Kool Kameleonz©

Kameleonz©, a hot new label of sunnies from California, is the brain child of motorcycle-riding, rock-climbing, beach-bumming and all around outdoor-loving brothers Sean and Justin Bingham. The bros recognized a lack of affordable, customizable and most importantly, functional designs in the American eyewear market.

This resulted in revolutionary new sunglasses, the first with colorful interchangeable side arms, rubber soft-touch finish and full protection UV 400 lenses that launched just in time for the wet hot American summer of 2013. 

Now available in the Philippines, for just PhP1,000 you get a set of frames and three sets of side arms – that’s 27 different variations of the hippest, sickest, most amazingly-freaking-awesome eyewear around. 

Or you can start off with a frame and a set of stems for Php750.

But you will love how lightweight, fun and easy on the eyes they are, that I won't be surprised if you start springing for a Super Set! Super great for traveling too because you can match it easily with all your other outfits!

 my Kameleonz© waiting for boarding at Changi

 my friend Kaye's Kameleonz© in Spain

 

 I don't know where this is, but doesn't this make you want a Kameleonz© in this colorway too?

Get your  Kameleonz© at:

- Center of Gravity
- Fort, Centris Walk
- Plana Forma Fort
- Nothing But H2O Boracay, Alabang Town Center, TriNoMa, Glorietta 3, Robinson's Galleria
- SoFA Retail Lab Rockwell (September 2013)

For inquiries or more details, email philippines@kameleonz.com and Like their Facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/KameleonzPH

Summer Sunnies 2013: Dolce & Gabbana

Do you know what D in D&G stands for? It's for Donya. Yes, "Donya". Because these D&G Sicilian Baroque sunnies are just so "Donya". I love the ornate relief design of gilded roses and unfurling foliage on sunglasses - it's like jewelry and sunnies rolled into one:

twine of roses and foliage in baroque style on the front...

...and on the temples

There's a less elaborate design, without the roses on the front. It's less "in your face", but just as gorgeous.

What I noticed from this season's collection of sunnies at BLI, and this is across all brands, is the focus on details. Little details that may or may not be instantly noticeable, but make a pair of sunnies special. Like the chain link detail on the temples of this pair...

Or the ubiquitous D&G logo on this one...

These D&G sunnies are available at LS Pascual Optical Rockwell and Shangri-la, Almeda Shangri-la, Almeda Shangri-la, Sarabia Rockwell and Adora.

Wait for more of my posts on the hottest shades of summer from BLI. In the meantime, for updates, follow LuxuryEyewearPH on Twitter and Instagram and Like them on Facebook!

Branded Lifestyle Inc. (BLI) is the distributor of luxury & fashion eyewear in the Philippines.  Brands in their portfolio include Coach, Tory Burch, Polo Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Prada, Versace, Paul Smith, Oliver Peoples, Bvlgari and Tiffany & Co.

Summer 2013 Sunnies: Miu Miu Culte Collection

The amazing Pentagon sunnies from Miu Miu's Culte Collection - comes in brushed metal, chamoise and black frames

Of all the sunnies I loved at the BLI showroom in Makati, I went home with the light-colored, suede framed sunnies in the middle (see above photo) from Miu Miu. Most of my sunglasses play around black, grey, dark brown and tortoise frames so lately, I've been on the lookout for lighter colored frames to add to my collection.

It was actually a toss up between these and classic sunnies from Oliver Peoples (which is also love!) but the BLI girls made it easier for me when they said, go for the Miu Mius! So ok, that's settled! Tadaaaa!

When I got home, still giddy with joy because I had new sunnies for this sweltering summer, I started Googling about them and realized, OMG. I am wearing celebrity sunnies! Haha. Check out Miranda Kerr, Rihanna, Diana Agron, Leighton Meester etc all in the brushed metal version (top of topmost photos above) of my sunnies, which incidentally, is also exclusively available here in the Philippines at Adora in Greenbelt 5.

They're definitely cute, and the brushed metal frames have a rockstar/celebrity quality to them. Except the metal frames are also quite heavy, pare. Here are other whimsically designed sunnies from the Miu Miu Culte Collection, which if I am not mistaken, are from the Apple line (notice the slight curve on the lens?):

This is just the Miu Miu collection! Wait for more of my posts on the hottest shades of summer from BLI. In the meantime, for updates, follow LuxuryEyewearPH on Twitter and Instagram and Like them on Facebook!

