What is scarier than a mad scientist with round eyeglasses and plastic gloves that extend past his elbows? Answer—nothing. For most villains and cinematic bas asses, glasses are simply an essential part of the bad ass wardrobe.

To get the bad ass look Matt Damon has here (image) you can pick up a tastefully similar pair of Oliver People eyeglasses. You’ll recall that Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm wears a very similar (and sinister) pair of round glasses throughout his HBO series.

To get the look of Antonio Bandaras in almost every film he stars in (other then Zoro, that is) you can pick up a pair of sexy Police sunglasses. Or, and he wore a similar pair in Spy Kids, Ralph Lauren eyeglasses in gold frames. What could be sexier than a Latin lover who is also intelligent, adventurous and has a designer wardrobe? Answer—again, nothing.

What about George Clooney, whose recent starring role in Up in the Air gave middle aged men hope for their romantic futures as well as a shameless look at the world of mid-range executives. His sunglasses are always classy, gold or brown tinting, and simple. Think Serengeti or Ray Ban, though I’m partial to the more adventurous look of Serengeti’s gentle gold tinting and gradient lens hues.

Finally, the ultimate box office bad ass recently was Iron Man, whose star- Robert Downey Jr., has long been in love with designer eyewear. You’ll find him in several custom designs that you can find similarly in the designer world for less than having them hand-crafted for you in Milan. Carrera is particularly good at making bad ass designs that could make even the cuddliest of men look like a superhero’s alter ego.

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Farwell, Alexander McQueen, fashion guru and innovator, creator, designer and visionary unsurpased in the modern world of fashion, you will be missed.

McQueen died of unsuspicous causes on February 11th at his home in London, a tragedy to his family, friends, fans and the fashion world as a whole. McQueen’s designs were so visionary and bold that his loss will be felt in ripples throughout the community for years to come. With the loss of this great designer, we’re taking a look back at the designs that made him famous, and the paramount steps in his career that launched him to the top.

McQueen’s talent was never in doubt. As a pattern cutter tutor at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, McQueen was encouraged by several instructors to enroll as a student. Taking their advice, McQueen soon graduated with a masters in fashion design, and his graduate collection was bought by influential and experiemental designer Isabella Blow. Blow, a magazine editor, designer and talent scout, easily saw McQueen’s talent for design and encouraged him to continue, soon after Bjork had McQueen design her cover art and direct her music videos. A step in a new, albeit equally creative, direction. Soon after McQueen’s strong sense of fresh, almost mystical fashion was to shock everyone with his underwater Atlantis designs, human chess board inspiration and his most well known white dress with a towering veil held up by mock birds. Yes, the loss of this man will leave a dark hole in the fashion industry.

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What better way to bring in the new year than with a whole new look? Use the last few weeks of 2009 to clean out your old wardrobe and make way for a whole new, more youthful and vibrant, you. With great shades by Prada and Bolle, you’ll be able to spice up your new 2010 wardrobe with fashionable eyewear that will spice up any outfit with a bit of youthful spunk and a designer touch.

Ray Ban Wayfarers are not only always in style, but they seem to make anyone who wears them look younger and more in touch with fashion than they otherwise would. It is a strange, almost mythical phenomenon but one that the general public is picking up on in full swing. You really can’t go wrong updating your wardrobe by adding a pair of youthful Ray Bans to your closet of goodies.

If you want to make any old dress in your wardrobe really look new and bold, slap on a pair of Prada shoes. Prada’s black heels with pink pumps are renowned in the fashion world for their exquisite beauty and timeless appeal. A pair of bold heels like those and you’ll be singing in the rain in any outfit.

Another great way to accessorize your new and old clothing is to use eyewear as jewelery. While sunglasses protect your eyes, they also cover the most important part of your face, and as such need to be clean, sharp and eye-catching in order not to detract from your natural beauty. Find frames this year that are bold and slightly out of your comfort zone in the sense that they seem too bold or risky for your normal wardrobe. You’ll grow into the look and with the compliments that will shower upon you from wearing bolder eyewear, you’ll realize bigger is better, at least when it comes to eyewear.

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Nobody wants to be the odd man out, this season in the office be one of the “cool kids” by cashing in on our fashion advice for the coming season before it becomes “cliché.” There are several different avenues to take when it comes to office eyewear fashion in the coming season. Here are a few personas you could aim for when choosing your glasses.

