New Year’s Eve always gets so hyped up. You spend a month going back and forth between where to go and who you’re going to spend it with, debating whether to spend the $75 to get into some insanely overcrowded joint downtown, or just to pop the cork at a friend’s apartment. Then it’s over, and you realize it was just like any other Friday or Saturday night, except more expensive, and you’re feeling a bit less bright eyed than usual.

Be prepared. And that’s where we come in. Because there’s nothing worse than having to go out into the blinding daylight of a new year (or decade) with a splitting New Year’s headache. And there’s no better remedy than a nice dark pair of shades.

This holiday season was all about practical gifts. But practical doesn’t need to be lame. And if you didn’t get anything that was both practical and cool, may I suggest two of this season’s best-selling styles to hide that hangover:

The Ray-Ban Aviator Large Metal RB3025-L0205 sold like Christmas hot-cakes, and we have it here for as low as $80.99! Which will feel so right after you realize how much you blew the night before.

Or, drink your hangover mimosa hiding your eyes behind this super-stylish pair of Chanels. The Chanel 6026B is available here for only $157.49!

And yes, what’s New Year’s without some resolutions to make and break. And what are the two most popular resolutions? Stop smoking [seriously, stop if you haven’t already] and exercise more. Once again, we’re here to help.

Unfortunately, you’re on your own with the quitting of the tobacco. You’ll quit when you decide to quit. But we can definitely help out on the ‘more exercise’ front by suggesting the following best-selling sports sunglasses. These will not only protect your eyes from UV rays and enhance your vision, they’ll protect you from all the dirt and debris the running you resolved to start doing every day will throw at you.

Maui Jim’s Kanaha Sport are just what you need to get off the couch this year and actually add some years to your life, rather than drain them away. Whether it’s getting on a bike, or jogging through the park, Maui Jims are perfect. And they grip to stay on your sweaty face. Get them here for only $134.99! Because what’s a better investment than your health?

Or hit the waters and breathe in the fresh air with the Costa Del Mar Fathom. Here starting as low as $149.99, they’re ideal for any water sports. They cut down surface water glare like you wouldn’t believe, to help you catch that marlin you’ve always wanted to put over the mantle.

So ring in the New Year with style, and something to really push you to make good on this year’s resolutions.

Shopping for Your Fashionista (or Fashionisto?)

There’s nothing as fun and as stressful as finding the right holiday gifts for friends and loved ones. And there’s nothing worse than a lame gift. We want to take the guesswork out of at least some of your shopping list by helping you help your loved ones ring in the New Year in luxury and style, without coming close to breaking the bank! You can thank us later.

Say you have a certified Fashionista on your list. Or a Fashionisto if they are male. (Yeah, Fashionisto might not be a word. Yet. But what would you think if you saw the word “meterosexuals” here? You’d roll your eyes and check the calendar to see what year it was. Right?) What better way to show your appreciation for having such fabulous people in your life than by adding some splendor to their life? And what better way to show you know a little something about refinement and style than by getting them a pair of Christian Dior sunglasses?

You can score the best-selling Black Tie 35 here for an unbelievable $125.99! Which is about 100 bucks cheaper than “list” price. Or “full retail” or whatever you want to call the gouging that you get at the mall.

Or what about a pair of Giorgio Armani sunglasses? You can get the popular GA-140 here for only $197.99- Again a large coin purse worth of difference from the “regular” price.

Not your modish recipient’s style? How about an awesome pair of Fendi sunglasses? Grab a pair of the famous FS462 for a mind-blowing $143.99—And this price is over on hundred and fifty bucks off of the retail price-

Or, put a little vogue under the tree with a pair of Gucci sunglasses. The elegant Gucci 1827 is here at a $197.99, which while not certifiably insane still a good amount less (check out the link and you'll see what I mean.)

So much chic variety! So little time! Either way, any one of these high-end discount designer sunglasses is guaranteed to make you the coolest gift-giver this year.

Amazing Designer Deal Alert: Tom Ford Sunglasses

Shop online and snag a pair of these classic Tom Ford Isabella Sunglasses for only $98.99! That's a savings of 72% off the retail price of $350 – what a fabulous deal! Available in black/smoke lens, shown above, and havana pearl rust brown/light brown lens, below.

The Right Shades

Photo via SandDancer1 on Flickr

People ask me about Sunglasses. Goes along with the job, I guess. They seem to think I will know the perfect pair of sunglasses for them, the one that magically works perfectly on their face. I wish I had that ability, but the truth is that it is a bit more complicated than that. There is no “perfect pair of sunglasses.” If I could say “between you and me, the Persol 2803/s is the one,” I would be a spared a lot of grief. But, as good as they are (we love you, Persol) there is no perfect pair of shades for everyone.

I do have a rule of thumb for finding the right pair for you, whoever you are. Here it is:
As long as you are wearing the shades, and they are not wearing you, you are good.

photo by Kevin Dodge via Corbis

Feel let down? Sorry. No silver bullets, remember? But if you think about it I think you will find that its really true. For example, I can’t pull off wearing most Fendi Sunglasses. They are great, well made and cool and I know many people who rock their Fendi sunglasses. When I put on a pair I feel like they are on the wrong person. Same goes for a pair of Bolle sunglasses. I used to wear a pair of cheap Bolle sunglasses 24/7 (right now you should be picturing skinny kid with a turned up collar listening to a Men at Work CD driving a beat up ’79 LaSabre. Yeah, I was that cool.) but now I find that they are just wrong on me.

Nowadays I either wear a pair of classic Ray Ban Aviators or (if I am on the water) a pair of Costa Del Mar Fathoms.

Ray-Ban RB3025 Metal Aviators

Costa del Mar Fathom

In either case the rule holds true- these are the right sunglasses for me because when I put them on I feel like I am wearing them and they look good. If they made me feel overly self aware or awkward, they wouldn’t be the right ones. So there you have it. Hope that it helps you be at one with your sunglasses.

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