Ask Chris Black: What Are Your Favorite Sunglasses?
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If you’re looking for the most powerfulhair dryeror handiestchef’s knife, those things can be easy enough to find. Other objects of desire are a little more taste-based. What’s the next statuswater bottleorhand wash, for instance? Regular readers of the Strategist will know that we’ve previously turned to resident Cool GuyChris Black(he’s a partner at brand consultancyPublic Announcement) to help us answer both of those questions, and to get more of Chris’s advice, he’s now answering reader questions for us in a regular column. If you have a burning question about the next fanny pack or Noah rugby shirt, drop us an email with the subject line “Ask Chris” at strategist@nymag.com.
With spring’s arrival, what are your sunglasses of choice?
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Unless you are Tom Ford, avoid aviators, you don’t want to match the corny white girls at brunch in ’47 Yankees hats. A black Wayfarer like this one looks good on almost anyone’s face.
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As a prescription glasses wearer, this is a loaded question. My desire to switch out eyewear like my hero Elton John is limited by my poor vision and budget. When the sun is shining, I wear a clear pair of Moscot Lemtosh frames with prescription lenses (I don’t wear contacts, it’s a long story).
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If you can pull off a circular frame, these from the Row x Oliver Peoples collaboration will look amazing as the wind blows through your hair on the PCH. Live a little! If you feel compelled, get tinted lenses in Coke-bottle green or a nice soft pink.
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Sun Buddies are affordable and always on trend, especially the Lubna style in this fun Ecto-Cooler green.
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If you need something a bit more understated, this simple pair of round sunglasses in black from Cutler and Gross will satisfy.
In the market for a new belt! What should be my go-to “goes with everything” belt? Gucci and Louis are probably out of the question.
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Logo-heavy designer belts are basically a status symbol for broke boys. It’s one of the cheapest (and tackiest) things you can buy in a high-end store. A belt is a hard wearing accessory whose only job is to secure your pants to your waist. I am not spending $500 on a piece of leather with a snake printed on it to hold up my $75 Levi’s 501s. Maximum Henry, a New York–based brand, makes classic belts in a myriad of colors and styles that all come in around $200.
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If you must have some flare around your waist,this light-pink snakeskin-printed strap from Très Bienis a nice look. Keep your pants up, but don’t break the bank, spend that money on literally anything else.
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For something more playful, a multicolored woven belt from Anderson’s should work.
I’ve been a strict no-phone-case guy for years, but in the last three months I have gone through three iPhones due to drops, etc. What is an iPhone case I can cop and also not look like an asshole?
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The best phone of all time was the BlackBerry 8700. A solid hunk of purplish blue plastic with that exceptional QWERTY keyboard and the infamous side-scroll mechanism. A telephone so well made a case was not even a thought. Unfortunately, the culture moved on to the delicate, basically glass, iPhone. The iPhone, as an object, is beautiful and sleek, but when you add a bulky and unsightlycase, it ruins the integrity of the design. Yes, the photos are crisp, but if the device takes a tumble, you are walking around with a cracked screen, which for me, is off-brand. But when you are spending $1,000 to browse memes, send texts, and ask for nudes, you need to protect your investment. Enter Peel, the only case I can possibly recommend. It is so minimal that people don’t notice it, but it does the job well. I buy a few at once, that way if one gets dinged up I can replace it. My iPhone is protected, but it still doesn’t have BBM.
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