The can’t wait for the weekend guy. If you are aiming to be this guy then definitely check out Oakley indoor eyewear, which is surprisingly chic and fashionable, but with a subtle hint of impatience for freedom. Especially fitting would be tinted lenses in either yellow or blue, which will help whisk you away to the weekend vibe even sooner.

The cooler-than-you guy. If you are aiming to be this guy, the definitely go designer with Prada frames with thick temple bars and a very obvious logo. Danny Gorkey really cashed in on this look during the last season of American Idol, albeit this might be why he was voted off with three folks to go.

Practical office guy. If this is your idol, then aim for very Clark Kent-like eyewear that will leave you looking subtly handsome, reserved and focused. Like the cool guy, the practical guy could benefit from black frames, but perhaps with lesser temple bars and less prominent logo markings. Check out Ralph Lauren designs for men, or even Nike indoor eyewear, which is surprisingly snappy.

Whatever your ideal persona, follow a few key tips and you’ll be rocking your vibe in now time.

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Nothing is more annoying than frames that weight too much and distract you with constant pain. Now there are solutions to this nagging problem- lightweight frames or frameless eyeglasses. Hugo Boss offers a surprisingly vast array of men’s and women’s frameless and lightweight eyewear. With thin temple bars and designer façades, Hugo Boss offers the best of both worlds—high fashion design with comfort factored in.

Nike, another surprisingly apt indoor professional eyewear designer, has designs for the workplace that far surpassed expectations. Bold, colorful and sleek, these designs scream personality and charm, allowing you to retain some of your athletic sparkle while in the office. Their frameless and lightweight designs are stark, bright and exude professionalism as well as comfort.

Ralph Lauren may be the most well known name in professional, indoor eyewear for the workplace. With lightweight and frameless designs on hand, Ralph Lauren also has creative and fresh remakes of classic eyewear designs. With eyewear for the office, it is unwise to purchase a fad design, as you’ll quickly burn through your salary trying to stay hip and in the end will be stuck with hundreds of prescription glasses that are out of style. Instead, buy a pair that is tried and true for the workplace and innovate in your after work hours.

Finally, Paul Smith eyewear offers lightweight designs that are simple, clean and elegant– perfect for the professional with a serious function. These sharp designs are so comfortable and calming they are seemingly invisible to the wearer and onlooker alike. Stay in fashion with comfort in Paul Smith’s.

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When one thinks of the outback, one thinks of rugged, handsome men who are well prepared for any contingency and who can carry their own in the wild. One thinks of a person with a cowboy hat, boots, a pocket knife and a plan. For the outback enthusiast eyewear can be of prime importance. The sun can not only severely damage your skin, but it can cause damage to your eyes, even blindness. Proper eyewear is packing 101 for the real outdoorsmen.

For anyone who will be spending time out with the kangaroos, Ray Bans are a great way to protect your eyes, stay in style and fit the bill of the rugged and handsome outdoorsmen. The frames are lightweight and durable while the lenses are tinted to block out unwanted light and glare. In addition, Ray Bans are the most classical design and look for any outdoors men.

Police eyewear has skyrocketed in popularity recently and is a top pick for the manly outdoorsmen seeking adventure. While the designs were created for urban motorcyclists, they translate well into the business world, the outdoors and even to extreme athleticism. The aerodynamic designs and sharp, confident lines give the impression of a man who means business.

While many may scoff at the name dropping, Armani eyewear is not only durable, high-quality and sleek, but ruggedly handsome in design with simple colors and frames that don’t detract from a man’s natural features. Armani eyewear, especially sunglasses, are great for the outdoors or for the ladies man.

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In recent months several trends have emerged which are likely to be prevalent throughout 2009 and well into 2010. Police, Prada and Ray-Ban have stolen the show and are likely to remain popular.

For men, Police sunglasses have reached epic heights, in the fashion world, and surprisingly, in Hollywood. It is not a common thing to see several hot celebrity men dressing in similar fashion. In Hollywood, for a man the name of the game is standing out. Yet men across Hollywood are donning Police sunglasses and proudly wearing them in public, as well as sponsoring the brand. Antonio Bandaras and George Clooney are already spokesmen; that’s two of the world’s hottest men. Perhaps Brad Pitt will be next seasons model?

Meanwhile, Prada is making a near Olympic comeback from their recent dud season in 2008. Having revived their accessories department and ushered new creative fervor into the designs the 2009 release was a breath of fresh air compared to the dull and unimaginative release of the previous season. In addition to killer eyewear, Prada has rocked the women’s shoes segment this year.

