blog post Live on CBC Radio 3: Fashion Fight Club! The Latest In CBC Radio 3 Gear - Sunglasses!

I brought a pair of sunglasses with me on my West Coast trip, and they did nothing but take up space in my bag.  I never needed them.  Given, December probably wasn't the nicest time of year weatherwise to do the trip.  That's ok though, I met a ton of great people, and that was way more important than the weather.

So, when are sunglasses stupid?  When the weather sucks too much to need them and they take up space in a very packed backpack while you tour around North America meeting Radio 3 peoples.

Apparently some people wear them at night? 

I would love to own and wear a pair of CBC Radio 3 sunglasses! 

I would say that wearing sunglasses at night, in clubs and bars is kind of douchy. When I worked at a bar and we used to laugh at the people that would wear their sunglasses inside the dark bar.

For some reason, I saw quite a few people wearing sunlasses while I was Christmas shopping. It should be noted that I was at an indoor mall, and at night, yet a few people had sunglasses on. I'm a big fan of sunglasses, but not a fan of this sort of idiocy. I don't get it.

oh the fake rayban sunglasses that came out of cheerios box circa 1992!

 I was looking for something in my basement and came across a pair of the fake rayban sunnies that had "CAN/AM HOCKEY" emblazoned on either side. I was tempted to wear them while watching the world juniors the other night...

there is a new brand, called Solar Shield, that are designed to fit over glasses, and they don't look like those old ones that looked like welder's glasses.

My wife and I have a pair, and they're pretty decent. They come in different sizes, so you can get a size that fits over your specs, but no more.

When indoors (ie restaurant, store, theatre), take off the glasses...unless they are transitional glasses, which actually work.

Those R3 sunglasses look like those you get in 3D movies... not to say I don't like them!

I think the only time you shouldn't wear sunglasses is at a bank, airport, or other establishment where you may get tackled/tasered for suspicious behavior. Better take off my R3 toque too. I have no problem with sunglasses indoors (some people like to hide under eye bags), but if you're in the dark, it just looks silly.

I've never been a big sunglasses guy. My head is weird and narrow and it's hard to find ones that fit ok. an expense I don't care to incur generally either...only when I need too, such as driving for a long distance I might buy a cheap pair..i tend to lose them though or do something clumsy.

That being said, I'd wear Radio3 glasses no problem. If you got r3 stuff I want to flaunt it and spread the word

I really like sunglasses... right now I have some old ones that my mom used to wear years ago. One of the arms is broken so it's held together by a paper clip (some ingenious engineering by my boyfriend) but the ones in these picture I think used to belong to my dad? They're mirrored, which is pretty great. 

I think the sunglasses are a pretty great idea! I was suprised when I found them in the bag I won along with another pleasant surprise. Thanks again guys! I'm decked out in of Ceeb people would think I worked there.

I'm not sure what they'd be called but they made me think of Risky Business the lens are so large. My friend said the were to close together on my fave I think but I'm still wearing them on sunny days. I really needed a pair of sunglasses, I currently only have the free ones they keep giving me with my contacts so these are a large step up (and don't hurt my head!).

Still, you guys come up with great merch, keep it going!

PS to blog: I saw the blue bags with the retro logo for sale at the CBC merch booth in Vancouver. They are purchasable merch.

those are fantastic goggles. nice work.

When I was young and trendy I never went anywhere without my sunglasses but most of the time they were on top of my head.  I thought they made me look taller. :p

  Now that I'm old and crotchety I wear transition lenses that do the job. 

 I would however, like to request a pair of CBC sunglasses for my pet squirrel.  The glare off that snow is deadly and as you can tell from his picture he probably needs to go incognito.

you just didn't search hard enough.  Cyclops Sunglasses

Martin

Every time I see new CBC3 merch, my heart skips a beat. I must have those shades!!

