February 21, 2008

Robert Evans' sunglasses bring sexy back

Hollywood OG Robert Evans has been doing his PhD (pimping hos daily) for over a hundred years. So it was a delight to witness the man work his legendary mojo in person, at a luncheon celebrating his collaboration with eyewear firm Oliver Peoples.
The event was at his home in Beverly Hills, and in the flesh, Evans rocked my world, resembling a cross between Don Corleone and a 1970s porn director. He wore a pea-green polo neck sweater, neck pulled up high, with some heavy metal hanging low from his neck à la Mr. T. His luxurious gray velvet lounge pants languidly brushed the floor, as if to say "I'm Robert Evans, I'm chillin in my house". His tan was deep, thoroughly developed, and real. All that was missing was a cigar. And some hos. Evans' high profile guests, including Russell Simmons, Tamara Mellon, Linda Evangelista, Perry Farrell and er, The Stylephile, milled around looking fabulous and sipping champagne.
The party was pure Hollywood glam—synchronized swimmers splish-splashed in his pool, Van Cleef and Arpels diamonds dripped from bonsai trees, and a screen looped the noirish, steamy film trailer Evans had filmed to promo his Oliver Peoples eyewear collection. His co-star was a hot young blonde, of course. (You can watch the promotional video here, which was shot in Evans' home.)

The sunglasses themselves are rather beautiful, the design simple yet powerful, with heavy dark frames that are imposing enough for any aspiring movie mogul. One pair is called, simply, The Robert Evans.
I've always been a fan—the man who produced "Rosemary's Baby", "The Godfather" and "Chinatown" boasts one of the best Hollywood success/excess stories of all time (rent the movie of his life story "The Kid Stays in the Picture" to realize that some of us really are born with a destiny). Plus, he used to make shoes (I own a blue pair of Robert Evans pumps). What's not to love?
Snoop, Dre, Tony Soprano—all y'all could learn a thing or two from this gangsta.
Find out more about the Oliver Peoples/Robert Evans sunglasses here.

February 21, 2008 in LOS ANGELES | Permalink