Westward Leaning Sunglasses Are The Only Sunglasses I Want On My Face

Ohai, I'm wearing Westward \\ Leaning sunglasses. ALSO I'm on Instagram at Yisthisisdog.

Yep, this is GPOY, and yes, those are Westward \\ Leaning sunglasses, and yes, they're OBSCENELY flattering, and yes, they're the only sunglasses I'll ever put on my face-ness. Hashem forbid there were a fire in my place, I'd save these. Except I wouldn't have to because they'd probably either already be on my face. 

Westward \\ Leaning's Robert Denning and Karlygash Burkibayeva are based out of San Francisco, and each of the 11 variations on Wayfarers pay tribute to a person, place, social or movement or natural resource -- serious melty hearts over the Castros, named for Harvey Milk. And, even better, $10 from each pair goes to an educational charity. AND they'll replace your sunglasses for free if you're unhappy with them or something happens to them. (Like, if your sunglasses happen to become unhappy.)

I'm wearing the No. 5s, AKA Love Thy Neighbor, created in honor of the people and culture of Mexico. The TDF beading detail is created with tiny Chaquira beads inspired by the beaded mosaics made by the Huichol people of western central Mexico. Ten bucks from each sale of this style goes to Love Thy Neighbor Mexico, a small non-profit -profit campaign that uses social media, education and art to spread awareness about the connection between the demand for illicit drugs in the US and the drug war in Mexico.  Seriously, when was the last time sunglasses made you think so hard... or LOOK SO GOOD. (Various famous folks have worn them, but I ASSURE YOU it's the design of these glasses, and not, say Kate Bosworth's genetic design that's responsible for making said celebs look so good.) I am LEGIT fine with saying these look like they were made for my face. The cat-eye-meets-Wayfarer style is WHERE I NEED TO BE. Cheek to cheek.

$275, Westward \\ Leaning

* Disclaimer: I was gifted these sunglasses... and THANK YOU!

These 3 Pairs Of Sunglasses Need To Find Their Way Onto My Face

So many excellent new sunglasses for summer. Let's begin with these three pairs, which need to report for duty on face immediately. All three, on my face, all at once (which coincidentally sounds like a line from a Terry Richardson deposition -- and if that hasn't happened yet it's just a matter of time). 

$128, Kate Spade, Nordstrom

The relief I'd feel pulling the trigger on these Kate Spade Aviators that I don't need probably far outweighs the guilt I'd feel buying a pair of sunglasses I clearly don't need.

$280, Karen Walker, Shopbop

Ugh. I can't with these cream Karen Walker sunglasses with ARROW DETAILING on the arms. Can you? No! You can't! No one can! It's a problem.

$389, Agent Provocateur 

Agent Provocateur's purple "Poke Me" sunglasses (hee!) are the platonic ideal of old-lady chic. And if you're concerned that $389 is expensive for sunglasses, consider this: they're a buck less than Agent Provocateur's crystal whip! Is that a deal, or is that a deal, nu?

Versace Yellow Diamonds, Rimmel Volume Flash Scandaleyes Mascara + More On 10 Things I Love Tuesday!

I'm kind of experiencing a real-life "Emma"/ "Clueless" situation. See, my BFF Laura is a phenomenal writer, mother, and human being. I've been bugging the shit out of her to start a mom blog for AGES, and she finally did it (probably just so I'd STFU). Anyway, speaking of bugs, she was bitten by the blog bug and is burnin' up, Madonna style, with a SERIOUS case of blogging fever over at Look What Mom Made. And I'm so happy because I'm not even a mommy/ kid sort, and her blog is so inspiring. Anyway, it's a classic case of the student becoming the MASTER, where she's Tai, and I'm Cher, because I love her "10 Things I Love Tuesday" list, so I'm promptly stealing it. Thanks, Laura!

Without further ado, here are 10 things (most beauty, I admit) I love on a TUESDAY.

1.) Versace "Yellow Diamond": I'm highly devoted to Versace's "Versace" fragrance, but I want to slather Versace "Yellow Diamond" all over my body (in a reasonable way). It's basically a lighter, brighter version of Versace Versace, with more citrusy notes but all of the sophisticated staying power. Put it on yourself NOW. "Yellow Diamond is $67 at Macy's, but if you like "Yellow Diamond" on Facebook you can get a free sample! HOW 'BOUT THAT, America?

