Lost! Oliver Peoples Sunglasses circa 2003

Oliver Peoples' Guiselle SunglassesThere are two types of people in this world: those that lose their sunglasses, and those that do not. Luckily, I have always (at least since I turned 21 or so,) been in the latter category. Meanwhile, my sister has always been in the former category, and therefore only buys sunglasses that cost between $15 - $20 per pair, because what's the point? I think most people in the former category take this attitude.

However, I think a fantastic detriment to the habit of loss is to invest in a really great pair of sunglasses and tend to them like they're your baby. That's what I did when I first bought a pair of Oliver Peoples sunglasses way back in 2003. I had some money and really wanted to get a fantastic bit of eyewear. There comes a time in every girl's life when she needs to step it up in the accessories department, and 2003 was my year to do this.

The choice was perfect. A golden amber plastic frame, brown but not too dark lens, and while I knew the label was luxe, I loved that it wasn't flashed all over the place. Simple, understated, and flattering. What more could I ask for?

True, the price tag was quite a bit more than what I was used to, but I had resolved to make a strong investment in something I was going to be wearing a lot. I'm not sure what I paid, but I think it was around $300. Steep, but considering just how much wear I got out of them, the price really worked out!

Me in my Oliver Peoples (right) & my friend Genevieve (left) in Ensenada.See, I lost those very Oliver Peoples sunglasses this week. They've vanished into thin air. (Okay, there may be one additional place where I may have left them, but haven't had a chance to look into it yet.) This is my first meaningful sunglass loss, and I'm so very sad about it. These sunglasses were simply fantastic. I wore them almost every day for SEVEN YEARS. I wore them on my face, on my head, on long business trips, and short pleasure trips. They got sprayed with noxious liquor at Papas & Beer in Ensenada, Mexico and sauntered along the Champs-Élysées. They even rode (and ran) with me during both of my triathlons, and the weeks of training that went into those races.

2003 seems like such a long time ago. Thinking back I've thought of all that's happened over those years, good and bad, and while I've changed handbags, wallets, jobs, apartments, boyfriends, jeans, coats, haircuts, and even hair colors (strictly natural now,) the sunglasses have remained the same.

Since I've lost them, I've thought about the investment and I realize that those Oliver Peoples sunglasses were the best $300 I've ever spent. If you look at the cost per wear, it really gets amazing. Even if I wore them half-time, divided out over seven years that's 1278 days of wear. Divided by $300, that works out to..... $0.23 cents per wear. Yeah.

I can't see my exact frame on the Oliver Peoples website at the moment. I thought of looking inside my frames to check the name, but I had forgotten that they're gone. Le sigh. The closest thing I can find that they look like are the Guiselle, but without the metallic edge. To replace them, I'm thinking a great burgundy frame or a classic tortoise would be fantastic. It would match the mood I'm in these days, or at least the mood I aspire to these days.

Yes, times are tough and while I know it would be a sound investment, $390 is very much out of my league at the moment. The barely-surviving-on-freelance salary doesn't afford many luxuries like this any longer. But still, I'm okay to just moon over them from afar and know that if I had the money, these sunglasses would last me well into the next decade. Barring any unexpected losses!

Comments

[taylor]

I love Oliver Peoples sunglasses. These are fantastic!

[ET]

I know exactly how you feel about spending the money for a great pair of sunnies that will last forever. I love my Oliver Peoples sunglasses so much that when I learned last week that I would have to get my first pair of reading glasses, I went with OP for those, as well. You might check Bonanzle or Ebay for a nice used pair to tide you over until you are ready to splurge on new ones!

[WendyB]

Clearly they had the seven-year itch!

[Rachel]

Can we add another category? How about the people who never lose sunglasses except the most expensive pair their own? I'd be in that group, thanks. I know it doesn't compare, but I left the only pair of sunglasses I owned that cost more than $5 in a bathroom. They were a splurge for me, although my sister laughed at me when I told her that they cost $30 and said, "Wow, you ARE poor!" To be fair I was incredibly jet-lagged at the time, but now I'm afraid to buy pricier sunglasses for fear of losing them.

[Ms. P&C]

Rachel - yes! That is another category. I think that's why I minded my OPs so well for so long - I was determined not to lose them, just because of how expensive they are. Worked for 7 years... There must be a statute of limitations on that.

[juniper]

This is a wonderfully written piece about an experience shared by many.
I lost a pair of Alexander McQueens - red/black - in 2000;- they were costly even at the distributor's price (think the line discontinued?).
Got a pair of Dior aviators when this shape was the rage, but this design is fragile and doesn't last till the fat lady sings. Then lost a pair of Calvin Klein prescriptions, almost same time.
But after a stint with budget sunnies, I got a pair of Chanel Xmas 08, yippee!!! I never thought I would be so careful with sunglasses,but I am now inspired to outlast your record.
Cheers!

[Genevieve]

Oh NO! That is utter tragedy! I'm making a silent prayer to sunglass odds--I just did the math and realized that it will be year 7 on my beloved Paul Frank sunglasses. The ones I'm wearing in the picture you posted of us! Egads! I'm a big fan of overstock for sunglasses and also Loehmann's, where I recently picked up a pair of very cute Ray Ban knockoffs with a rose-tinted lens for less than $30. I'm in the $100 or less category when it comes to sunnies--I am waaaaay too accident prone! Good luck finding a replacement my dear, thinking good thoughts! http://www.lilyspruce.com/blog