Uvex Variotronic S Sunglasses

The Variotronic S uses a light sensor that toggles between two tints automatically, unless you want to control it manually.

We've long been fans of Uvex's light-sensitive Vario lenses, which get lighter or darker depending on the conditions. The only drawback to the photochromic technology: a slow transition from dark to light, which can make high-contrast riding difficult.

Uvex has cracked that problem with a new LCD lens that toggles instantaneously between dark and light. Powered by a USB-rechargeable battery, which is inconspicuously hidden in the frames and is said to last up to 50 hours on a single charge, the Variotronic S shifts from 64 percent light transmission in its brightest state to 16 percent light transmission in its dark mode—and the change happens in one-tenth of a second. The auto setting uses a light sensor to toggle between the two tints, though there's also a small button on the underside of the left temple that allows you to make the switch manually.

Best of all, the Variotronic S glasses look and feel like any other riding shades. The lenses will initially come in just two models, a full-frame version and sport shield, both of which have excellent coverage, fully adjustable nose pads, and non-slip rubberized temples.

Ralph Lauren's Aviator Sunglasses

An aviator with a twist, these shades are reminiscent of vintage automobiles—and make the perfect road-trip accessory.

Hitting the open road on a gorgeous day (preferably in a convertible) is the perfect start to any road trip, and I was lucky enough to do just that recently, when I was invited to spend an afternoon doing one of my favorite things—driving a gorgeous car. My weapon of choice? The Ferrari 458 Spider from Classic Car Club Manhattan, which allowed me to leave the steaming city in my rear-view mirror (if only for a few hours). And because no top-down, late-summer drive would be complete without a great pair of shades, I donned a pair of aviators from the new Ralph Lauren Automotive Eyewear Collection for a road test.

In terms of sunglasses and road trips, the collection is a match made in heaven. In fact, the shades were created using materials inspired by autos. Perforated leather—the same kind found in traditional driving gloves and car seats—wrap the ends of the arms, and the frames themselves are made of the sleek, lightweight aluminum that's found in many racing machines. And it's no surprise who inspired the collection. The designer Ralph Lauren has an impressive collection of cars, including a 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa, a 1938 Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Spyder, and even newer treasures, like a 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago Super Veloce. The mirrored lenses give a too-cool-for-school look, and the shades appeal the inner car enthusiast in all of us (including passengers).

Once free from the city, I headed north to take a quick spin through the hallowed halls of United States Military Academy at West Point and then to Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre sculpture park about 65 miles north of Manhattan. The alfresco art retreat has colossal structures stretched across open fields (a must see if you have not been), before turning around and heading home. Although it was a short trip, it gave me a much-needed break. And the sunglasses were the perfect accessory to have on hand as I barreled toward home down the West Side Highway during sunset.

You Need 5 Styles Of Chic Sunglasses For Fall

Despite the smattering of summer heatwaves that have been bouncing around the US for the last few weeks, cooler temperatures and gloomier days are, indeed, on the horizon. As we slowly begin to transition out of the dog days of Summer and into the harvest season, many beloved accessories will disappear to the depths of our closets, not to be seen again until next year. Swimwear doesn’t particularly have a place in Fall wardrobes, nor do floppy brimmed hats and as such, they’ll be packed away to hibernate through the winter months.

One seemingly Summer oriented accessory that you may want to think twice before stowing are sunglasses. Sure, your shades may not get quite as much wear in the coming months as they have throughout the summer, but just because you won’t be hitting the beach and BBQ’s doesn’t mean your need for a pair of chic shades won’t stretch past August.

Celebrities and social influencers have been sporting some majorly envy inducing styles this season, so it’s only right that we, the fashion forward, take heed and add them to our arsenal of accessories for the Fall and beyond. Here are some of the Summer’s very best styles that can be easily incorporated into your Fall looks for a year-round sophisticated edge!


