickly and effortlessly from one country to the next. The choice is huge! There is space for everyone. There is no need for animosity, we should just celebrate each other as one of many voices. Who knows, you may be the next Bryanboy. I will continue to blog and hope that you continue to read  as things start to change. And they will.

Special thanks to Sunglass Hut and Marie Claire.

WIN TICKETS TO THE BRYANBOY WORKSHOP WITH SUNGLASS HUT & MARIE-CLAIRE MAGAZINE

Super-blogger Bryanboy is on his way to South Africa to attend the Marie Claire Prix D'Excellence de la Mode to award the prize in the category of Best Fashion Blogger and to make appearances at Sunglass Hut stores in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In addition to this he will present a special workshop for media/bloggers. Obviously you want in and Sunglass Hut is going to help you get tickets. I will be attending the workshop on the 2nd of September in Cape Town.

To win, visit a Sunglass Hut store and twitpic (@SunglassHutSA) a photo of yourself wearing a pair of shades that you think @BryanBoy will love. To increase your chances of winning tickets post the photo to Sunglass Hut SA's Facebook page and send the link to your blog-posts. Use Hashtags on twitter: #BryanSunglassHutJHB for Jhb and #BryanSunglassHutCT for Cpt.

Winners will be Announced at Mid Day Monday 29 Aug.

BURBERRY FOLD UP SUNGLASSES FROM SUNGLASS HUT

Tragedy struck on my flight to New York in May. I specifically packed my Ray-Ban wayfarers because they were light enough to pop in my leather jacket breast pocket without breaking or getting in the way. Of course after two connecting flights I was stuck in Washington for four hours, bored out of my mind. I was restless and hot. I took off my heavy leather jacket and plopped it down for a mere minute while I bought some Starbucks. Hot coffee in hand I sat back in my seat to relax and c-c-c-crack. I sat on my beloved sunglasses. With nobody to blame but my bottom. As you can imagine I was mortified, this was my first pair of expensive shades, a gift no less for my 24th birthday.

Well, nothing says moving on like OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW. Presenting the latest to appear on my coveted list: Burberry fold-up sunglasses. In neon colours, no less. Available from Sunglass Hut for R2650 these are the latest from Burberry and are perfect for Summer since our Winter moved on early by the looks of things. Not only are the colours great but they're bendy which means a lot less likely for me to break.

BURBERRY SUNGLASSES FROM SUNGLASS HUT

Finally got my hands on a pair of Burberry shades last month. All that was missing was the warm sunny weather in Cape Town but that is expected being Winter, and all. Of course this week we saw a day or two of sunshine so I took advantage.

Sunglass Hut are on sale now too so go take a look at their special offers so that when the sun does come out again you'll be prepared. Personally I'm off to Knysna for the weekend so I'll take these bad-boys with me.

JOHN LENNON RAY-BANS FROM SUNGLASS HUT

Like a lot of the top musicians of the past, John Lennon had a certain individual style so prominent that the mere shape of a pair of sunglasses can point to him directly. These round silver frames are part of the latest Lennon trend and are available from Sunglass Hut for a mere R1670.

I was going to get them myself but I had to be realistic, they just didn't suit my face. You on the other hand should go try them on for yourself. They even have a similar pair by Tom Ford with a thicker frame in tortoise shell.

(CODE: RB 3447 029 502 139)

OVERSIZING WITH DOLCE AND GABBANA SUNGLASSES

Stopped by Sunglass Hut to pick up those WISHLISTERS I mentioned before. Ordinarily I wouldn't wear a large pair of sunglasses but I tried these and enjoyed the Italian oversized style that for once suit my face. Once you have the necessary pairs you can start having more fun with your sunglass choice so I try on random pairs or get the great guys at the Waterfront to show me newer styles to get me out of my Wayfarers comfort zone. Large black sunglasses are ideal for running around in and these Dolce & Gabbana's are super light and comfortable. Must say I'm surprised I chose them but it's a great pair to mix things up a bit. Despite the way the weather is turning suddenly!

WISHLIST: D&G SUNGLASSES

I stumbled upon these sunglasses recently. I'm all for natural shapes for men so it surprised me how much I loved these once I tried them on. Apart from my matte black wayfarers from Sunglass Hut I don't really wear black. If you're not careful in choosing the right size for your face you can look as if you're pulling inspiration from the Terminator. Proportion is key. Ask a sales assistant from Sunglass Hut about styles for your face shape until you find the perfect pair.

