By Deirdre Carroll: Senior Editor

 
SPORTIF POSTER
WHO: Cameron Diaz, Tracy Anderson, Wyclef Jean, Willow Smith, anyone dying over the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers and any number of designers who showed their Spring 2012 collections during New York Fashion Week, including Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, VPL, Y-3 and of course, Lacoste.

WHAT: Just like expensive fancy water imported from Europe, sport-inspired styles from high fashion brands just seem a little impractical… but boy do they look cool. In the same way neoprene and neon have made the transition from surfboards and BMX bikes to athletic chic ready-to-wear collections, so too has the sporting influence on eyewear left the roads, rivers and fields and hit everything from catwalks to sidewalks.

WEAR: (Top to bottom) All the DSquared2 DQ0056 from Marcolin needs is a motorcycle and some leathers for it to fully realize its full hardcore motocross potential. In a bold move, the Fendi FS5273 from Marchon was sent down the runway on every single look during the brand’s Spring 2012 show. Every. Single. Look. Amazing considering the style is an odd but perfect hybrid of goggle and rimless frame. The Marc Jacobs MJ403/S from Safilo really gives bang for the buck by actually hitting on two major spring trends: Sportif and color blocking from the March 5 issue. The Nova in Sunshine (how great is that is that name!?!) from Mykita Mylon has the face of a goggle, the temples of a sunglass and the attitude of a hip hop mogul who has just pulled off his second celebrity-packed runway presentation at Paris Fashion Week (Yes, I’m looking at you Kanye).

WHY: If parkas, track pants and moto jackets can make their way into our everyday wardrobes, there’s no reason athletically chic eyewear can’t make it onto our faces. With the proliferation of acid brights, techno fabrics and convertible clothing in the market, eyewear needs to keep up and be sure it’s offering the fashion/sport hybrid crowd the appropriate optical options.

dcarroll@jobson.com