Palin's frames

The recent spate of press coverage and blog twitters about Sarah Palin's 704 series Kazuo Kawasaki designed titanium frames brings to mind an old saying, "The clothes make the man." So, does it also follow that that "The eyewear makes the woman?" Or we could expand our theory somewhat and ask if "The eyewear makes the woman qualified?"

As Palin and her supports labor to shore up the vice-presidential candidate's credentials for the job against what some say is significant evidence to the contrary, it is curious that so much attention is given to her choice of eyewear. It is hardly surprising for the press to analyze the sartorial selections of female politicians--we are just now recovering from the intense scrutiny of Hillary Clinton's pantsuits, and who could forget Condaleezza's "boot-gate"?--yet glasses, a small though arguably functional accessory, seem insignificant by comparison. However, their relative contribution to a larger "ensemble" belies the unique and transformative power of glasses on women. They have a semiotic charge that can simultaneously de-sex (remember Dorothy Parker's famous couplet, "Men don't make passes/at girls who wear glasses") and empower. If you buy into the vernacular of popular culture, then you will easily recognize that dowdy, intelligent woman wearing glasses in the classic Hollywood film, who will (before the credits roll) let her hair down, take off her glasses and transform into a sexy vixen who finds satisfaction and fulfillment in love (read: sex). If we follow that line of logic backwards, we can return the starlet to her un-sexy, intellectually respectable identity, by sweeping her hair back up and putting on the glasses.

So perhaps the 704 series Kawasaki frames are Palin's way of dethroning her old beauty queen persona and of adding a layer of studious authority to all those close-ups. Or maybe she just doesn't like contacts. Either way, like Clinton's pantsuits they are signifiers and not qualifiers, and we would much rather know about Palin's plans for bringing health care to the uninsured than how many pairs of glasses she owns.

Optometrists focus on giving

Charitable group provides eye care where needed
Destiny Dubois, Samuel Sauceda and Skylar Tufts jostled a bit for the right to take five tests.

It's not normal behavior for second-and third-graders, rushing to an unsure academic fate, but these weren't regular exams, either.
The youngsters were first in line this week at downtown San Diego's Monarch School to receive free eye care from a group of volunteers who help at health fairs and other events.

That didn't matter to Destiny, 8.

“We're doing math right now,” she said. “I don't want to go back to class.”

Then a scary realization sank in.

“Does he have to wear glasses?” Samuel asked as Skylar, the first patient, read from the eye chart. “Do I have to wear glasses?”

No, as it turned out. The optometrists, from the San Diego Optometric Society and the Veterans Affairs Hospital in La Jolla, found few problems among the 100 children and teens they examined – three of the first 30 were referred for more care. Free eyeglasses will be provided, if necessary.

Byron Newman, a semiretired optometrist from San Carlos who helped arrange the exams, tested the children's ability to follow a moving object, the final test. If it is limited, he said, their reading skills could be affected.

“That keeps them from being able to study or perform in school,” Newman said.

Evan Square, a shaggy-haired 11-year-old, told Newman that he has frequent headaches. Reading also bothers him. He was unsure how he would respond if he needed a fix for his vision.

“I'd be like, shocked,” the sixth-grader said. “It would be kind of, news, that I have to wear glasses.”

Marcus Coney, 12, recently lost his second pair of glasses. He didn't think he would be eligible for the exams.

“I already had glasses,” Marcus said. “I guess I get to do it because I got to get new ones.”

The Monarch School, which is marking its 20th anniversary, provides services for homeless and at-risk students. In addition to the vision clinic this week, nurses and dental professionals also are available for the children.

They aren't the only ones who can receive free eye care, said Sean South, of the California Optometric Association.

A charitable arm of the group offers about $3 million in care and in-kind services to disadvantaged families annually. Another program provides glasses to 1,300 military dependents.

There are many openings for aid in San Diego, an area that South said has not taken advantage of the opportunities.

“We have more doctors than we have patients,” he said.

