Amy Williams is more than an Olympic Gold Medalist (and, so far, the only one Great Britain has for 2010). Heralded as a true role-model, ‘Curly Wurly’ Williams is also a fashion-forward (as in Prada and Dior) PhD student. At age 27, she has achieved a great deal with this gold medal victory, her upcoming dissertation and has earned respect and awe from fellow athletes and spectators alike. As the gold medalist in women’s skeleton bobsledding, she has sparked the fire of many male hearts while putting her younger female peers in awe at her multitasking ability. Although fashionable, smart, athletic and talented all at once, Williams is finding her win a bit dogged.

But this year the win was marred by an ongoing controversy over Williams’ helmet, which the American coach says is clearly illegal. Rules stipulate that helmets cannot have ridges, yet Williams’ has several along the sides, clearly designed to increase aerodynamics. Since the American racer has spent 10 years in training and was slated to win (and came in second by a mere 0.10 seconds) it is understandable that the American’s emotional state may be a bit skewed. However, the Canadians followed suit in protesting the helmet. The Olympic board has ruled that Williams’ helmet obeys regulations, despite the ridges, and allowed her to race in the improved but apparently legal headgear.

Nevertheless, we love Williams for her fashion sense and her ability to rock on and off the ice, in school or in work, and is definitely a well rounded person and a great British role model.

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Tom Ford has taken serious heat over the years for their risky advertising strategies that mix nudity with fashion. While this concept isn’t new (Abercrombie has been doing it forever) it was taken to a whole new level by Tom Ford when they did a series of photo and video ads with same-gendered couples in the midst of passionate acts. Meanwhile, excesses of male nudity seem to make people more uncomfortable than seeing nearly nude female models. Call these double standards if you like, but Tom Ford continues to support this risky ad strategy as in the very least, it is causing a buzz, and as we all know—that’s free press!

Several of the ads feature entirely nude women or men in Tom Ford eyewear and other accessories. Meanwhile, one commercial that aired in 2009 depicted a man and women at their own separate apartments getting ready for a night no the town. They rush towards each other in downtown New York only the viewer is shocked when the man and woman run right past each other and into an embrace with a person of their own gender. This caused waves as two women kissing while two men made out in the background was a lot to handle for some people without any warning. Meanwhile, Tom Ford, who is himself homosexual, defends the ads as no different than heterosexual relationships used by companies to promote their products.

So did the ads go too far? Who cares, we love the drama and we still love Tom Ford’s creative and fresh new eyewear designs. We’re happy when they advertise, and we’re happy when they get free coverage in the press. We’re even happier it’s a bit fun to look at in addition to selling eyewear.

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Children need to protect their eyes as much, if not more than adults. UV protections during the developmental years are especially important to life-long retinal health. It is essential to get children to develop healthy eyewear habits as soon as possible to foster life-long focus on their health. Here are a few tips on how to encourage your children to not only wear sunglasses, but to love them so much they’ll never leave them at home.

Kid’s eyewear is a special focus at Bolle, and they even break down their designs by age so you are sure to find frames that fit your child’s head size. In addition to fitting properly, these children’s eyewear designs are sleek and cool, making sure your child will love them. Meanwhile, they cost less than a quarter of the cost of adult sunglasses. At Bolle, the protection of children’s eyes is more important than making a massive profit off of concerned parents.

Bolle also specializes in outdoor and sports eyewear for active adults, this means you are likely to find a pair of sunglasses you love that match your children’s eyewear, further inspiring them to wear their glasses whenever possible.

A hat is another great way to help your child protect their eyes, always wearing one yourself under extreme sun can help foster great and lasting habits with your kids. At younger ages, children’s hair is thin and usually lighter in color, meaning the harmful UV rays are more likely to penetrate and damage your child’s skin. Slap a hat up there and keep your kid’s eyes under wraps and he or she will emerge a healthy and happy adult with great habits and an appreciation for the body.

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Alexander McQueen has passed away at age 40 as an apparent suicide victim after suffering the devastating loss of his mother and, three years prior, the suicide of his mentor Isabella Blow. With loss and depression surrounding the fashion designer, he was overcome on February 11th, a day before his mother’s funeral. He is survived by his father and siblings, but had no children of his own and was not married.