My pic is kind of special to me for a few reasons - that's my dear friend with me, at my very first actual concert in Deer Lake Park, Vancouver, seeing BSS for the very first time, and falling madly in love with Canadian music. Epic.

i'm going to chime in with everyone else: pretty much if you are inside, or it's dark out i when the sunnies come OFF.

i had a sweet pair of (weak prescription) sunglasses. i adored them! then someone stole them. i know who did, and they basically have to wear coke glasses. so my sunglasses were stolen just to be stolen (...and i never saw the culprit again!). i was pretty upset. now i'm left with a pair of regular glasses which have bifocals in them and i don't even NEED bifocals. (my eye doc wasn't the keenest..?)

i picked up a pair of sweet aviators this summer. i don't think they are uv protective, though. my computer is being stupid slow, i'll see if i can dig up a picture of me wearing them. my head is too small for aviators.

I second Lana Gayfarer.

I don't know about the shades, but I do know you can pick-up one of those bags in the CBC store - I'll be looking for one when I hit Toronto in March, but in the meantime, you can find them in the online store too!

I have a pair of Uvex ones that have a prescription lens behind the shades.  They're kinda bulky but they work good for playing baseball.

I'm seriously debating getting these bad boys: https://www.hdwraparounds.com/ver18/index.asp?refcode=hdwrap18&did=&aid=

I hate seeing in Standard Defintion, I want HIGH definition.

Do sunglasses hide a hangover or do they just make everyone think you are hungover? Because I believe the later is correct. 

I give you, the CBC Heritage 70's Nylon Mod Bag

I picked up a pair of sweet shades at Avatar 3D.  Do you think they provide any UV protection?  They do make the real world look 3D, so that's nice.

Life is so much better in hi def.

I like that - Lana Gayfarers. that's a good one!

Bob from Vancouver Is Awesome had a pair of the CBC ones at the Biltmore last night. I wanted to steal them SO bad.

They were definitely needed as they had sun lamps for a variety show.

Not much sunlight in the cave. 

But the best thing to do with the glasses is to pop out the lenses and wear them like they're prescriptions everywhere.

If you send me some of those, I will show you.

I got mine from watching Up! And kept them despite some glares from ushers... but I think they actually concentrate sun beams *into* your eyes. haha.

they do provide great definition for real life, no?

Sunglasses are meant to block out the sun.  Nothing else.  I hate it when people wear their sunglasses in school, or in darker rooms because they think it looks cool or that it is an essential part of their style (strange how it generally comes with tight jeans and those "stylish" smurf toques...).  Take them off when you can see without needing to block out bright lights!!!  I have really only owned one good pair of sunglasses, a set of Roots sports ones, not too expensive, that lasted for three years before I left them on a flight to Ottawa!  Sunglasses are okay on stage, no problem for me, but I definitely like to look people in the eye, it means that I can see they care enough to actually look back!

Also, Grant, I would wear your sunglasses all day (except maybe not in school or driving at night), so please send a pair to me!

Sunglasses are not cool when used in the following ways

1. placed backwards on the head

2. used at night

3. used nside

aka "Me"

And you need sunglasses when it's 1% brighter than a 12 watt compact florescent bulb outside. I have super sensitive old man eyes, and pretty much have to wear sunglasses outside in the daylight hours of any day.

for the first time it was appropriate and needed. there was a variety show at the biltmore that was beach party themed (they were even supposed to have a hot tub, but that fell through...to my great disappointment). and they had a LOT of sun lamps up and pointed at the audience. I put my sunglasses on a few times.

unfortunately I didn't have them on when a giant rubber ball (big beach ball sized) was kicked (i think) directly into my eye. i woke up this morning with it really really red, put drops in and a cold cloth on it.

sunglasses could have saved me.

Did Destroyer sample a bit of "Always On My Mind" in the beginning of this song?

sheesh, I just wiki'd it and the original version is by my doppleganger.

Out with it!

That worn on the back of the bald head thing or worn over the forehead look always looks super silly to me.  Wanna bust up laughing when I see someone like that.  Team it up with an Ed Hardy shirt and it's almost the complete package.

And one thing that makes a difference is the type of sunglasses.  You never see the sports one inside or at night because those are functionaly appropriate for the soccer field or for going for a run.  The ones you always see indoors are the ones that "look good" because after all, style outweighs function when it comes to making a statement, and you'd never wear something "normal" like sports sunglasses at 9pm!

