This way to Coolsville

Whether they are neon green, oversized and round, or a classic pair of aviators, sum-mer shades are anything but boring. There are so many styles, the fashion foreword female can change her specs as often as she changes her underwear. But why wait a whole day for a new look?

Everything old is new again in fashion this year, and that retro sensibility even extends to sunglasses. If this keeps up, we’ll all be wearing peace signs by fall and feeling nostalgic for Sputnik.
Any good fashionista knows that sunglasses are never just sunglasses. They are a strategic and essential part of any sunny-day outfit. And again this season, oversized sunglasses are must-have accents.
Long live Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her ultra-chic eyewear.
The major update on the Jackie O look? Color!
“Oversized, bright sunglasses will be in for the summer,” said Heather Langley,
assistant manager of Ellie on North College Street in Auburn.

Sadly, oversized shades are not for everyone. If the large sunglasses make you look like a giant fly, steer clear, or at least try to avoid getting trapped in the light fixture. But don’t lose hope. There are choices.
“Oversized sunglasses go from being super huge to medium size,” said Danielle Russell, a sales associate at Sunglass Hut in Auburn Colonial Mall. “There are so many different sizes and shapes. … People just have to be open to trying stuff on.”
Incognito glasses, the only sunglass brand carried by Ellie, are in the retro column. The oversized shades come in an array of colors, so you can have a pair to match every outfit and mood.

Round frames popular in the late 1960s and early ’70s are ideal for this summer, but avoid sunglasses reminiscent of the ’80s and ’90s. Wear nothing one might describe as “bodacious.” Avoid anything boxy.
Who knew that John Lennon would emerge as a women’s fashion muse in 2008? Look for his trademark round frames, but in thick plastic and bright spring colors. Download “Imagine,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” or “A Day in the Life” on your iPod and you’re set for summer. Wearers beware, though: Unlike John Lennon, these sunglasses look like a one-hit wonder. Toss them when the summer’s through.
Other vintage favorites on the rebound? Rayban Wayfarers, said Russell of Sunglass Hut.
These symbol-of-coolness shades come in many shapes and sizes including classic aviator and new, larger round frames.

It’s not necessary to forfeit fashion for good sense. Polarized sunglasses are a good idea for reducing glare, Russell said.
Sunglasses this summer are more classic Hollywood than trendy teen. Think Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Put down the shades with the rhinestone detail and just walk away. It is for the best.
Looking for something a little different? Try sunglasses with muted details. Gucci’s shades have gradient lenses that change from dark to light. Or look for lenses with subtle graphic imprints such as contrasting dark and light boxes or circles, as seen in Gucci’s fall/winter 2008 collection. The extra attention to detail gives these classics a post-modern spin.

Whether they are neon green, oversized and round, or a classic pair of aviators, summer shades are anything but boring. There are so many styles, the fashion foreword female can change her specs as often as she changes her underwear. But why wait a whole day for a new look?