As for me, these D&G sunnies (DG8076) which only go for R1750 will in all likelihood find their way into my shirt pocket before long.

WISHLIST: PERSOL 2979

What's on my current wishlist? I'll give you a hint: I wrote about this brand in December. Persol is fast becoming a favorite brand of mine. Sunglass Hut stock these tortoise shell beauties and the best part is they only go for R1770!  These crystal lense glasses are perfect for our climate, add a plaid shirt and rolled up chino's to complete the look.

Persol sunglass envy

Designed and crafted in Italy, Persol (from the Italian "per il sole" or "for the sun") is a hit among tastemakers and celebrities for impeccable fit and clarity. The brands patented Meflecto temples offer a secure fit, while crystal-tempered lenses offer protection with distortion free vision. Perfect for the sometimes unreasonable weather we have in Cape Town.

The brand is most known for their Steve McQueen (PO 714) glasses that were made famous when he wore them in "The Thomas Crown Affair". Naturally what followed was a host of leading men donning their own Persol shades. What was more surprising (or perhaps not so much today) was the female interest, notably Julia Roberts in her latest movie "Eat, Pray, Love".



While these beautiful sunglasses are not yet available on our shores they do offer other styles from Persol at Sunglass Hut, which include these PO2363S shades. I love the look but a square shape is not flattering for my long and oval face. Considering which sunglasses compliment your face the most should be your main objective. Not just satisfying a trend you enjoy.

This is definitely a brand to consider the next time you pop in to Sunglass Hut!


Images from StuartsLondon, Getty and SunglassHut.com

Rachel Bilson is your Sunglass Hut Style Adviser

I'm a big fan of cute. Rachel Bilson is just that. She may not be an Oscar nominated actress or a Darfur humanitarian but she's sweet and pretty and has great style. Sunglass hut joined forces with Bilson and made her Style Adviser, which if you ask me is a great idea.  In her blog she showcases different styles for both men and women while adding her own unique style of commentary. Catch these and other styles in your nearest Sunglass Hut store today.

Polarize this Summer with Sunglass Hut

From today (18th October) a new range of polarized sunglasses will set up home in Sunglass Hut. While you may think they don't make a difference, you would be wrong. Polarized sunglasses were orignally used by fishermen and have polarized filters with the transmission axis oriented vertically to block the light reflected by the water surface. Meaning if the fisherman moves his head up or down the line joining the temples remains horizontal and the sunglasses continue to block the glare. 

But with the harsh rays of the sun it is still imperative to protect the eyes if you're not on the water. Lucky for you polarized lenses now come in a variety of cool brands and you can catch them all at Sunglass Hut now.

Fold-up Ray-Ban Wayfarers from Sunglass Hut

I guess it goes to show; some styles never go out of style. Or perhaps it can now we classified as "classic" as opposed to a style that is "trendy". Either way Ray-Ban Wayfarers were cool when Tom Cruise wore them in Risky Business and they're cool now.

I am a fan of trends but I avoid the more colourful variety that this particular style offers.  Neon Wayfarers are great if you can afford yourself the luxury of several pairs. Last year for my birthday I was given a pair of the black fold-up wayfarers with the small leather case. Thrilled, I then wore them solidly for a year before changing styles last month. Sunglass Hut then released a newer version in tortoise shell, which I finally got my hands on yesterday.
These are especially great because they literally fold up into a small piece that you can put (safely) into a shirt or jacket pocket. Retailing for only R1790 from Sunglass Hut.

My dad owned a pair of Aviators when I was a kid. He also had a beard so I suppose in some way i've accepted that we eventually grow into our parents. Aviators signify manliness to me. It's a pity that they have become such a huge trend because it takes an element away from the icon that it is. Aviators were made famous by Tom Cruise in Top Gun, although manly in design they are often preferred by starlets like Megan Fox. Not that we complain because, let's face it they do look good.



There are many variations, some have one-sided lenses, or gold frames, silver frames, coloured frames. They have different names like The Outdoorsman, The Shooter... but the classic Aviators steal the show as front man, time after time. Sunglass hut stock them and they retail for R2070 and are polarized! I carry mine around with me everywhere I go and what's even better is Aviators go with any look. You can't beat classic style.



Take a look at this and other fantastic styles at the Sunglasshut website!