Can you tell I have a beef with this?!?!  It's really getting on my nerves...  Maybe it's just the fact that I went to a school filled with football players (the only one in my district) so my memory is filled with big guys in leather jackets with Oakleys seemingly glued to their foreheads/necks/faces/heads.

I don't think you need to change your picture, that will do.  And I also love your (inadvertent or not) spelling of "picature."  That is now my word of the day!

Outside Vancouver anyway, sunglasses are, at times, all the more necessary in winter, on account of the bright bright snow!

enough said.

Wow, I think that sums up the whole conversation!

@Benoit, yes, you and only you, may wear sunglasses indoors without looking like a dork :P

Or some lunch. They're playing many tracks in a row with no appearance by the animateur.

Whenever the hell you want to.

Who cares what anyone else thinks… if it's cool to you, it is.

Love it.  ha ha.  Maybe I'll try and throw a beer on Jim Cuddy from my 4th row seat in your honour.

sidenote: last time I saw them, Greg Keelor wore some sort of shades.  He appeared to be very very stoned.  which probably explains the ridiculously awesome extended guitar solo when he did "Black Ribbon" that night. 

I wonder if Blue Rodeo has ever been on Radio3? Can they be? I mean if not the tunes, at least some of the guys from the band. They're a major piece of Canadian music the last 2 or 3 decades. Consider this my early nomination for a lifetime bucky next year. 

I think you have missed the entire point of Fashion Fight Club.

(I agree with you, though)

"Hey Hey"... I guess it hasn't hit me yet.

sorry I'm kind of addicted to Blue Rodeo lately.

Have y'all seen the latest stuff white people like? http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/ Ray Bans

very a propos

Yes!!! Sammy can pull off anything... if everyone had a little Sammy in their lives, the world would be a better place.. 

and no.. i'm not dating him yet *sigh* I think he's still married. 

I once uttered something to this effect... "I'm pro polygamy... but only if it's Sam Roberts... and only if it's with me" :)

THANKS!!!!!  The toque has, indeed, made it's way to sunny FL.....just this afternoon!!!  I immediately ran out in the back yard and snapped a shot next to my beautiful sego palm.  Am I as good-looking as we all imagined???  I think the toque takes me to the next level. 

hmmmm 

I'm starting to feel a little competition for mr. Sammy.... lol.  

sunglasses should never be worn in the winter. even if its sunny out, it's just weird. Sunglasses in doors is okay tho, as long as you accept that your just trying to look cool. if your cool enough to admit when your trying to be cool than you are cool.

I'm guilty for the sunglasses on the hat trick.

But here's my defence: It's convinient.  I just don't trust my eyes through shades if I'm working on something, so I'll stick them up above.  The beak kinda keeps them in place at the same time, whereas if they're clipped to my chest they tend to fall out and break.  ditto on why I wear them indoors.

And also, it's just kind of habit from being a ball player.  You wear them on your hat even if you don't need them, per say, so nobody sits on them on the bench.   And also the one time you don't bring them, the sun will be right in your eyes and you'll drop the ball and everyone hates you. After it happens once you don't really forget again.

Silly.

Rather than getting them lasers, get lasers installed IN them!

No one will eff with you!

A 100 posts in an hour and some this is going to take a bit to sort through.

I will give one on topic post then don't expect anything from me. I like sunglass but I can't keep a pair for more than a week or two without busting them.

Sounds good, but may I also suggest "isn't too self-assuming"?  If you are Sam Roberts, that is allowed, but since you (not you literally, but in general) are not Sam Roberts, GET THEM OFF YOUR FACE!!!

And as to Keelor, doesn't he always wear the trucker shades?  What else can he do, he's never really been Cuddy's match in the looks department...

maybe it's just me, but people that ski/snowboard in sunglasses seem kinda dumb to me. 

