SUNNY HOLIDAZE

I was sort of expecting December to blow in some cool breeze all over sunbaked metro Davao, but it seems like summer heat is still lurking around the corner.

Given that we’re facing bright and sunny holidays ahead, we might as well bask and sizzle in the season in great style --- starting with our eyewear.

Spectacles continue to be the craze among the hip and stylish. These glasses have gained their popularity through icons that graced the fashion and movie industry, decades and years over. All eyes have witnessed the evolution of this style staple, which, for some time, also became a status symbol. By retrospect, shades have added character to every look --- they complemented the classics, accessorized the ordinary, and polished the grunge.

In this day and age, sunspecs have gone past the caste sensitivity and has become reasonably more price-friendly for all to afford.  At this turning point, young entrepreneurs of this tech and trend savvy generation revolutionized street fashion, which paved way to the emergence of new brands that offered the complete getup at a competitive price.

Sunnies by Charlie: Retro Chic

Today’s most influential local eyewear brand, Sunnies by Charlie, took its cues from the growing demand for quality eyewear at a reasonable cost. Launched in early 2013, this brand grew out of the collaboration of four fantabulous friends --- Eric Dee Jr., Bea Soriano, Martine Cajucom, and Georgina Wilson.

A spin-off to the successful Charlie apparel brand, Sunnies by Charlie offers curated eyewear to suit the ever-changing tastes and moods of the contemporary market, all within an affordable price range. Classic-contemporary styles and unique frames makeup their collection which is named after celebrities and popular personalities like Jackie O, James Dean, Brooke Shields, and many more.

The brand’s design aesthetic is inspired by the 60’s and 70’s, with a bit of a modern twist. The visuals and branding employed for their ad campaign follow mid-century color stories and guerrilla style photography shot mainly on film.

 

Sunnies by Charlie stations are located in SM Mall of Asia and SM Southmall. Sunglasses are also sold in Charlie branches in SM North Edsa (The Block), SM San Lazaro, SM Fairview, Robinson’s Place Manila, and Robinsons Galleria.

Davaoeños can order online at http://zalora.com.ph/sunnies-by-charlie.
Visit the brand's official website at https://sunniesbycharlie.com/.

Getting the right fit: Which suits you best?

Not everything goes for all shapes and sizes. That’s a fact.

When choosing spectacles, you should always consider the shape of your face and the design of the frame. Here is a simple guide you can follow:

1.    Almost any style works for an OVAL FACE (balanced forehead, cheekbones and jaw).  

2.    Those with ROUND FACE (full cheekbones; narrow forehead and jaw) should avoid round frames and colored lenses. They can actually emphasize the shape of your face. Instead, stick to wide and rectangular frames.

3.    Round, oval, cat's-eye frames can give definition and balance to a SQUARE FACE (broad forehead; square jawline). Steer away from sharp geometric shapes.

4.    A HEART-SHAPED FACE (wide forehead and cheekbones; narrow chin) looks great with cat's-eye and round frames.  Say no to heavily embellished sunspecs.

5.    Oversize or wrap styles compliment the OBLONG SHAPED FACE (long face; narrow chin and cheeks). You can widen and shorten the look of your face with sunglass styles that do not extend beyond the cheekbone.

Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
A1, INdulge, Edge Davao, Vol.6 Issue 193, 11 December 2013.