Barbadian singer Rihanna poses as she arrives to attend Christian Dior 2014/2015 Autumn/Winter ready-to-wear collection fashion show, on February 28, 2014 in Paris. AFP PHOTO/PATRICK KOVARIK (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)


US designer Nicole Richie arrives on March 4, 2013 to attend Stella McCartney’s Fall/Winter 2013-2014 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris. AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND GUAY (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)


CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 17: Actress Salma Hayek during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2015 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Alex B. Huckle/Getty Images)


UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – JUNE 23: TV host Maria Menounos attends the premiere press event for the new Universal Studios Hollywood Ride ‘Fast & Furious-Supercharged’ at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 23, 2015 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Sunglasses to Shield the Sun in Style

Think about it: Shading your eyeballs from the sun is kind of a no-brainer, but chances are that while you're carefully curating your next-day outfit, the last thing you're thinking about is what kind of fashion statement you're making with your sunglasses. Well, it's time to prioritize your style goals. Sunnies, after all, are your "most important commuter accessory," according to E! Style Collective style expert Lindsay Albanese.

Need proof? Take a glance at head-turners like Raven-Symoné and Gigi Hadid who top off even the most basic of T-shirt and jeans combos with "over-the-top statement shades that are all about dressing for the element of impact," said Lindsay.

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Sunglasses are an essential and very practical element in your wardrobe, and unlike a trendy top or skirt that won't get much mileage, you can pick a flamboyant pair and re-wear them day after day without getting tired of them. "You don't have to consider dress codes or anything like that, so all fashion rules go out the window," insisted Lindsay.

If this is your first foray into statement sunnies territory, "dip your toes in the trend by going with a mirrored lens or a clear frame in a classic retro shape like the cat-eye or wayfarer, easing your way into the more artistic, obscure versions."

For veteran shady ladies, challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone and opt for an intermediate style—something that's a little bolder than just a reflective lens, like an out-of-the-box shape or a festive pattern.

Fashion risk-takers in the advanced category know that "the purpose of statement shades is to be artistic and to make an impression," said Lindsay. At this level, candy-colored frames in asymmetrical shapes might seem a bit over the top, but, hey, isn't that the point?

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Regardless of how out-there you want to go, Lindsay assured us that no style is "too much" and that "the only rule in the sunglasses equation is that you have to have the confidence to wear them." Luckily, with no hard-and-fast rules to follow, upgrading your look in one simple step is a cinch.

Protect your eyes from UV rays

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Sunglasses are the perfect summer accessory. But fashion aside, they should also protect your eyes.

At Portland’s Casey Eye Institute Dr. John Clements said 80% of UV light damage happens before your 18th birthday.

“There is a cumulative effect of UV light damage throughout a person’s life,” Dr. Clements explained. “So those years during childhood, those count toward later in life developing UV light-related damage.”

Dr. Clements said the sun’s UV radiation can cause cataracts, cancer and even growths on your eyes.

“If untreated, these can grow and if it’s on the surface of the eye, it can actually protrude off the surface of the eye and inhibit the eye from closing,” he said. “That can be intensely irritating.”

According to Dr. Clements, you should always take precautions if you know you’re going to be in the sun. He recommends children as young as toddlers start wearing sunglasses.

“I have pictures of my 18-month-old wearing sunglasses around,” Dr. Clements said.

There are currently no federal sunglass requirements regarding UV protection. According to reports from the American Optometric Association, many sunglass labels can be misleading.

“I don’t know how you can easily distinguish a counterfeit pair of sunglasses from a sunglass that is truly 100% UV blocking,” Dr. Clements said. “If the sticker says 100% UV blocking, that’s a very good start.”

Dr. Clements said price isn’t necessarily a gauge for good eye protection, either. He recommends a pair in his hospital’s showroom that goes for $155 and comes polarized to combat reflective glare.

“It’s difficult to recommend extremely cheap sunglasses because we don’t know necessarily about their manufacture process or the authenticity,” he said. “But certainly, some type of sunglass is better than none.”


Dr. Clements also said not to be fooled into thinking dark-colored lenses offer more protection. Actual UV protection is clear-coated and not visible to the eye.

Taylor Swift Thrills London

The weather in Great Britain is known to be completely atrocious for three out of four seasons, so after spring has sprung and things start heating up, there’s an unquenchable desire to celebrate the simple things – like wearing t-shirts and shorts whilst enjoying an ice cream simultaneously.

