Optical collusion

Shady Character brings the flavor of film noir to eyewear - and style sleuths are hot on the trail

Glasses don't have to be geeky or gawky - now you can exude an air of fatalism and even a hint of menace with these '70s throwbacks from Shady Character.

Like some nefarious conspiracy, the original brand was hatched in a basement in Manhattan back in the city's Gotham days. It gained notoriety after conspiring with the James Dean Foundation to resurrect the movie star's eyeglasses look. But it was to be a short-lived caper, as the eyewear racket was on the wane and the Shady crew had no choice but to pop a cap in it.