Ray Ban Wayfarers have made a colorful and lasting come back with the recent re-release of the Ray Ban Clubmaster series as well as the color-your-own Wayfarer set. Because these re-released are a bit more difficult to come back, the Wayfarer has surged to the front of the fashion race in recent months among young women. Some say it is more fun being blonde, and many a friendly and chipper blonde has donned the colorful red, blue and green Wayfarers to show the pep in their step.

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Like anything else in your wardrobe, your eyewear helps determine the overall look you project to the world. Police eyewear will project one image of you while Dior will project quite the opposite. Find the key aspects of your personality that you want to emphasize and use your eyewear to portray your personality.

Fashionable- if fashion is an important part of your personality, and being in the hippest clothing something of dire desire for you, then deck out with the latest and most easily recognizable designs like Prada’s new 2009 line in bold colors or the very chic Versace look.

Sporty- for an active person, eyewear can be an accessory that seems invasive but necessary. Make a splash in your eyewear with Oakley, Ray Ban or Police eyewear, which are likely to fit your lifestyle, your look, and personality.

Conservative- For the businessperson, eyewear needs to project a serious and yet border-line creative look. Check out some edgy and fashionable conservative looks with Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein.

Artistic- For the creative types, use your eyewear to make a statement about your inner creativity. One of the best brands for this is Alexander McQueen; check out his most recent line for some creative twists on traditional designs.

Tips for parents and baby boomers – Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you are suddenly a conservative. Show your kids that personality can shine through any mundane task by projecting your personality with your image, which they will ultimately respect. Baby boomers can stay in style and keep true to the styles of their youth with retro and throwback eyewear, try Burberry or Bolle eyewear.

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Sunglasses are key fashion accessory trend which emerged in recent years and is unlikely to wane. With the biggest stars pushing brands like Ray Ban, Police and Prada, its no wonder designer eyewear is the must-have item of 2009.

The demand for designer, fashion sunglasses is fueled by men and women (at a surprisingly equal ratio) over 40. Because sunglasses are more affordable and more versatile than designer clothing, they are heightened in times of financial straits, to the top of a chic adult’s name-brand shopping list. Along with designer bags for women and designer wallets and belts for men, sunglasses are the most noticeable and wearable of designer products.

In recent years design houses have ever-increasingly expanded their eyewear collections. According to some fashion spectators, the lack of clear fashion focus in recent years has aided the sunglasses trend. With no clear fashion accessory of the past few seasons, sunglasses are filling that void. Meanwhile, with Louis Vitton bags (the must-have item of 2006) flooded in the market, there is no clear item to urge people to move on to the next big hit. Ray Ban’s led the way with the re-launch of the wayfarer and has, in light of the fashion void, pushed retro flare and hip accessories as the trend of 2009. Additionally, the hottest in Hollywood, who used to model suits and watches, have recently been seen in a plethora of sunglasses ad campaigns. Take, for example, the sexy and sophisticated Antonio Bandaras, who models for Police sunglasses.

Sparked by the youth’s lack of wealth and thus insistence on having designer accessories they could afford, the trend has spilled over into the mass populous and has become a staple of modern fashion.

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Barry Humphries, the Australian comedian, satirist and actor, struck a chord with Australian viewers when he donned the disguise of Dame Edna Everage, an Aussie housewife and friend of world leaders who spends her time jetting between her various homes and listening to the confessions of the reigning Queen.

Though we would not encourage you to dye your hair purple and imagine you are friends with the Queen, we do think that 2009 is going to be a year of innovative design and a global encouragement of fashion bravery and glitz. Get a charming and charismatic look that is not as flashy as Dame Edna, but will still make you stand out with Boucheron eyewear. These innovative and creative designs are sure to make you look artsy and yet high fashion. With muted, professional colours and all of the design focus on innovative glasses arms, these frames are sure to turn heads and make you a memorable addition to any group.

2009 is sure to be a year to remember. In San Francisco’s Post Street Theatre, the Dame is back on tour with a farewell show to a city she calls ‘charming.’ “Dame Edna: Live and Intimate in Her First Last Tour,” opened in November and continues through January 4th. She was the winner of a Tony Award on Broadway last year and continues to hold wide fame across the global pop art scene. Though a satire of the snobbery of the rising Australian middle class, the Dame’s fashion forward tips can be taken seriously in 2009 as fashion moves from subtle to loud, from lace to full out frills and from subtle eyewear to bold statements, horn rims and creative designs.

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