Branded Lifestyle Inc. (BLI) is the distributor of luxury & fashion eyewear in the Philippines.  Brands in their portfolio include Coach, Tory Burch, Polo Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Miu Miu, Prada, Versace, Paul Smith, Oliver Peoples, Bvlgari and Tiffany & Co.

Fly Shades for Summer

The kiddos started their swimming lessons today. Which simply means, SUMMER IS HERE! Well, officially for me anyway. Because swimming and summer, they go hand in hand. Ok fine, technically with our weather, we really can swim the whole year round. But you know what I mean?

You know what else reminds me of summer, but is also a year round thing? Sunnies. I love love love sunnies. But what I hate is losing them. So annoying. Especially if you spent a fortune on a pair. Not that I lost one already, but the feeling when I thought I lost one. OMG. Feels like losing an arm. Exagg. I know.

When Fly Shades sent me their latest collection of sunnies, all with 400 UV ray protection, I realized this is the solution for when you're the type to lose sunnies. They're stylish, right on trend, and best of all, only costs anywhere from Php340 to Php390 per pair. So in case you lose a pair, ok lang! You can even afford to get a back-up pair or two.

Here's my favorite from the collection. The platito sunnies. Round and proud.

Here's favorite #2. Very Prada.

The aviators from Fly Shades are pretty cool too. I remember my brother lost my dad's Randolph Engineering aviator sunnies while we were in Palawan and I wanted to strangle him. It was the kind of sunnies everybody in the family borrowed and loved.

Randolph Engineering aviators above ($199) vs Fly Shades aviators (Php350). Which would you go for?

I know what I am giving my brother this summer. 3 pairs of Fly Shades.

Fly Shades are available at most SM and Robinsons Malls. For the full list of stores, click HERE.

For updates and such, Like Fly Shades on Facebook.

Madonna x Dolce & Gabbana Eyewear Winner!

Here's the winning entry! Congratulations Pauline! Loved your casual yet sophisticated take on how the sunglasses should be worn. Very jetset Madonna!

You won this gorgeous pair of Madonna x Dolce&Gabbana sunnies!

Please expect an email from me so I can get your mailing address and coordinate mailing of your prize! I hope your Mom enjoys her new sunglasses!

Madonna x Dolce & Gabbana: Round 2 Entries

Lulu

this is the best i can come up with (limited madonna-ish clothing. hehe). this is fun. fingers crossed ;-) thanks! - Pokoy

My 80's outfit inspired by Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video hope y'all like it :) - Andi

Pauline

My Madonna inspired look is edgy, sophisticated, funky but most importantly it is wearable! This look does not discriminate, it can be worn by women of all sizes! =) - Carla

What do you peeps think? Different personalities, different ways of expressing Madonna's style, so it's hard to decide! But looks like Lulu, Pokoy, Andi, Pauline and Carla had fun doing their mini styling projects! =) Will announce the winner soon!

Madonna x Dolce & Gabbana: Round 2

Honeys! Let's gear up for Round 2!

It was so hard to choose our Top 5 answers. I could relate to all the mommies who wanted, no needed this. My heart was tugged at by daughters who wanted to win sunnies for their moms. I know how priorities have to take precedence over splurging on designer eyewear, how exciting it must be for fans to wear something that Madonna had something to do with. And of course, just simply how fun it must be to win something indulgent and fabulous! But I've come up with a good representation of motivations, and to make round 2 more exciting, let's ask the following readers:

...to show us how much they really want the sunnies! Here are the next steps:

1. Ladies, take a photo of yourself in a Madonna inspired look. OR! If you are shy, create a Madonna inspired look that you would wear, via Polyvore, Powerpoint or Paint. You may also do a collage manually and scan it. Then, email your entry to manilafashionobserver@gmail.com by August 6.

2. I will post your photos in a blog post.

3. We will decide on a winner on August 7!

Let the fun, begin! =)

Prada Bing, Prada Boom

I haven't bought sunglasses for a while now. I think my last purchase was my Balenciaga, which was what, back in 2009? I don't have Prada frames yet, so I was thinking maybe this one would round up my little collection of sunnies:

This frame also comes in pink, and will look cute with light colored swimsuits for summer. While colored frames are hot these days, I dunno, it's still not me. I guess I will still go for classic dark frames, I am just loving how feminine this is. Like a Barbie frame, but more elegant, heeheehee!

Up to now I still have 20/20 vision, but these retro frames make me want to wear eyeglasses. The Prada print on the inside is a nice touch, like there's something fun hiding behind the staid black frame. Actually, there are guy versions of this eyewear too, which come in solid black or tortoiseshell:

Cool no? These styles should be available in Manila too, from Prada's Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Collection.