TAG HEUER Night Vision eyeglasses for safer driving

Driving at night is far more dangerous than driving in daylight according to the statistics. Though only 10% of road miles are driven in the dark, 48% of road fatalities occur at night. That’s primarily because at night our pupils dilate, and we become short-sighted, though glare, halos, and reduced peripheral vision all contribute to ocular tiredness. TAG Heuer has released a set of ophthalmic Night Vision glasses specifically designed to correct dark-induced myopia, reduce glare, contrast the dark blue surroundings without changing colour perception and ultimately offer safer driving after dark.

The US$400 night driving glasses were originally developed specifically for the Peugeot race team’s Le Mans 24 hour racing efforts, through TAG Heuer’s long involvement with motor racing, but they have now surfaced as a mainstream product with a very compelling feature set, particularly when you consider how much a set of these innovative glasses might reduce the probability of an accident.

The Night Vision frames are made of titanium and over-moulded with an anti-slip elastomer, so they’re light, flexible around the temple area and the height of driving chic. As they are specifically designed to be worn under a helmet, they make a lot of sense for motorcycle riding too.

The frames are available in both Wide and Panorama, and the pale yellow lenses offer constant clear, sharp vision with a very high light transmission rate in order to contrast dark blue and green surroundings without changing color perception.

The special ophthalmic lenses are shatter-resistant, provide complete UV-A and UV-B protection, and offer an anti-reflective treatment, which reduces glare and offers more accurate sight from dusk to dawn.

Controlling any vehicle on the road is a sight response game where mistakes can cost you your life, so we’re giving these a huge “thumbs up.”

Safilo sees Gucci licence renewal "as soon as possible"

Italian eyewear maker Safilo expects to renew a licence with Gucci "as soon as possible", Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Massimiliano Tabacchi said on Wednesday.

"The Safilo team and Gucci team are working together for the renewal ... we anticipate this renewal, it is a very important renewal for us," Tabbachi told analysts on a conference call.

"We expect to have this renewal as soon as possible."

Safilo H1 net falls, cuts 2008 forecasts

Italian eyewear maker Safilo (SFLG.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) reported a fall in net profit of more than a third in the first half of the year, hit by a weak dollar, and cut its 2008 forecasts because of weak European markets.

Safilo, whose brands include Armani, Dior and Gucci, said in a statement net profit fell to 21.1 million euros ($32.89 million) from 33.3 million euros a year ago. Net sales fell to 637 million euros from 667.8 million euros.

"We believe that the European market will continue to remain weak even in the upcoming months and we are therefore looking to the second part of the year with greater caution," Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Massimiliano Tabacchi said in the statement.

Safilo cut its forecast for sales growth for the year to around 4 percent at constant exchange rates from a previous forecast of 7 percent to 8 percent.

It expects EBITDA at around 13.5 percent to 14 percent of revenues, down from a previous estimate of about 15 percent. Net profit should be 3 percent to 3.5 percent of revenues, down from a previous forecast of 4.5 percent to 5 percent.

WEAK DOLLAR

Safilo registers around 40 percent of its business in dollars, and said its performance was penalised by the "ever more marked weakness of the U.S. dollar."

At constant currencies, net sales rose 1.3 percent.

American sales saw double-digit growth at constant exchange rates with the consolidation of new retail stores and a chain in Mexico as well as the "good increase" in prescription frames and sunglass sales volumes in the wholesale business.

Asia saw double-digit growth, with "particularly brilliant results" in the Chinese and Korean markets. Spain, Britain and Germany were particularly hit by fragile consumer buying.

In Italy, results were in-line with last year. Safilo noted weak re-orders in Europe in May and June.

Safilo competes with Italy's Luxottica (LUX.MI: Quote, Profile, Research), to whom it lost a deal with designer Stella McCartney. Analysts say Luxottica's signing the McCartney brand, part of French group PPR (PRTP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) which also owns Gucci, puts more pressure on Safilo to renew the Gucci licence.

