THE ASIAN BRIDGE

The Asian face can be a tough fit for sunglasses. The flatter nose bridge can cause glasses to slide right off. Sometimes the bottoms of the frames touch the cheeks. We found several sunglasses at Dream Vision specially styled for the Asian bridge:

1. Gucci has a style with longer nose pad arms and a narrower bridge (below), causing the glasses to sit farther out, away from the cheeks.

2. Kajihiko frames from Japan are made specifically for the Asian bridge and sun-protective lenses easily can be put into them.

3. Christian Dior has several styles with a built-up nose pad.

4. Gucci No. 1799 and No. 2766 have been best-sellers among Asians in the Islands.

MUST-HAVES FOR EYE HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. Polarization. Look for 100 percent UVA/UVB protection.

2. Proper fit on the bridge and temple.

3. Lens color is not an issue, although it's best to test sunglasses in natural light to see how much sun is blocked.

Cool shades 2007

By Paula Rath
U Fashion and Lifestyle Writer

Sunglasses are not only a necessity in our sunny state, they are a style statement.

Surveys have shown that sunglasses rank among the top five accessories that define a man's or woman's personal style. And, if you're lusting after a high-end designer's logo, sunglasses are often the name brand's most affordable accessory.

This year, the hottest thing in shades are aviators, those oversized goggle-like glasses created by Ray-Ban in the 1930s and popularized by Tom Cruise in "Top Gun."

But aviators aren't for everybody. Debora DeLong, regional representative for Safilo, an Italian firm that manufactures sunglasses for designer names such as Christian Dior, Armani, Gucci, Juicy Couture, Hugo Boss and Marc Jacobs, warned, "Most people can't wear aviators because of their size and the way they go down on the cheek. They can make the face droop."

Another pitfall: They can cause a person with a small face to look like a bug.

We talked about the do's and don'ts of sunglasses with DeLong and several other experts at Dream Vision Eye Care, an interesting new business at 1221 Kapi'olani Blvd., run by the husband-and-wife team of Cliff and Chie Otto. He's an ophthalmologist who sees patients in the back of the shop; she runs the business side of things and helps with style selections, including specialized lines from Japan such as Hoya and Kajihiko.

In an effort to help others avoid choosing the wrong sunglasses, optometrist Leslie Poon of Dream Vision gave us a lesson in what eyeglasses work best with which shape of face.

Reach Paula Rath at prath@aol.com or 525-5464.

1. Round face

Pictured: Ikuyo Uemura, Kaimuki

Choose sunglasses with an angular shape to counter-balance the roundness.

Select frames that have the emphasis on the lower outer corners. Look for darker colored rims such as tortoise or black.

Good: Bulgari with bling No. 856B

Bad: Big, round Jackie O styles, such as Gucci No. 2927. While popular, on a round face, they might be too buglike.

2. Square face

Pictured: Liane Hackett, Waikiki

An angular face requires rounded shapes. Look for frames that are curved at the bottom corner and sides. Avoid anything that droops onto the cheek. An upswing at the top should work well to help downplay the jaw line.

Good: Juicy Couture's "Tink"

Bad: Angular frames that exaggerate the squareness of the face, such as Gucci No. 2599. Although these are hot sellers this season, they're a bad choice for a square face.

3. Oblong face

Pictured: Kari Kennard, Kailua

The oblong face is long and narrow, and the chin and cheek are nearly the same width. Facial length is greater than width, so look for frames that will create a balance. Frames that cover as much of the face as possible will help minimize the length.

Good: Gucci No. 2935

Bad: Wrap-arounds such as Ray-Ban No. 3268. They may be too wide for a narrow face and can overwhelm it.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOAQUIN SIOPACK



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