End of the Year:

Lots of new frames and brand came into the sunglass scene. I must say that I've noticed a lot of hard-rimmed plastics being the "trend" in 2009. It was the year of the wayfarer design that made a big splash as well. However, while Ray-Ban will always evolve their classic Wayfarer design, (this year they had different color tones and old-school frogskins) Retro Super Frames made the biggest impression. Their Black Flat top frame was the frame that made the biggest impression in 2009. Happy New Year!!!

Check out the frame and their website:

retrosuperfuture

Color Changing Contacts for Diabetics.

Contact lenses that act as a glucose monitoring system for diabetics aren't exactly a new idea, but it looks like a group of researchers from the University of Western Ontario might be a bit closer to making them a reality, as they've now received a $200,000+ grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to further develop the technology. The secret to their contacts are some "extremely small" nanoparticles that are embedded in the hydrogel lenses which, like some similar systems (such as those pictured at right), react to the glucose molecules in tears and cause a chemical reaction that changes the color of the lenses -- thereby informing the wearer when their blood sugar is too low or too high. What's more, the reseachers say the same basic idea could also have a wide range of other applications beyond glucose monitoring -- for instance, being used in food packaging to indicate if the food is spoiled or contaminated.

(via engadget.com)

Neck Face+ Brigada

Neck Face and Brigada link up in the release of the following “Pazzo by Reynolds” Sunglasses. The Brigada brand was originally kick-started back in 2005 with three well-known skaters at the helm, Andrew Reynolds, Jim Greco and Erik Ellington. The Neck Face designed sunglasses feature his signature black and orange colorway. Little ornaments are incorporated into the frame including a stud and logo while the box features the artwork of Neckface. Available via Beams.

(Via Hypebeast)

Stanley Donwood + Oakley Jupiter

Oakley’s latest artist series sources the United Kingdom’s Stanley Donwood to instill his creativity on a pair of Jupiter sunglasses. Known as one of Britain’s notable contemporary artists, his influence and visibility has extended across many parts of Europe and Tokyo. The sunglasses feature an abstract motif that includes both a cloth case and hard case. The Stanley Donwood x Oakley Jupiter is available now atOakley with a retail price of $225 USD.

(via hypebeast.com)

Donwood's most publicized work was the album art for Radiohead's Hail to the Thief cover.

Stussy + Nitro Microphone sunglasses

Stussy and Nitro Mic have worked together to create a wayfarer style sunglass that will be released soon. It's pretty simple and has a rounder bottom of the lens. The black frame works well with the dark lens tint as well. Release is soon. Frame was found from (highsnobiety)

Ray Ban's Ultra Wayfarer

Hypebeast just posted their finding of Ray Ban's Ultra Wayfarer which has 18k gold engravings and a special polarizing layer on the lenses. It's available for about $360 from 80s purple. Hopefully Santa will drop this down the chimney...

SUPER FRAMES: Leather?

If I had a vote on the newest sunglass trend, it would be for SUPER. Their original flat top black can't stay on shelves and now they just released the flat top black in leather. It's Italian leather with the Zeiss lens as well. Hope Santa brings this to me for x-mas.