Firstly, Oakley sunglasses are famed for their versatility, their sporting prowess and their effortless fusion between lifestyle and active; that is to say, the vast majority of Oakley sunglasses look just as good doing high-octane activities as well as doing high-street shopping. Truly a unique brand, the Oakley sunglasses empire began with ‘Mad Scientist’ Jim Jannard. Using a bag of tools, a garage and $300, Jannard devised patents that would rock the world of sports eyewear forever. With millions of Oakley sunglasses sold around the world over the past three decades, it is evident to see why people trust them so much. The newest collections change the state of play even further; look at the Sliver F sunglasses (which take a familiar Holbrook style and add a piston-equipped foldable arm for the ultimate in comfort and portability), as well as the Oakley TinCan Carbon collection and TinFoil Carbon sunglasses. Look out for these versatile frames and stunning pieces in the coming Oakley collections this autumn/winter. We think you’ll like what you see.
Ray-Ban sunglasses are one of the key iconic accessories, with the most famous Ray-Ban frames becoming the best-selling sunglasses of all time. Devised by Bausch & Lomb in 1936 and marketed as Ray-Ban sunglasses in 1937, the Ray-Ban Aviator is easily one of the most recognisable sunglass styles and has stood the test of time for nearly eighty years. In 1952, Ray-Ban struck again with the Wayfarer style and the Clubmaster followed shortly after. Here at Shade Station you can find top-quality Ray-Ban sunglasses that exhibit all three of these styles, with modern features and interesting twists on the norm; take a look at our new Wayfarer RB2140 ‘Special Series’ Polarised sunglasses, which have the familiar trapezoid shaped frame with a set of polarised lenses, the RB3507 Clubmaster Aluminum which has the iconic shape of the Clubmaster sunglass but with a durable, lightweight aluminium frame, and the Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator with mirrored polarised lenses. These all come in a variety of different colourways, but the best Ray-Ban sunglasses in recent years in terms of innovation include the velvet RB4171 Erika sunglasses, the rubberised Ray-Ban RB4165 ‘Justin’ and the RB2140QM Leather Wayfarer sunglasses, which incorporate top-quality materials for the best in modern sunglass design. Look out for these incredible features and more, as well as a unique pressed denim frame (coming soon) that will assuredly be an accessory for fashionistas everywhere this winter.
Tom Ford sunglasses are stunningly eclectic, holistically working with many materials and styles to achieve creative nirvana. Tom Ford himself is the chief designer of his own brand, and reflects over 20 years of expertise. Learning his trade at Gucci in 1994, Ford brought through some sensuous, retro-inspired fashion accessories and clothing items which saved the Gucci business and launched Tom Ford into super-stardom. Fast-forward two decades, and his designs still show the same sensuality, raciness and extraordinary craft that made him a household name. Each sunglass piece is adorned with the famous ‘T-Bar’ which is a minimalist logo built into the temples and arms. New models to watch out for include the Tom Ford Olivier sunglasses, which utilise a beautiful, slightly oversized frame with the familiar Tom Ford embellishments and a beautiful tapering pair of arms. For a more feminine look, try the Saskia sunglasses which take a beautiful cat-eye look and juxtapose it with colour, light and monochrome.
Carrera sunglasses represent true innovation, stunning design and unbeatable style all in one; inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, the Carrera sunglasses brand strives to be the best driving sunglass there can be. Carrera sunglasses are geared to withstand the enduring conditions of one of the world’s most dangerous races, and the functionality is equal to the amazing style they bring to the table. The majority of sunglasses made by Carrera are made with Optyl, a durable material that is roughly 20% lighter than acetate and other thermoplastic materials. For years, this incredible material has been represented in Carrera’s finest frames, and the hard-working nature of Carrera continues in its newest selections. Take a look at the Carrera Gipsy, which has a stunning toric shield style as well as a superbly lightweight metal signature frame, and the Carrera 82 sunglasses, which take a stunning Optyl frame and adds award-winning clarity, coupled with a metal brow bar that really sets the piece off. Don’t forget to look out for other stunning examples of the Carrera sunglasses brand coming soon.
Polaroid sunglasses represent a lifetime of vision, both literally and metaphorically, with the invention of Edwin Land’s patented Polaroid technology. In 1935, Edwin Land perfected the Polaroid filter which managed to filter harmful glare and revolutionise the lens industry in one fell swoop. Today, Polaroid sunglasses are still a valid and incredibly versatile sunglasses brand, hosting some beautiful features along the way. Take a look at the Polaroid X4406B as an example for what true innovation can do; a familiar squared-off style undergoes an upheaval with polarised UltraSight lenses. Further to that, take a look at the P8491A sunglasses which has a gorgeous wraparound style with some stunning embellishments to bring a feminine, sensuous touch to the Polaroid sunglasses brand.
Von Zipper sunglasses were born from the desire to change the state of play; a team of surfers, skaters, snowboarders and people with generally active lifestyles came together to challenge the norm and move sunglasses beyond the conventional glamour shots. Von Zipper sunglasses are key when it comes to protection and ingenuity, with a range of sports elements moving beyond what we expect of standard eyewear. With a range of material options available and a whole array of styles to choose from, Von Zipper knows all about choice and innovative ideas. Check out the Von Zipper Drydock for an example of what the strong, vibrant contours can do for both style and protection. Additionally, the Limited Edition Kingbee sunglasses are wonderfully crafted and a heads-up of the imminent FCG (Freethinkers’ Conspiracy Guild) collection coming soon.
Finally, Dragon sunglasses take the needs of the extreme sports community and add incredible innovative expertise to what they want, as well as fusing style and sporting sophistication. The Dragon sunglasses brand has been a success story from its very inception; 1993 was a good year for water sports, as surfer kids and professionals alike took to the Dragon brand with great aplomb and suggested changes. From here, the Dragon sunglasses range expanded to Dragon goggles as well as many other apparel products. Combining ideas from both of these fields has yielded some incredibly results; take a look at Shade Station’s newest collection of Dragon sunglasses which include The Jam H2O Floatable sunglasses, engineered to float to the surface of any body of water. Keep an eye out, though, for further collections coming this autumn/winter, ready for an advent of ingenuity in spring and summer!