Fun under the sun

An indispensable part of any self-respecting city girl's summer wardrobe is a pair - or multiple pairs - of cool shades. This summer, it is time to be conspicuous and flaunt your assets, said Lindsay Edwards, accessories buyer for Shanghai-based upscale multi-brand accessories boutique On Pedder.

"This season is all about oversized retro shapes," said Edwards, predicting that colorful, printed and plastic frames will become hugely popular.

"The colors for the 2009 summer season are bright purple, pink, and neon colors, as seen at Matthew Williamson. Two-toned frames are another major trend - just check out Dolce and Gabanna's range."

"I personally love Balenciaga's collection with its contrasting metal sides."

Top picks of the season:

Retro modern

Australian brand Ksubi, pioneer of chic street fashion, has a reputation for churning out ultra-cool conceptual frames. The brand that designed the shades worn by singer Kylie Minogue in her music video In My Arms, is focusing more on acetate and titanium frames for its new spring/summer collection.

Highlights include black or red feather print shades, a pair of Ara Wayfarer-style specs in classic tortoiseshell tones, and a range of bold digital prints.

Price: 2,199 yuan

Big and bug-eyed

For those hoping to emulate Audrey Hepburn's sultry look in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, Chanel now has the answer. Chanel's dusky acetate frames, paired with gold metal temples shaped like sheaves of wheat, are perfect for people-watching. Dior's chunky black-rimmed sunglasses also help create that million-dollar look - while hiding the aftereffects of last night's hangover.

Dior: 2,960 yuan

Chanel: 4,000 yuan

Bargain buy

If a pair of Matthew Williamson sunglasses is out of your price range, head to H&M for the next best thing. The designer's hotly anticipated first capsule collection for H&M may have sold out within hours, but luckily there is more to come. The second phase of his vibrant collection includes a pair of snappy oversized sunglasses in candy-colored retro print - the ideal poolside accessory.

Price: 199 yuan

(China Daily 05/08/2009 page14)