2.) Rimmel Volume Flash Scandaleyes Mascara: This is kinda Rimmel's answer to Cover Girl's epic Lash Blast mascara. The main difference? Rimmel's has slightly more color payoff. It's best used as a final coat over a mascara that really defines -- like MAC's False Lashes. Rimmel Scandaleyes is like, I don't know. However many dollars. It's not much.

3.) Nars "Shrinagar" lipstick: Perfect wearable berry purple. I know I said all of that stuff about red lipstick, and I do love a good red, but lately purples have been doing it for me They bring out your lips' natural color but in a slightly exaggerated, not at all cartoonish way. "Shrinagar" is $24 and worth every penny.

 

4.) Cover Girl Color Blast Flipstick Lipcolor: Beware. Cover Girl's new two-in-one lipstick will stay on your lips FOREVER. I'm still wearing "Perky," and I put it on like, last Monday.

$7.99, Cover Girl, Target

5.) Soap & Glory Hand Food lotion: File under: British stuff I love, right next to "Downton Abbey." Impulse bought this while waiting in line at Sephora (IT WORKED, Sephora. You're welcome), and this is my new favorite lotion next to MOR. It lasts forEVER, softens, and has a secret ingredient: MARSHMALLOW! Bonus: Adorable packaging.

$5, Soap & Glory, Sephora

 
6.) Miu Miu Noir cateye sunglasses: I just... You guys. These sunglasses. I don't usually have these kinds of feelings about SUNGLASSES, but come on. You could be wearing OVERALLS with these (THE HORROR!), and no one would even notice because these are just so posh.

$390, Miu Miu, Saks.com

7.) Marimekko's Varpukka blouse: I was a little "whatever" about this blouse until I saw it paired with a sleek black skirt, at which point the needle moved into DEFINITELY YES territory:

$99, Marimekko.com

8.) Ralph Lauren Tremont leather satchel: I love me a neon satchel, but this tan leather satchel  is just so classically lovely and simple in a way that I probably am not. Let's just be real.

$368, Ralph Lauren

9.) Jenni Kayne pink velvet open-toed sandals: That Ralph Lauren bag PLUS these pink velvet Jenni Kaynes? BOW DOWN.

$270, Jenni Kayne, Shoplesnouvelles.com

10.) Dior Forget-Me-Not polish: Not only is this the most precioso shade of purple polish, but IT SMELLS. (Good, not bad, obviously.) And if you're going on a Dior binge, might I suggest the Anselm Reyle nail polish collection? I might!

$23, Dior.com

I Can Has Ray-Ban Wayfarers?

Ray-Ban Wayfarers are the trench coat of sunglasses -- they're timeless, they look good on everyone, and everyone should own at least one. Or several pairs, if you're me.

The nice folks at ShadesDaddy asked if I'd like to review a pair of sunglasses, and since I'm becoming somewhat of a Wayfarer hoarder, they kindly sent me a pair of Ray-Ban's Button Pins - Summer Special Series #4 Wayfarers, which have fun, hazy badges and little peace signs printed all over them.

($125, Ray-Ban, Shadesdaddy.com)

It's like someone took Kevin Arnold's big sister Karen's political ethic and printed them on a pair of sunglasses.

What I love about Wayfarers is that the style is instantly identifiable, but Ray-Ban keeps renewing a tried-and-true product with unexpected new prints, patterns and colorways (impossible to resist for a collector like myself) without altering the signature Wayfarer shape.

I'm especially into the whimsical pink-striped take on these tortoiseshell Wayfarers:

($125, Ray-Ban, Shadesdaddy.com)

And as a New Yorker of 10 years, I have to endorse the Rare Print Subway Series. (I own them in orange with the Subway print on the inside).

($120, Ray-Ban, Shadesdaddy.com)

Oh, and sidenote: these aren't Ray-Bans, but it's worth mentioning that these plastic black sunglasses, hand-beaded with seed beads by jewelry designer Jenny Dayco, just moved to the top of my very very long covet list. Available at Oliver Peoples.