For your eyes FASHION GOES beyond function when it comes to sunglasses. Carol Crenna FASHION STATEMENTS Sun protection may be one reason you don your shades, but statement-making glasses are often worn when the glaring rays are safely out of sight. Slick Eurochic is the look that sums up the shades of summer. The look can be translated into sunglasses which are highly designed, often smaller in propor- tion to the face than in past seasons and dark or neutral in color. These sexy, streamlined ac- cessories perfectly complement the season’s clothing fashions. North Vancouver’s Sharyn Webber, a dispensing optician for Highland Optical in Edgemont Village, reviews some of the hot- test styles in sunglasses. Eyewear trends take their influ- ence from outdoor sports to Hollywood starlets. Dark, oval-framed sunglasses inspired by Jackie Onassis return to the spotlight. They are designed with a thick, softly curved frame in an obvious ova! shape in either black or tortoiseshell plastic, says. Webber. The sunglasses have been copied by designers Mary McFad- den and Alfred Sung. Glamor girl style has spread from clothing to accessories. Sunglasses were an essential tool for any star to appear elusive and dodge the public eye during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The look is elegant or glitzy with dark glasses a la Audrey Hepburn or dramatically curved and rhinestone encrusted shades similar to those worn by Marilyn Monree and other popular styles circa 1940s and 1950s. Some designers like to add color to the face with eyewear, but the most important color trend in framesisnocolor. . Dark muted tones, black, dark grey nylon frames, classic tor- toiseshell and soft neutral shades overshadow any hint of brightness from selected makers. Webber adds that if frames are colored, they are in bold shades of orange, green, red and pink. Col- or may show up in the lenses, however, as a variation on the brown, grey or green traditional tints, especially in sports- influenced styles. Leading clothing designers from across the globe are turning their attention from perfume as a sec- ondary line to sunglasses. Paris’ Thierry Mugler, Italy’s Giorgio Armani, Japan’s Moschiao and the U.S.’s Paloma Picasso have all introduced ‘metic- ulously crafted and highly design- ed frames which, of course, bear their initials. Though European designers are only showing smaller and more refined sunglasses, many North American women are still looking for larger shaped frames. According to Webber, this is because they are seeking to protect not only their eyes, but afso the area of skin around the eyes from the damaging rays of the sun. Sports-inspired shades are perfect for the wearer who wants to cover-up. Wrap-around skiing and cycling sunglasses have been adopted by many fashionable wearers. They feature a wide lens that extends into the nose bridge, and they often have thick arm bands and a straight horizontal bar across the top of the frame. Styles with a horizontal top bar _and rounded lenses are also good sellers. Retro styles are still very popu- lar, states Webber, especially with the fashion forward crowd, young or old. These frames are a little smalter in size. They feature metals and thin plastics in oval shapes, streamlin- ed narrow frames, little round frames which are updated varia- tions on the John Lennon lool. and many refined aviator shapes. Gold or silver metal raixed with either black plastic, muted black nylon or tortoiseshell is the com- bination which puts you on top this season. You can’t go wrong with the classics. Rayban Wayfarers, made famous by Tom Cruise, are still popular as are many variations on the shape. Traditional aviator styles are also good sellers with the young, said Webber. Eyewear-as-jewelry is making an impact with some beautifully handshaped, intricately carved and dotted with semi-precious stones. Some of ihe latest designer sunglasses are investment pieces that should be stored in a jewelry box. One of the biggest differences in eyewear this season is the new focus on the lens itself. Growing knowledge concerning the sun’s effects has established highly pro- tective lenses with super technical names and properties as the new rage. if you find the language a little confusing, the most important factors to remember are that the lenses should filter out ultra violet (UV) rays, they should be durable and if you wear them in all types _ of environments, they should be photochromatic (their color depth varies according to the amount of light to give you clear vision). {t is imperative that you wear sun; which block out both UVA and UVB light because they are both damaging. It is not true that the darkest lenses are the most effective lenses. Many high quality, extremely protective sunglasses have a neutral grey or light brown tint. Sunglasses that are much too dark may actually force the pupil to expand (dilate) in order to get enough light to see and therefore expose the eye to even more UV light, not less. In this month’s Flare magazine, it is reported that UV A and B fays can cause cumulative damage to the lens of the eye leading to cataracts, benign growths, and in rare circumstances, cancerous growths on the inside of the eyelid and eyeball. Retinal damage and impaired color perception can also result from excessive sun exposure without adequate protection. SCI-F1 SWIMWEAR: The Magic collection trom Canadian designer Zita Harper's Waterworks line features holograms printed on matte black fabric. Select glasses right for you — HERE ARE some easy guidelines for choosing your sunglasses and a few simple tricks to finding quality frames which flatter your face. Small glasses make a face look larger. A bridge that is low, or a dou- ble bridge, which has a double bar will help to shorten a long nose. Also, thick or straight bridges help to disguise a long nose and a light or clear color bridge draws less attention to it. Conversely, smali noses look best when the bridge of the glasses is high or slim, If you would like to hide your age, glasses designed with upward curves or lines tend to give your face a lift, diminishing the sagging effects of aging. Silver-colored metal trims and frames look best on cool colored skin (with bluish tones) and eyes, (which are blue or grey) whereas gold or bronze metals are most flattering on an individual with warm coloring (pinkish tones to the skin and brown or hazel eyes). A handmade and hand-polished frame is the best choice for dura- bility and quality workmanship. Your eyewear specialist can in- form you of the newest metals which can be bent and twisted . without damaging. The fit of the sunglasses behind the ears and at the bridge of the nose has to be good to be com- fortable and to keep them securely on your head. Poor-quality lenses can distort vision, causing severe eyestrain that results in headaches. Choose glasses to suit your per- sonality and image. Decide whether you can really pull off the Buddy Holly, Jack Nicholson or Woody Allen look without going through a personality change. If you consider yourself to have a classic style, consider sunglasses which are. in proportion to your face, not too small or too large. Try Audrey Hepburn or Jackie O styles as well as tortoiseshell sunglasses and slightly horn- rimmed, sophisticated styles. If you want to make a definite impact, choose glamorous and ex- aggcrated styles. Oversized, dramatically design- ed and colored shades and those with added decoration such as thinestones or snakeskin are all glamor looks. For a romantic or earthy image, choose pastel and milky colored frames which are not exaggerated. They may be smaller frames such as round wire frames, propor- tionate to your face, or slightly oversized, such as aviator styles. Face shapes vary from one in- dividual to apother and can be disguised or emphasized depen- ding upon the shape of your sunglasses frames. Examine your face in the mirror and determine which shape suits you best. Choose an opposite shape to accent your features. For instance, a horizontal shaped frame looks best on a vertically shaped face. Square face A square face is wide at the forehead, the cheeks and at the jawline. Frames that work best are slightly wider than the face, pro- truding slightly from either side to narrow the face. Circular, heart-shaped or rounded glasses will soften the angles of a square face. Repeat the square shape for an ag- gressively angular, statement- making look. Round face A round face is broad with a curved forehead and wide cheeks See page Know @S .