Yeah I'm sure it blocks out the sun, but it must be damn cold and uncomfortable.  Isn't that the whole point of why goggles were invented?

what's the general consensus on goggle wearing? Ever cool?? If I see someone wearing goggles outside of a ski resort or swimming pool, I'm very skeptical.

I guess no one really disagrees or has another suggestion? 

and yes, you're right Ben Fast! 

also... who is the sexiest Female to wear Sunglasses?? hmm 

It is actually the sexy ripping them off thing I do it drives the ladies wild.

you got that right!

He oozes cool. hehe 

My sunglasses are motorcycle goggles. I say, why go halfway? These things protect me from the prairie dust and wind, plus if I have to wear other glasses, they fit overtop. Plus, I look like a cyborg. And they make for a smooth entry into the festivities of the outrageous and fantastic Burning Man festival.

Thank you, always nice to see other people think I am right (but I always am, so it doesn't matter too much :P) 

As to sexiest female...  from my viewpoint it doesn't matter sunglasses or not, as long as they are female!!!

Okay, that sounds shallow, but I think you know what I mean...

Your goggles are cool.

The exception that confirms the rule.

Melissa McLelland also looks good without sunglasses.

Definitely have their place.

I think steampunks with goggles look pretty cool, although I think they usually wear them on their forehead rather than their eyes.

Also, Hank Pine.

I think they need to be part of a whole non-mainstream look, though.  Goggles with jeans and a t-shirt would look odd.

I know people who wear those as regular sunglasses... even though I'm pretty sure they are sunglasses.

I don't think that's very cool.  

I think I need to use the phrase "I think" less.

MoniSki, don't those have a big warning on the bag that they won't protect your eyes from the sun?

Yes, yes they do. But do people read? Nope. 

<------These sunglasses are over 30 years old (honeymoon pic) but were my all time favourites, so much so,  that when one of the lenses broke I popped them out and just wore the red frames everywhere.

...polarized glasses, one lens up and down, and the other horizontally. Which gives the same result as red and green in them old 3-D pictures, but if you project two images properly polarized*.

*Vertical grid polarized lens lets in vertically polarized light, and the other, the other, as I'm sure you probably knew.

goggles tend to slide down my face, and the elastic band can be tight enough to cause a headache if you tighten it enough to prevent the sliding down of the face. (ah, the dilemma) Hence sunglasses while skiing/snowboarding!

...a sexual deviant. Or perhaps not so bad.

Like a mass murderer.

Jes' saying.

Benoit: well, thanks very much! :)

MoniSki: I think that is a valid question. What I would say is that I wear goggles Instead of sunglasses, therefore they take the place in my wardrobe that sunglasses would otherwise have. So I think they count in that context, but definitely they are not always used that way. 

Oh, also, disclaiming the coolness factor of my goggle choices: My version of coolness is all about utility. And sort of overboard utility (as in, being ready for the apocalypse at every moment.) But I don't expect that to be everyone's version, so I accept the lack of cool this might also indicate for some people. 

Yes, but I still would't be able to wear sunglasses.

I think the Oka ferry was pretty awesome.

But now that I'm over the hill all that awesomeness only exists in pictures. :o)

And according to Benoit because I am a TRANSITION lens wearer I am

>>>>>...a sexual deviant. Or perhaps not so bad.

Like a mass murderer.

Jes' saying.<<<<

SHEESH!!!!!!!!

<backpedaling furiously>

it's hunter's ale house.

and ross lane beach has nothing on greenwich.

never seen w/o my shadez

Too funny.  Oh to be fashionably 35.  The bow in that pic is as old as the honeymoon sunglasses and is as out of fashion as I am, now but back in the day I rocked polka dots and those bows.  :o)

is when your regular glasses get stolen from the side of an indoor pool in a hotel (i have no idea WHY someone would do that, as my glasses are pretty strong and would probably ruin other's eyes. though the frames were nice). and then you have to wear your prescription sunglasses from grade 8 (which are pretty...round) all day and night, to work, to hang out with friends, until your new ones you ordered come in.  that's when sunglasses aren't cool

I do enjoy a nice pair of shades.  A really nice expensive pair is something I'm going to invest it one of these days, as for now I get all my shades from one place, my dad.  If they don't have bifocals on them I 'borrow' them.  Right now I'm rockin a rather nice pair of Eddie Bauers.  I also scored some nice aviators off him since that is is profession. 

