CITYist

From The Band of Outsiders look book to Beyonce’s rockin’ street style, Illesteva’s stylish specs are popping up everywhere (and the sun isn’t the sole reason for their perpetual presence). The young brand’s new model, the Albert frames, which are charmingly inspired by the 1970’s French comedy “La Cage aux Folles,” are surely to maintain the popularity their sibling frames induced.

Yesterday the clocks rolled ahead an hour, and with it the sweet reassurance that we are, in fact, moving forward into the glorious days of warm weather and eternal sunshine and bliss. Emporio Armani has released its new 2011 eyewear collection, and it is as stunning as it is innovational. The pairs boast of seamless sophistication that only further exemplify the signature Armani way of design.

When given a Tiffany’s box on a day like Valentine’s Day, a girl is bound to think it’s for a certain finger. For those who are yearning to add a flair of Tiffany’s to their accessory collection but aren’t interested in blinging out that finger, why not wear diamonds near your eyes instead? The iconic brand has released a line of eyewear included both spectacles and sunglasses as a part of its Tiffany Key and Tiffany’s Signature lines.

No matter the weather, sunglasses are a welcome addition to any look. And if there’s a pair guaranteed to shield your eyes from either the blazing sun or quick to fade trends, it’s Dior Homme’s AL 13.2. This updated version of the classic Dior Homme “Pilot” shades are the perfect coalition of sleek and stylish.

In case you haven’t heard, Gucci’s got a new perfume. And what better to accompany the sultry brand’s even sultrier fragrance, wickedly named Gucci Guilty, but super sleek sunglasses?

In a chilled atmosphere, it’s important to maintain a look of chic confidence with just a hint of playful elusion. Dior’s new line of oversized sunglasses, Dior Striking, provides that look.

Emporio Armani and (PRODUCT) RED recently launched a new style of sleek sunglasses that provide a vintage feel perfect for strutting the crowded city streets. The sunglasses emulate the perfect balance of both worlds – a fashionable mix of the old with the new.

Aviator frames are already pretty rough and tough on their own (think Marlon Brando in The Wild One and you’ll get the idea). Add a bit of leather to the mix and you’ve got shades meant to wear while straddling a Harley. Though we don’t know if that’s what Gucci had in mind with their new eyewear collection, we’d like to imagine ourselves urban cowboys in these new frames.

A good pair of shades is just as much of a necessity throughout the fall as they are in the summer months, and this season Juicy Couture’s “Create” collection gives you two reasons to pick up a pair: each of the wonderfully over-sized, vintage-inspired frames comes with an additional set of colorful temples, so you can switch up the specs to match your outfit (or mood). The interchangeable temples come in contrasting colors—think pink with teal, coral with tortoise—retail at around $120 a pair, and are available at Juicy Couture Boutiques, Solstice Sunglass Boutiques, and select department stores. Now that’s out of sight.

Forget seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Instead, see RED. This August Emporio Armani and (PRODUCT) RED are debuting a new style of sunglasses and a watch for both ladies and gents. Both his and hers sunglasses will retail for $180 each and feature a vintage square frame style for the women and an 80s teardrop frame for the men. The unisex watch retails for $240 and features 43mm black ion-plated stainless steel quartz (read: chic and functional), and is water resistant. For all three items a gracious portion of the proceeds benefit (PRODUCT) RED—a global fund dedicated to eliminating HIV/AIDS in Africa. Fashion, function and philanthropy, what’s not to love?

When the thermometer starts topping 100 and not even an iced coffee will do, it’s time to reassess your fashion options. Of course, the heat and its effects can’t always be avoided, so it’s best to do what any girl would: fight back against the sun with shades and hats, cleverly apply bronzer and wear as few clothes as possible.

Proenza Schouler’s spring collection prepared women for an aquatic, graffiti-filled, futuristic dreamland. Reptilian prints in fluorescent yellows and turquoise seemed to camouflage baby doll dresses for a technicolored dystopia. It’s no surprise then that the sunglasses had a similar job: providing protection with thick plastic frames, and unexpected colors like navy and red to blend in with Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s vision.

Nothing says elegance quite like Cartier, and its sunglass collections for Summer 2010 are certainly no different. New installments in the Double C de Cartier and the Santos Decor collections resonate the luxury and sophistication of the Cartier name, while the new Panthère de Cartier collection attests to the originality of the brand. Not to mention they’re all pretty good lookin’, too.

Five years ago, name brand Dior launched Dior Glossy sunglasses. They were inspired by the oversized shapes of sunglasses in the 1970s and soon became a best seller. Five years later, Dior is celebrating its anniversary and launching Limited Edition Dior Glossy Gold sunglasses with gold-colored frames, black interior, dark brown lenses and an 18k gold-lettered Dior logo.

Not only is Madonna the face of Dolce&Gabbana’s Spring 2010 campaign, but she’s also lent a hand in creating the line’s new sunglass collection, appropriately titled MDG. The collection is composed of six styles, all scheduled for a May 2010 debut, and features oversized frames and wraparound silhouettes that are perfect for sneaking around the city while trying to escape the summer heat.