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Palin Has People In Mind Of Right Frames

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 20, 2008

As the Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is eyeing the White House. People and InStyle magazines have their eyes on Palin's glasses. So do local optical shop customers.

Queries about her specs took off after her speech to the Republican National Convention. "I recognized them right away," says Debbie Keelan, optical and contact lens manager at Tampa Eye Clinic. "I said, 'Wow, she's got on a Kawasaki. I'll bet you 10 bucks we get some calls on it.' And sure enough, we did."

The reaction was similar at The Optic Shop, which has locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg, says co-owner Gil Bilkas. "Never have we had this much response for one particular type of eyewear."

The popularity is deserved, says optician Steve Jones of the Prado Vision and Lasik Center in Tampa. "They're very stylish and very chic glasses."

But the Palin look (style series 704, color 34) may not work for everyone. "A lot of times it depends on who wears them," Jones says. "Not everyone can wear the style like she has."

The frames by Japanese designer Kazuo Kawasaki feature a three-piece mount system that dates back to Ben Franklin but is now made of space-age, lightweight titanium.

The frames aren't cheap; they can run $300 or more. Then add the cost of lenses, which come in a variety of shapes to suit women or men.

Bilkas compares Palin's rimless frames to the iconic round-rimmed metal glasses worn by John Lennon, or Jackie Onassis' signature round sunglasses.

"This is right up there in the pop culture of eyewear," he says.

To see a catalog of the Kawasaki frames, go to www.italee.com.

Steve Turner

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