Styles of Sunglasses: What’s Big This Summer?

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It’s coming. Birds chirping, snow melting, it’s spring! Although UV rays don’t go away for the winter and you’ve had your precious eyes protected by your other sunglasses for the chillier months, you can’t stop that urge to shop for more shades before 2017 really heats up. So, without further ado, let’s see what this year has in store for biggest trends in sunglasses. But one more thing before we dig in: remember to look for the CE certified 100% UV protection.

Paint it Black

This year, a good portion of the runway’s shades created some Matrix-inspired looks featuring all black, dark tint sunglasses. If you’re not one for putting something too flashy on your face, then this understated look is for you. It matches everything, works year-round and gives you a too-cool-for-it-all vibe. (Image courtesy of channel.com).

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Go BIG or go Home

 So, all black isn’t your thing. That’s fine, because large, thick, obviously plastic frames in every colour of the rainbow, and not without the option of funky prints, are a big statement this year. A lot of these styles have a fun cat-eye effect, for that feminine flare, and who doesn’t love bright funky statement shades? While it’s a popular style among designer sunglasses, there are many similar yet effective options at a cheaper price and they’re not hard to find.  (Image courtesy of Gucci).

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Mirror, mirror….

This is a fun one. Rainbow reflective tints, similar to that colourful oil slick effect, are all the rage. This festival inspired look is popular in aviator styles, sharp trapezoidal styles, and even wayfarer looks for more classical tastes. Not only is this a Coachella ready fashion statement, but it’s got that Beyoncé stamp of approval! (Image courtesy of Amevie).

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Get wired!

Double wired sunglasses with that funky second bar above the bridge (called a browbar) have a rockstar quality that’s filled with vintage appeal. This style is most commonly used on aviators, from classic styles (a la Top Gun), to clever aviator inspired shapes that have taken on some more flare for the ladies. It’s a really fun way to show some uniqueness and creativity in how you express yourself through accessories.

Amevie – trendy sun care company

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Amevie sure sounds like a pretty name, but it packs a lot more meaning than just sounding nice! Amevie comes about from the latin word “amehvi”, meaning “Love Life”. Simply loving life? Sign us up! Amevie serves as a triple whammy in internet resources, as a super fun informative blog offering health tips regarding the sun and UV rays, without getting too medical on us, offering lots of fun inspiration and juicy tips about fashion, and safe fun in the sun. Not only is Amevie a pretty rich source of helpful info, but will very soon also serve as a platform for the company’s own brand of health-conscious sunglasses and sunscreens, which successfully balance health, beauty, and fashion, without sacrificing any of those three essentials.

Amevie is a super handy site to keep saved in your browser bookmarks; their articles are jam-packed with answers to those head-scratching questions about our health and how the sun’s rays work, while being extra accessible, intuitive and comprehensive. Reading the full details about these subjects from the more biology-heavy medical sources is a total bore, feels like school, and sometimes leaves us more confused than before. Browsing through some of their article titles, I noticed the added bonus of tips for travel too. These posts are full of little tricks and hacks to make traveling and keeping your skin, eyes etc. safe during your time abroad. So useful, right?!

Amevie doesn’t pull punches when it comes to busting industry myths about sunscreens and sunglasses, products that are supposed to protect us, but often don’t, despite having pretty demanding price tags. After all, who doesn’t want the knowledge toolkit to know which sunscreen, on a shelf stocked with tons of different brands that are all trying hard to sell, works best and isn’t feeding our skin cells unfriendly chemicals. If you don’t believe us, or are just feeling curious, see for yourself, and if you like what you see, share with your friends and family!

This article was written by Maurice Hriech, a Creative Industries graduate (almost) at Ryerson University with a love for city-living, summer, and organic skin care that keeps his health at the forefront. Hobbies include indoor gardening, film photography, and of course, shopping.

LaFemme TheBerge Crowdfunding for the Fashion Art Toronto Show

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Tanya TheBerge is one of those fashion designers with an inspiring story, a fantastic background and a great product. A well known bikini designer for fitness competitions, we are thrilled to see her début collection at fashion Art Toronto (F.A.T.) this spring. But we will let you read her story from her own words, and don’t forget you can support her Indiegogo campaign with as little as $25.

Luevo: What is your favorite part about being a designer?

Tanya: My favourite thing about being a designer is that it encompasses so many different art forms in one. From illustrations, sculpture, tailoring, embroidery, textile design, conceptual collections and countless other forms of multi-media. The limits really are endless.

Luevo: What obstacles did you have to overcome to get to where you are today?

Tanya: Everyday comes with its challenges when you are a mother of two, entrepreneur and emerging designer but I believe it’s more important to focus on the positive. Although, some challenges I’ve had are seeking credibility without the possession of a degree from a prestigious fashion school, having to take care of and support a family of four while creating my collection with limited/no funding available to emerging designers in Ontario/Canada. I’m trying to overcome the challenges associated with an industry that is designed for the privileged to succeed.

Luevo: What advice do you have for young designers?

