By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Fashion shades from the Eyeglass Shoppe come
in a rainbow of colors and are meant for looking good
indoors more so than out.

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Shades move indoors
in colorful fashion tints

In eyewear, it's not shades but tints that are in -- lenses colored aqua, orange, lavender, peach, you name it.

Colored lenses are usually associated with the sun, but optician Tony Miller, of The Eyeglass Shoppe, said, "These are not sunglasses but attitude wear. It's more of a fashion statement."

The best-selling colors, he said, have been aqua and lilac. Cobalt blue, big in the '70s, is back, too, but he said it hasn't been a big seller at his shop. Neither has hot pink.

"The shift has been to lighter colors," Miller said. "The idea is to wear it indoors and it has to be light enough to see the eyes. When you're talking to a person you want to see the eyes."

At The Eyeglass Shoppe, a pair of Buddy Holly-style frames by Esprit with aqua lenses sells for $88.50. Round frames with lavender lenses by Nicole Miller sell for $107.50.

The best seller has been metal frames by Esprit with a fade, or mini wrap just around the eyes. These run $128.50.

Many involved in sports, and those with some night blindness, opt for lemon yellow, which accentuates the contrast between light and dark.

Colored lenses can also cut the glare from computer screens. The best color would depend on your screen, but generally, Miller says green and rose tend to work best. The color to avoid when working with a computer is blue, which contributes to eye fatigue, he said.

At Shades of California in Ala Moana Center, shades with blue or purple lenses by Jean Paul Gaultier run $224.95 to $439 for a limited-edition pair. On the lower end, generic nerd frames in black with lavender, peach, green or blue lenses sell for $12. Wire frames are $24.

For those who still like their old frames, The Eyeglass Shoppe can replace the lenses for $36 to $38.

"It breathes new life into your old glasses. All of a sudden you've got the glasses that all the movers and shakers and trend-setters are wearing," Miller said. "It's not for the conservative."

As for the meanings of colors . . .

"Ah, that's the question isn't it?" Miller said. "That's a mystery only the wearer can answer."

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Nadine Kam, Star-Bullletin