British Summer Time, or BST as it’s fondly known, is now in its third year following two successful runs after the grounds were monopolized for the 2012 Olympic Games festivities. The Strokes, Blur, and Kylie Minogue have all headlined their own respective days of this almost fortnight-long festival, but only tonight’s headliner Ms. Taylor Swift, has completely sold it out; and weeks in advance at that. After all, she’s one of the biggest pop stars in the world, this is the first time she’ll debut her 1989 tour in the English capital, and in her spare time she wins battles with gargantuan corporations like Apple.

The demographic of a Taylor Swift fan is a curious thing. The women to men ratio is exactly what you’d imagine: women. Mainly. Yummy mummies with their pampered children, single young professionals with their friends and an almighty plethora of pre-pubescent teenage girls. ‘Taylor Swift’ is painted on various faces and limbs, lovingly handmade banners are held, coloured fairly lights are sewn into both clothing and signs, there’s a sea of official merchandise from this tour and those previous and even a smattering of official “TS” cheerleader outfits from the “Shake It Off” video. It’s an impressive army by anyone’s standards indeed.

Swift eagerly takes to the stage a full 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. It’s somewhat poignant that in Hyde Park, the piece of land that Central Park was modelled on, she begins with “Welcome to New York”. Above her signature smiling red lipstick, sunglasses adorn her giddy face and she dances up a storm in a sparkly green bomber jacket over a high-waisted purple skater skirt and a modest black bra top with shimmery black ankle boots. When the opening song wraps she animatedly pulls off her shades. Cue her predictable shocked face. But it’s not annoying anymore, it’s an intrinsic part of her image and right now, it’s fairly charming.

She launches into “New Romantics”, one of the bonus tracks from the deluxe edition of1989, followed by her high-charting single “Blank Space” which see dancers each pushing large mobile frames out onto the catwalk for Swift to weave in and out of, drawing symmetry to the music video whilst menacingly wielding a golf club.

Next is the track that arguably catapulted her to global superstardom, the crushing heartbreak anthem “I Knew You Were Trouble” from the Red album. The poppy Max Martin-produced single is almost unrecognisable when it begins. Swift slumps down onto the catwalk, sitting back to back with a male dancer, beads of sweat now visible on her brow as she sings the track darkly, multiple octaves lower and over minimal instrumentation. So sombre and resonating, that it’s almost gothic.

In between songs Swift could almost give Kanye West a run for his money with her monologues about love and self-worth. The main difference is that they aren’t focused on her; they’re focused on sending waves of motivation and positivity to her fans.Loud drops of rain pour from the stage screens and a graphic of a large bridge is prominent whilst male dancers in grey suits and bowler hats, twirl with transparent umbrellas. Swift emerges in a pink crop top and matching pink ‘50s diner skirt, both flash LED lights as she sweetly performs “I Wish You Would” and “How You Get the Girl”.

She follows with by far her raciest number yet, a white sweetheart tube top with white short shorts with over-the-knee black boots that evolve into black suspenders. Providing the entertainment at the annual Victoria’s Secrets shows in New York in 2013 and London in 2014 has clearly rubbed off on Swift, because now not only does she ooze kink and sex-appeal, but she can really strut those seemingly never-ending pins. Which are insured for a cool 40 million dollars.

The catwalk breaks away from the stage to extend and rise over the audience, slowly moving in a semi-circle while Swift’s acoustic guitar gently weeps bonus track “You Are in Love” and the crowd sing backing lyrics upon her instruction. To showcase her multi-instrumentalist talents, she then plays a keyboard and reworks “Love Story”, one of the hits from her second album “Fearless’” to keep it consistent with the sound of 1989. An inspired choice, and throwing an older song into tonight’s set not only shows a tangible division between old and new fans, but also that Swift hasn’t forgotten her country music roots.

Clad in an unforgivingly tight leather catsuit, she performs “Bad Blood”. Swift lays, slides and purrs on thick slabs of rectangular glass, which are moved around the stage by her dancers in representation to the music video minus the rap.