Designer Sunglasses

Marc Jacobs, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Guess?, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Fendi, Kenneth Cole, Vera Wang, Hugo Boss, Valentino. The list goes on and on.

Designer names are the mainstay of the clothing business, and nearly every notable designer name that you can associate with fashion has found its way into the sunglass business. Even some of the very high-end names, such as Chanel, Dior, and Prada, have recently gained attention by launching sunglass lines.

If you crave a fix for a designer name, then you have come to the right place — the sunglass market. For even if you can't swing the cash for that Chanel suit, Armani dress, Fendi handbag, or Cartier necklace, you will find the price for their sunglasses much more palatable.

Click on photo to see close-ups and style names.

If you are looking for designer sunglasses but are unsure which name is right for you, be sure to shop at a variety of stores or one shop with a large selection so that you can try on styles from many different lines. Each designer has a certain image that he or she has created through clothing and accessory designs as well as through advertising and promotions.

Most optical shops, department stores and sunglass specialty stores will have materials in the sunglass section that portray the images of the designers' lines they feature. You can also question the sales staff about the qualities of each designer.

Certainly the true test is in trying the frames on and finding what's right for you. Some lines are more conservative, some are feminine, some are urban and cutting-edge, and some are simply but beautifully designed.

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Typically, however, if you like the clothing styling from a designer you will also like their frames. Most designers maintain a large amount of control over the design, pricing and imaging of their sunglasses. This, even though the lines are produced under a license with an eyewear company that has great experience and knowledge in manufacturing and distributing eyewear. The result is a product that is right for that fashion designer and the designer's loyal customers.

In addition to the designer names on the market, there is also a variety of celebrities who have become involved in producing sunglasses.

Britney Spears, Lauren Hutton, Kathy Ireland, Sophia Loren, Cheryl Tiegs, Shari Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Linda Evans, Donald Trump, and even George Burns and Jerry Garcia all have sunglass lines. (Most also offer eyeglasses as well.) One of the newest collections was designed in cooperation with the international actress and singer Thalia.
 

Each celebrity has an image created through movies, television shows and appearances, modeling, music performances and books he or she has written. The celebrity's eyewear is typically consistent with this image. Some consumers choose to go this route when purchasing sunwear because they can identify better with a celebrity than with fashion designers or their products. [See also: Spring and Summer 2008 Trends in Sunglasses]