Ski Press World Inc. - Index

Ski Press World Inc. - SIA Day 4 - Index

top trends/sunglasses
SUNGLASSES TAKE STYLE CUES FROM THE PAST,
Sunglasses manufactures know our dirty secret; we’re slaves
to style. Fighter pilot wire rims, shield lenses and chunky
frames continue to pervade shades. High-end, optically clear
lenses and frames with custom touches like rhinestones and
rivets drive up price points and quality standards. While a
few manufacturers are still making ultra-lightweight, sportperformance
glasses, most are focusing on fashion fi rst.
And even though these glasses are targeting “lifestyle”
pursuits like lounging or clubbing, they perform as well as
they look when tested with glare, speed or air.
ELECTRIC’S new BSG II glasses are the second incarnation
of a collaboration between Electric and the skater who
inspired Jackass, Bam Margera. The shield lens is elegantly
curved inside large boxy frames and they’re durable
enough to withstand the most asinine stunts. The threepiece
raised volt logo and screws are stainless steel and the
100% UVA/B protective polycarbonate lenses are housed
in a Grilamid frame. Named after three-war veteran Col.
Bob Thacker, the Col. Thacker is made for the “new era of
social combat.” Wire core-injected temples offer fl exible
comfort so you can focus on your A game.
DRAGON pushes forward with the standing rockstar/drug
lord theme, with full-coverage frames and bright colors in
its Bridage X-Ray and Calavera Tiger glasses. The two-tone
GC shades take a uniquely robotic retro turn toward the
‘80s, with the kind of oversized, thin boxy frames you were
probably wearing when you rode your fi rst snowboard.
SPY also sticks with oversized and ‘80s styles this year. The
company is focusing more on fashion and less on technical
snow features, since it seems that most skiers and
riders are wearing goggles, not glasses on the hill. Spy
does emphasize performance in its glasses but combines
it with hybridized, retro styles like the Claudette and Blok,
which hearken back to the MC Hammer and Max Headroom
days of yore. The HSX is Spy’s performance piece with
full-protection from large lenses and minimalist elegance
in the thin frame.
GIRO signed a deal to use Zeiss Certifi ed True Sight lenses
in its glasses. Made in a Zeiss mold and conforming to
a high standard of optical purity, True Sight lenses offer
distortion-free, full-fi eld vision in a range of water- and
grime-repellant tints. With these lenses, Giro launches
its Sport Performance sunglasses. The Semi is the sportiest
of the bunch, with a slightly chunky half frame for a
lightweight feel. Wind Tunnel ventilated temples circulate
air behind the lenses to prevent fog during the slog. The
rubber nose pad and temple tips are also ventilated. For
the less technically oriented, Giro’s Instigator and Convert
glasses are more lifestyley, though they also use True Sight
lenses and Wind Tunnel ventilation.
SMITH releases six new, fashion-driven glasses this year.
The frames of the Italian-crafted, oversized Witness are ergonomically
curved for comfort and the lenses are optically perfect.
The classic, medium-sized Don gets right to the point.
There’s no fancy styling, just a down-to-business look with
impact-resistant, high-quality lenses and frames. Thin-ish
frames on big, buggy lenses in the Talent women’s sunglass
make a curvy, oversized fashion statement in a light frame.
The chunkiest of the bunch, the Invite’s boxy frames are
subtly curved. A small metal Smith logo sits at the bottom of
the temples and a round, translucent plaque marks the ends.
Attention to detail and unique styling make this a standout.
The Hideout is a smaller frame, fl at and sleek and a bit of a
throwback to the ‘90s. It has all the technical innovations of
the rest of them, without all the fl ash. Polarized lenses are
available in all Smith’s new glasses.
New shield shades from ZEAL propel the oversized look
into the new line. Zeal’s ZB-13 Polarized lenses allow a
single lens to have maximum versatility. The 20-model