Shades of cool, classy & confident

“I tend to go for the fashion sunglasses, a more glamorous look,” said Roth, 21, who lives in Albany. “And I like the little crystals on the sides. They’re something fun that makes me feel special.”

Jacqueline Roland believes everyone can feel special — and look different — with the right pair of sunglasses. As manager of the Sunglass Hut International store inside Colonie Center, she knows people can turn up personal levels of cool, confidence and class with the right pair of shaded specs.

Sunglasses aren’t just for summer. The sun works all year, and ophthalmologists love to see patients protecting their eyes against dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Americans spent $2.3 billion on sunglasses in 2007, according to the Sunglass Association of America. People who wanted more limelight and less sunlight bought more than 115 million pair, at an average of $20 each.

At The Daily Gazette’s request, Roland demonstrated how solar shields can give people instant makeovers. Roth, a sales associate at Sunglass Hut, played model for a few minutes. So did a second sales associate, Carl Phelps of Rotterdam.

Woman of mystery?

Roth tried on a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers; the Versace luxury frames; the Oakley Dart; and the Oakley Flak Jacket. Roland had quick critiques for each look.

The Wayfarers are based on Ray-Ban’s classic dark, large-lensed sunglasses first introduced in 1952. Roth chose a pair with black “temples,” the slim bars that hold glasses to head, and a white face.

“All the movie stars are in Wayfarers, just all of Hollywood,” Roland said. “It says confidence, clever.”

Roth liked the Versace model. So did Roland.

“That says to me, woman of mystery, woman of allure, a woman who appreciates luxury and distinction,” Roland said.

The Dart model features amber tints in a single, visorlike lens.

“It’s a more fashionable twist on a sporty frame,” Roland said. “It says to me that she is classy, she craves challenges and excitement and she’s fun. It’s competitive, with an aesthetic edge.”

Roth’s final turn came with the bold Flak Jacket, silver frames and fiery, reddish-yellow lenses.

“It just screams confidence,” Roland said. “They say, ‘I’m unique, notice me, I’m in control.’ ”

Roth agreed. “If you want to hide on a corner, you’re not going to wear a bright red-yellow lens,” she said.

Carefree or an enigma?

Phelps hid part of his 73-year-old face in classic Wayfarers; the Oakley Radar Pitch; Ray-Ban aviators with silver-mirror lenses; and Ralph fashion aviators with honey-toned gradient lenses.

Phelps looked sharp in his Wayfarers.

“It’s classic cool, worry-free, nonchalant, care-free type of attitude,” Roland said.

The Radar Pitch look reminded Roland of future technology. “Think 21st century attitude,” she said. “It’s ‘I’m invincible.’ ”

Athletic people might appreciate the Olympic angle. Many U.S. athletes in Beijing are wearing the Radar Pitch shades.

The mirrored aviators recall other movie characters, like the silent prison guard in 1967’s Paul Newman drama “Cool Hand Luke” and assorted movie cops and motorcycle tough guys.

“This says, ‘I am an enigma,’ ” Roland said. “You don’t even see the person, you see yourself. The aviator shape is just your classic, authoritative look; . . . you just feel the intimidation.”

Phelps looked more friendly in his last try-on, the fashion aviators. “It’s ‘I’m ready to take off with my jet-setting friends,’ ” Roland said, “ ‘I’m a man of the world, adventurous.’ ”

Phelps preferred the mirrors, and not for the extra attitude. “It was more comfortable to me,” he said. “More classic.”

Protection is important

Looks are one thing. Roland said protection against harmful sunlight is another major selling point. And she added that comfort is one of the biggest convincers when somebody buys a pair of her shades, priced between $90 and $400.

“Are they comfortable — that’s what you want to determine,” she said. “Then, after that, it’s up to you . . . what look you’re trying to convey. There are no rules, and that’s the beauty of it. There are enough rules and regulations in society. We don’t have to have mandates and rules and laws about sunglasses.”

People can be funky, tough, artistic, sophisticated, cool and mysterious. Roland said the glasses help . . . but they have to have something to work with.

“It’s how you present yourself,” Roland said. “You don’t want the glasses to wear you — you wear the glasses.”

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