- Sarah Palin in Dayton Ohio - Craig Barhorst
Love her or loathe her, there is one thing that most women agree upon no mattter what their political affiliation — Republican VP candidate, Sarah Palin's glasses rock!
Govenor Sarah Palin’s rimless eye glasses, worn at the Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, are fast becoming her signature look. If the incessant chatter of the media is anything to go by her eyewear appears to be doing for her what the pantsuit did for Hillary Clinton, and then some!. The self-confessed pitbull's sexy-librarian look, with her pencil skirts and red Naughty Monkey peep-toe pumps, has unleashed a barrage of inquiries at local opticians for a similar style and frame.
In Marie Claire's online article, September 9, 2008, “Sarah Palin’s glasses are style hit,” the magazine confirms that style-conscious voters in the US are racing to get their hands on a pair of Palin's signature spectacles which she wore during her official VP acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.
According to news media and online blogs such as ABC News, Los Angeles Times, the UK's Guardian and Huffington Post, Sarah Palin’s glasses have been a bit hit with many American women. They have even been part of the buzz at the current New York Mercedes-Benz Spring 09 Fashion Week.
ABC News, in its September 7th, 2008, online feature “Are Sarah Palin’s eye glasses the new pantsuit?” compares her eyeglasses with Jackie Kennedy’s trademark pillbox hat in terms of a revolutionary thing to wear.
Bipartisan Must-Have Fashion Accessory
Palin’s glasses are created by Kazuo Kawasaki, a Japanese designer, who might just be responsible for sparking the most famous craze in rimless lenses and titanium frames. Sarah Palin’s eyewear is fast becoming, according to ABC News, a “bipartisan must-have fashion accessory.”
However, one fashion guru is not so impressed with Palin’s specs. In the “Project Runway” interview on Usmagazine.com, 5th September 2008, Project Runway judge Nina Garcia says of Palin’s style, “she has promise. She just needs to lose those glasses!”
Sarah Palin's Eye Glasses
The company who manufacturer Palin’s Kawaskaki rimless glasses, Italee Optics, Inc, says it has been inundated with inquiries from its authorized dealers. Women want the same style, color and frame as Wasilla's most famous gun-toting, moose-hunting hockey mum, who jokingly likens herself to a "pitbull with lipstick." Savvy Sarah Palin’s look is simple yet sophisticated and smart. Her rimless rectangular frames flatter her face and highlight her eyes.
Distributor, Italee Optics Inc is based in Los Angeles, California, who according to Us Weekly magazine's "Celebrity News", the company is now manufacturing the same style rimless glasses around the clock in order to keep-up with the demand. The company touts its Kazuo Kawasaki range as modern yet timeless, simple yet sophisticated. Frames cost around $375 (and beyond) without lenses and are available in many colors including Palin's silver frames. Kazuo Kawasaki’s screwless 3-point tension mounted frames are constructed of beta titanium which are durable and lightweight.
According to LAtimesblogs.latimes.com,September 4, 2008 feature "Will Governor Palin's eye glasses start an eyewear trend?" Palin’s rimeless frames were bought from an optician in Chungiak, Alaska called Home Optics. Palin's sought-after style is from the Kazuo Kawasaki 704 series in #34 gray.
Opticians Find Rimless Glasses in Demand
Jodie McAllister, optician and owner of East Millcreek Eyewear in Salt Lake City, Utah , who stocks the Kuzo Kawasaki range, says she is receiving enquiries and orders everyday. Now somewhat of an expert on the sales of Kawasaki frames McAllister says “Sarah Palin’s #704 style is just one of many models in that series, it comes in 20 different colors and unlimited shapes."
It is important to remember, however, that when selecting a frame for sunglasses or spectacles, they need to complement the individual wearer's face shape. Palin's famous specs may not suit everyone! However, according to McAllister, who has 35 years experience as an optician, the great thing about the Kawasaki-style 3-piece mount, is that "because there is nothing around the lens to interfere with the shape, it can be anything you want — a great optician will know that and can advise you. "
The Politics of Fashion
The Governor of Alaska's glasses are not the only fashion item coming under the microscope from the news media. After Cindy McCain and Laura Bush's appearance at the GOP convention in St Paul, Vanity Fair put together a feature, detailing the ladies' Oscar de la Renta outfits and their estimated cost.
Palin's Signature Style
Sarah Palin not the only famous face to sport this style. David Letterman, Samuel L Jackson and Stephen Colbert also wear a Kawasaki rimless frame. However, with Palin having been thrust suddenly into spotlight during the last week, as the little-known Governor of Alaska-turned Republican VP candidate, one thing is certain; we can expect the world's press to continue to latch onto her fashion style with the tenacity of a pitbull — with or without lipstick!
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