Tabacchi said negotiations on this were going "pretty good."

"We expect to have this renewal as soon as possible," he told analysts on a conference call.

Safilo shares closed up 7.26 percent at 1.15 euros before the statement came out.

Luxottica confirms 2008 guidance

Italian eyewear group Luxottica (LUX.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) confirmed its 2008 guidance on Thursday, as expected, and said it saw mid-single digit growth in second quarter sales at current exchange rates, despite tough market conditions.

The world's biggest eyewear group, which saw net profit fall 19 percent in the first quarter -- partly hit by a weak U.S. dollar and the U.S. consumer slowdown -- has forecast sales of 5.6 billion to 5.75 billion euros this year.

It expects earnings per share of 1.11 to 1.14 euros.

"I am more comfortable today than 4 months ago, dealing with these tough times, cost base and efficency," Luxottica Chief Executive Andrea Guerra told analysts on a conference call, which had been announced earlier this week to confirm guidance.

In a slide presentation, it said it saw second-quarter EBITDA margin growth in line with the first quarter. This excludes a non-recurring gain of about 20 million euros related to the sale of a property in the second quarter of last year.

Luxottica, which bought U.S. sports brand Oakley last year, said market conditions remained "tough" with a significantly delayed start of the sunny season in certain Mediterranean countries and U.S. dollar weakness.

Luxottica said it expected a more "normalised" business for the second half of the year. It should meet its full year guidance with "very clear plans" to compensate for a slowdown in certain countries for the wholesale division and said that there would be less of an impact from Oakley-related one-time charges.

It said it expects "good results" from manufacturing, sourcing and supply chains and potentially an improvement in the U.S. dollar and euro exchange rate. Continued...

Investors are looking at luxury goods makers for signs of cooling demand amid a global economic downturn. Some luxury goods groups have felt the impact of weaker sales but have said they expect results to hold up as long as the economic climate does not worsen.

Luxottica shares closed down 5.68 percent at 15.40 euros before the conference call.

Wearing glasses has never been more stylish

Occasionally customers return glasses because their husbands or wives hate them, said Meltzer, owner of Spectacles in Great Neck, N.J. He’ll usually take them back, suggesting the client return with spouse in tow. If they get the choice down to two, Meltzer advises they go with the spouse’s pick — since that’s who has to look at them the most.

Buying glasses can be prickly business for the nearly 171 million American adults who, according to the Vision Council of America, wear some form of corrective lenses — eyeglasses, contacts or reading glasses. The good news: There are more choices than ever before. Eyewear, in fact, has become the hot, new accessory.

We’re in something of an ophthalmological moment, with more and more brands launching eyewear lines (including Cole-Haan, Carmen Marc Valvo, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany and Pucci), and designers (like Valvo and Michael Kors) dressing models in frames in recent runway shows.

Stars, too — Chloe Sevigny, Jennifer Garner, Johnny Depp, even “Speed Racer’s” Emile Hirsch — are popping up bespectacled in the pages of magazines and gossip columns. “Saturday Night Live” alum Tina Fey became a smart-girl sex symbol with her specs. And “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson is so identified with his angular frames he launched his own line this spring.

“My eyewear is a part of my look and personality,” said Jackson. “Eyeglasses aren’t only for seeing, but for looking good. The days of being called ‘four eyes’ are out.”

“I attribute it to the political atmosphere today,” said Robert Marc, a designer of sleek, upscale frames. “With the upcoming elections and debates about the economy, the environment and the war, everyone wants to look cerebral and `in the know.’’”

Glasses can also express one’s style and creativity. “Eyewear is the new scarf, the new tie,” notes trend consultant Tom Julian, of the Tom Julian Group in Manhattan. “Think left brain/right brain — if a purse or watch used to do a power thing, glasses do the creative thing.”

Technology, too, he adds, “has helped spur interest in frames.” Advances in laminates allow for saturated, bold colors; lasers cut out or etch intricate designs on temples; and jewels and crystals offer bling.