McQueen was famous in the fashion world for his creative and shocking designs. He once launched a collection called highland Rape, which features tailored silhouettes and low-cut pants called ‘bumsters,’ so low in fact that crack was showing on several models. This shocking and daring design, rather than being shunned, was accept en masse and spawned the low-rise denim fad that continues to this day. While many of his designs seem to be so farfetched that they remain firmly outside the ready-to-buy category, his costumes are the inspiration of lower-level designers who then prep his elaborate designs for mass consumption. The bumster, for example, will remain McQueen’s most obvious gift to the world of daily fashion in that low-rise jeans and dress pants still outsell other types of pants for younger men and women in Europe and America.

Scoff if you must at high fashion, but realize that innovators like McQueen directly resulted in the shift in silhouette, the bumster elongated the leg and changed which parts of the female body were emphasized. In a way, he changed the way women were admired.

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If you haven’t heard by now I sure won’t be spoiling any surprises for you. “Kings Of Leon” won Record of the Year. While they may be a hot new item (well since 1999 anyway), their sense of fashion is classic stoner. Loose T-shirts, ripped jeans and sweat shirts full of cigarette burns and to top off the look- Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. “Kings of Leon” are not winning any style creativity points.

Not surprisingly, Beyonce Knowles won Song of the Year for “Single Ladies,” which was a stupidly simple song she shook her amazing booty to and made famous. Without the accompanying dance the song is nothing. Look on YouTube to find hundreds of copies of her leotard dance routine. Her fashion sense is always top of the line and she rarely makes any fashion faux pas. Take, for instance, the way she looked in Dior, a favorite brand of hers.

Lady Gaga won Best Dance Recording, as well as Best Electronic Album this year. There is not a lot to be said for Lady Gaga. Sometimes some crazies slip through the cracks and make it into the mainstream. I think her fashion sense is beyond horrible, she seems to have nothing going for her in terms of talent, so she makes up for it by making a splash with her bizarre clothing. Take my advice and don’t copy and of Lady Gaga’s fashion. If you want to stand out—do it in a way that doesn’t embarrass yourself and your nation.

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Finding the perfect accessories for your favorite Jimmy Choo outfit can be challenging. You don’t want to hide your wardrobe behind flashy or excessive jewelry, and the goal is to make all of your pieces work together, not against each other. Here are a few tips on how to find, pair and wear the perfect blend of accessories with any outfit, without over doing it.

Jimmy Choo (seen here) is an icon in the fashion world worthy of worship. Ladies across the planet go gaga over his shoes, eyewear and purses in particular, and for good reason. He is, without a doubt, the king of accessory fashion. When he designs an accessory, he thinks of a woman in simply clothing that will make the accessory really stand out. This is one of two methods, where the focus is entirely on your accessories. If you have a pair of lovely Jimmy Choo sunglasses, you should pair them with a simple shirt and simple hair and makeup to really let the sunglasses speak for themselves. Don’t wear flashy clothes and flashy accessories!

The other method for accessorizing is to wear the clothing you love and mineralize your accessories. Purchase sunglasses that don’t steal the show (like the more relaxed designs of Tom Ford, for example) and carry a bag that isn’t ostentatious or overly glamorous. The name of the game is subtle but solid fashion pieces making the overall image a really put together look. This option is more accesable on day to day business and pleasure trips, and comes off more natural looking than the high fashion option of simple clothing and bold accessories.

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Ray Ban sunglasses are a staple in the fashion world. They go way beyond the glamour of Hollywood and Beverley Hills, and past their prevalence in Eastern European fads. Yes, Ray Ban sunglasses are a unique category unto itself in the fashion community, a look that can transform from the Bad Boy look of Maverick in Top Gun, to the punk fashion of early Avril Aveigne. From Lady Gaga to Beyonce, to Meg Ryan and even Barack Obama, Ray Bans have something to offer every unique look, personality type and fashion. If you love the Ray Ban look but are not sure how to pick out the right pair for you, then this guide will help point you in the right direction.

