Being a ho is so 2007. I mean, really, Lil Kim was rhyming about being a ho, a slut and a freak back in the "Crush On You" days (I was in high school, for goodness' sake!) Even if you tend to get a little loose-y goose-y, you might as well demand the necessary respect by dubbing yourself a sophisticated harlot -- it's got almost as much pizzazz as the term madame, right? The word "harlot" just has a little ring to it... It's almost like a harlot could have the most lurid, steamy affairs, without her reputation being the least bit tainted -- semantaics are something else, huh? Anyway, the word has this dazzle to it -- which is perhaps why Oliver Peoples chose the name for its most glamorous collection of sunglasses.
For its 20th anniversary, the Diamond Harlot is at its very best (the style is aging like fine wine) -- available in black/yellow gold, ivory shell/rose gold and storm gray/white gold, each pair features 1.5 carats of natural, white, round-cut diamonds on either side of the frame (so they'll add some sparkle to your temples).
The oversized shades channel old Hollywood glamour (sure, the shape reminds us of Jackie Kennedy, but the vibe is more Grace Kelly meets Joanne Woodward). Can't you just picture an old screen siren rocking these shades with a lush, silk scarf wrapped around her head and tied below her chin? Forget Mary-Kate, LiLo, or any other budding starlet who alternates between glamour and slovenliness. These require a certain grace, confidence and poise, so it's not for those who could've been cast for Mo'Nique's Charm School show and they're not to be worn with terry sweatsuits, Kool aid-colored weaves, or flip-flops. I mean, if you're going to play the part of a movie star, going incognito behind these shades and dodging your pretend paparazzi, you might as well dress accordingly. So indulge your inner screen siren and that vampy (but never trashy) harlot in you.
20 Year Anniversary Diamond Harlot by Oliver Peoples, $6000. Visit http://www.oliverpeoples.com for more information. Available for purchase at Bergdorf Goodman, 212-872-8977.