When not to wear shades? I don't know, I've worn them in places where I shouldn't, eg: during a lecture to cover up the fact that I was sleeping. 

And speaking of musicians whose eyes you've never seen, what about Becky from The Pack AD.  She doesn't wear shades but her bangs are always the same length.  I've seen the Pack three times and never seen Becky's eyes.

Concerning musicians wearing sunglasses I understand both arguments. On one hand we want that personal connection that comes from eye contact. On the other hand I respect the artist right to anonymity. Because if the distance wasn't there it might too overwhelming for certain types of people to handle.

http://spartucusjones.tumblr.com/

:) Glad to hear someone else that admires Blue Rodeo as much as I do.  They're really a band I've grown with and, like the Hip, they kinda get taken for granted with how good they are.  And both groups always bring along a great, young, Canadian artist to tour with them.  The Hip bringing along Joel Plask

I don't think it's quite the stretch to call them the Canadian Beatles.  John/Paul -> Greg/Jim

In my opinion, they're in the same league as The Band.  That's about as big of a compliment as I can give.

My fantastic new R3 toque perched jauntily atop a stylish pair of R3 sunglasses to keep the relentless Florida sun (which usually beats down with a UV factor of approximately96.3 Billion) from burning out my retinas.  Plus, I'm at serious risk of developing crows feet, and I don't want to walk around looking like birds have been walking around on my face.  Just sayin'.

um, I kinda got lost in thought midsentence.

The Hip bringing Joel along a few years ago really exposed him to a new crowd.  I also heard they brough along the Constantines for a few shows last year too.  I love that when a legend helps out an up and comer (although you can't really call the Cons newbies).  They even brought the Sadies the last few times to open.

Ditto with Blue Rodeo helping the world enjoy the Sadies.  and Luke Doucet. and Cuff the Duke.  And Dustin Bentall.

Basically, these guys all seem like closet R3 lovers and we should call them out on it.

I wear prescription sunglasses and have been extremely self concious about wearing them inside. I never want people to think i think im the next "Jack" but if you are just going in to get a coffee should you have to take them off or change them? i also do forget to switch them sometimes , like my grade 13 grad ceremony... i was backstage before i realised that i had the wrong glasses on but of course too late, decided to take them off and go blind...not a good idea...fell off the stage and everybody thought i was drunk 

you're not paranoid.  they really are weird.

I feel that i am definitely getting odd looks from people - I feel like a baby-boomer a-hole.

Likening Blue Rodeo to The Band is a great comparison....nicely done.

You just know Greg and Jim are sitting around somewhere streaming R3, and thinking how music is alive and well in Canada.  I just wish BR would make their way down south here so I could catch them again.

see comments above from Babs46, Benoit, and myself re. whether or not Transitions are cool.  my conclusion: if a Candadian indie musician's MOM (who is so cool that she is an R3 blogger) is rocking the transition glasses, then they have GOT to be cool. 

I'm waiting for this new top 5 countdown voice to say "I am your father, Luke!"

I'm not against them.  They serve their time and place, just like sweat pants.

But if you wear them outside be fully prepared to get weird looks.  Because you're just too lazy to wear shades.

....which is why I might get a pair of them soon.

lol I totally agree!

they just played a show in TO around the end of November. A friend of mine went to see them and got pic with them.

and, he bought himself and energy dome

I'm just happy to be included, and to be a human. I'm happy to be ANYTHING... !!!!

: )

I am only a LOT older not wiser.  Brain fart.

Yeah!!!  Hey, Grant.....you should make it a mission to get the boys from Blue Rodeo on the show.  They are great, funny, insightful characters, and we'd all have a lot of fun with them, fer shur!!!  As a guest spot idea you should think about getting such "non-Indie" bands as Blue Rodeo on the show, and ask them what music they listen to.  I'll bet that would be very interesting and enlightening....