Bad boys – For a tough look that implies power, old-fashioned fun, motorcycle-style speed and a living-on-the-edge vibe that so many bad boys often exude then you’ll want to slap on a pair of Ray Ban aviators. These are the shades Johnny Knoxville wore in Jackass, and there are many variations of the aviator. Some Ray Ban aviators will have gold or silver trim, or you can go sleek and clean and get black frames and black lenses. You can also choose the size of your lenses, not every aviator needs to cover the entire face, in fact many women love the aviator look in a smaller, more scaled proportion.

Geeks, Nerds and Future Billionaires – For a fun, retro look that stands out without being outside the fashion realm, the Wayfarer is a great way to stay fashionable and yet appear as if you don’t care about fashion.

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Spring is the only season where human beings feel hopeful, fresh and ready to tackle the new year as Mother Nature blossoms all around. Fresher colors, more designs on clothing, more risky fashion choices and more adventurous and fun looks appear in the fashion world as a result of this strange, annual phenomenon. Designers like Dior slip out of fashion momentarily while bold designs like those from Ed Hardy become popular.

Ed Hardy sunglasses are unique in the fashion world. They are a fun collage of colors and shapes on a fun design. Graffiti-type patterns cover the temple bars of Ed Hardy sunglasses, while the lenses have a slightly tinted look that defies the norm. Designs like these become popular in spring, when people are invigorated to look for fresh ways to perceive themselves. They are bold, flashy, unique and a smart spring and summer choice.

This spring, like many before it, we expect to see a surge of brighter colors and an increase in pattern print fabrics including an abundance of flowers and polka dots. Like many previous years, stripes are likely to come into fashion. What is unique about this spring is that we expect the colors to remain relatively bold, rather than the usual pastel or neon hues popular in spring. Apply this to accessories, and you may not want to purchase those pink sunglasses just yet. Instead, go artsy and new-age on your eyewear with colors that will match any outfit, and you’re sure to be in style no matter what way the color wheel spins.

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In this day and age you really want to put your best foot forward at the office—if that’s the case than your foot should be clothed in Prada. In fact, people who spend time shopping and accessorizing for their office wardrobes on average last longer at their jobs and have higher promotion potential. Dressing the part simply demonstrates you are committed, motivated and that you care and invest in your employment. Where lots of people go wrong is in the accessories, especially glasses. Too many people play it safe with their eyewear when in fact this is the most important accessory and can say a lot about you as a person and as a worker. Here are the top five fashionable but office appropriate eyewear for 2010.

Bikkembergs glasses are professional, sleek and modern while also an obscure enough designer brand that you will not come across as someone who simply wears name-brand eyewear for the name. Wearing second tier designers is a great way to assert yourself as knowledgeable, able to make your own choices and demonstrate yourself as a leader and not a follower. Meanwhile, the designs are not overly ostentatious and are office appropriate.

Jimmy Choo glasses, like Bikkembergs, are classy, sleek and office appropriate, yet the name is a lot better known. You’ll get some kudos points, especially in a fashion-friendly office. The reason they top this list is that they are a brand that many people simply adore, while not being obnoxiously loud or overtly high brow. For the office, stick to the black frame or frameless designs and not the tortoiseshell or larger frames, which may not match everything in your office wardrobe.

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Ed Hardy sunglasses and eyewear, seen here, are literally all about the temple bars. With frameless fronts, the temples bars are wild, bold and graffiti-like in their appeal. Ed Hardy eyewear are not for the boring or drab, they are reserved for people willing to take fashion risks and to step into the world of something bigger and more fashionable than a mere utilitarian seeing device.

Another designer currently making fashion waves by decorating the temple bars is Alain Mikli, whose bold colors and clean lines make for a beautiful combo. These eyeglasses would look stunning on a bald person, or on someone with a very clean shaven look. They stand out in a way that says “high-speeds, race track, New York city, adventure” and this is exactly the look many young men and women are yearning for.

In the realm of sunglasses, Les Copains is making waves with their temple bars, these are unique in that they have a giant circle cut out of them- a readily identifiable trademark that looks modern and clean and yet acts as a perfect identifier. The diamond-studded circle looks sharp next to high cheek bones or on women who favor lots of blush. More importantly, it gives the look of being in the know, fashion wise.

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