COLOURED shades are on every fashion designer's sketch pad and are raising temperatures well before the summer hits the territory. Slinky metal and steel rims frame outrageously-tinted lenses, encouraging trend-seekers to think pink - or any other colour of the spectrum.
''It's the obvious trend this summer for people looking for a change,'' said Stella Lee, Marketing Director of the Optical Shop. The eye-wear retailer is aiming for a March/April launch of the coloured lenses, which were ordered from couture houses in Europe last November. Their riotous success at a major European Optical Product shows convinced Ms Lee that Hong Kong residents would be similarly receptive.
The lenses, made of an ultra violet-proof material called CR39 (better known as plastic) come in tinted purple, blue, yellow, pink and green. The visual effect created by each lens differs - a far cry from the archetype dark-brown or charcoal-grey shadesJohn Lone donned as Puyi, in The Last Emperor.
''Consumers will be looking at pairing these colourful lenses with the warm, bright colours in fashion for the summer season,'' said Ms Lee. ''That, along with the preference for small eye shapes and silver and gold frames, creates a trendy look.'' These funky newcomers have already caught the fickle eyes of celebrities keen on embracing summer in a splurge of colour. Christian Slater looked out through a pair of ocean-blue shades at the recent Academy Awards and if local sales are anything to go by, these sizzlers may outlast the hot weather.
The shades are priced at anything between $600-$800 with coloured metal frames in silver, gold and copper proving the most popular among locals. Some models also feature intricate art-work on the hinges and the arm of the item. The Optical Shop offers a selection of more than 80 top international brands such as Trussardi, Red Rose, Missoni and French designer Martine Sitbon.
Japanese eye-wear manufacturer Matsuda and watch retailers, Swatch, have even come up with an innovative ''3-in-1'' system, which allows the wearer to alternate between different clip-on shades. Add that to your left-over grunge kit and re-live those heady days of the 60s.