Tanya: My advice for young designers is to see the silver lining in every situation because it is from the bad experiences that we often times learn the most. Complete tasks fully, stay focused and be self analytical so that you are able to produce work that is authentic to who you are. Expect to have to work hard and then work even harder.

Luevo: Why crowdfunding?

Tanya: I decided to do crowdfunding because there is no financial assistance for fashion designers in Ontario. The costs of producing a collection, brand, label and campaign can be astronomical. I also liked Indiegogo’s feature of giving back to contributors. As a proud person, asking people for money is not something I’ve ever felt comfortable with but being able to give a piece of the collection and gathering my supporters together has been a great experience.

Luevo: What are you top tips for a designer going the crowdfunding path?

Tanya: My three top tips for designers looking to do a crowdfunding campaign. 1) Hire a consultant!! I worked with Ana from Luevo, and without her guidance, support and knowledge we would not have been able to launch a campaign that we can be proud of. She kept us on track and was an abundant source of information and knowledge. 2) The majority of the work is done before the launch so focus on making real connections with people who can make a difference 3) get used to everyone tell you “You should do this… You should do that…” and do the best you can.

Luevo: Let’s talk about your brand. Who is LaFemme Theberge?

Tanya: LaFemme Theberge is an artist who exists with a rebellious heart. La Femme Theberge is about taking the adventurous route, the route less travelled in order to discover new ways of being and thinking. La Femme Theberge is a rule breaker and innovator.

Luevo: Finally, where do you see the brand in the future?

Tanya: I see the brand growing to be recognized for producing unique and artistic red carpet pieces and being curated for art exhibitions worldwide.

Make sure you follow Tanya’s journey on Twitter and Instagram. You can connect with Tanya via her website, and you can always show your support by sharing her crowdfunding campaign with your friends.

VEENA – A Canadian fashion brand with a mission

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Meet Jena Murray – a former intern at the Canadian Space Agency, an Alberta Sports Hall of Fame honoured athlete and fashion designer. Yes, it seems like she’s done it all, but now Jena’s focus is to empower girls to gain self-esteem through the exploration of art.  But let’s see what Jena had to say about her […]

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Interview with Colette Chrétien of La Fille Colette

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Our team sat down with Colette Chrétien the founder and designer of La Fille Colette, a Boston based fashion brand. La Fille Colette is very proud to be made in the United States and prioritizes socially and environmentally responsible practices. We obviously had many questions related to their beginnings, the inspiration behind the brand and their future plans. Read on if you want to learn more.

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Luevo: How did you start your design journey?

CC: I’ve been designing for as long as I can remember. I used to love drawing princess dresses when I was very young. In high school, I started to sew what I was designing, and once I started I couldn’t stop. I felt I had to make an original dress for each big event that was coming up. I generally procrastinated on these projects and remember finishing sewing my Prom dress after friends had started to arrive at my house to take Prom pictures.

Luevo: What is your favourite thing about being a designer? What path would you have followed, had you not become a designer?

CC: My favorite thing about being a designer is getting the opportunity to be doing what I love for a career, and not just as a hobby on the side.  When I was younger, before I fell in love with designing clothes, I wanted to act, so perhaps I would be in New York or LA waitressing and going on auditions. I think I would make a fairly good actor, but a terrible waitress.

Luevo:  What do you think has helped you most with your designing to date?

CC: Being a woman and having the kind of body I am designing for helps me immensely. I think that sometimes male womenswear designers believe women only want fantasy in fashion. Women want a touch of fantasy, but in clothing that they can comfortably sit down in at a desk all day or run to catch the train in.

Luevo:  What obstacles have you had to face and overcome to get where you are today?

CC: The biggest obstacle for me has been starting a business from scratch. I have no formal training or experience in managing a company. When I started, I knew how to design and make dresses, and I have taught myself the rest along the way. Wearing so many hats is challenging, but it is also one of the most rewarding aspects of running a business.

Luevo: What inspirations did you draw on to create your latest collection?

CC: I looked to the works of Victor Vasarely and the op art movement for the graphic, geometric elements and contrasting color combinations.

Luevo: How would you describe your process of inspiration? What do you do to keep your ideas fresh and interesting?

CC: Inspiration strikes me the most when I am lying in bed about to fall asleep. This is the time designs will often come to me fully formed and the best time for me to really think through a design and work out the kinks.

I think for a designer or anyone creating any kind of visual art, it’s important to get out of the house or office as much as possible and be surrounded by new sites. I also love to collect and flip through art and fashion books full of beautiful and inspiring photography

Luevo:  If you could describe your new collection with one word, what would it be and why? What would you say the overall theme of this collection would be?

CC: Versatility. I wanted this collection to be about getting a lot of mileage out of each piece. It was very important to me to design exciting clothes that women really want to wear, while still producing pieces that are easy to wear, and can be worn to a variety of events, and styled in a variety of ways.

Luevo: When will your latest collection be available online?

CC: My Fall/Winter 2015 collection will be available on my website, for pre-order July 15 and for immediate purchase by the end of August.

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If you want to learn more about La Fille Colette, you can visit their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.