Thursday, December 3, 2009

Review | Mosley Tribe Dunn Sunglasses


Over the course of the next few weeks we will be reviewing a handful of sunglasses covering the spectrum from great price point entry level sunglasses to higher end options exploring all budgets. Among those being reviewed include the 9five Cult Classic Glens, EC Headwear Wayfarers, Oakley Jawone and Eric Koston Frogskins, and Mosley Tribe Dunns.
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The first sunglass up for review is the Mosley Tribes Dunn. Mosley Tribes is a global lifestyle brand created in 2005 by Larry Leight, the Founder and Creative Director of LA based luxury eyewear brand Oliver Peoples. In 2006 Olivers People was purchased by Oakley which in turn was then purchased by Luxottica. Luxottica is the world's largest eyewear company whose in house and liscened brands include Oakley, Prada, Lens Crafters, Burberry, DKNY, Ray Ban, Tiffany & Co. and Arnette.


"Mosley is an expression of euphoric feeling and Tribes describe groups of individuals unified by a shared desire for performance without sacrificing style. Mosley Tribes designs are modern interpretations of timeless classics that combine fashion and function. The sleek, Mod-Equipped designs use titanium metals and injected plastic for a lightweight feel, ideal for active individuals. All Mosley Tribes frames feature VFX lenses (Visual Effects), the ultimate in lens technology and the most environmentally functional lenses available to fit specific customer needs based on light conditions and activities. Already recognized for its unique versions of double-bridge aviator styles, the core concepts of the brand include classic style, sport culture and street luxury." (Olivers People)

Since the brands inception in 2005 Mosley Tribes have carved out a niche celebrity market. The sunglass brand has become a popular choice for the Hollywood elite including Lance Armstrong, Jay-Z, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Mayer. With that in mind I thought it would be interesting to see what all the buzz was about.


For the review Mosley sent over two colorways of their unisex Dunn frame. The frame is comparable to Ray Ban Outdoorsman II and the Ray Ban Large Metal II which both come in around the $129 mark. The Dunn on the other hand retails at a slightly higher price point of $180 but still comes in lower than a pair of Maui Jim's or Paul Smith frame.

Now it has been a while since I have owned a pair of aviator styled shades but I did at one point own a pair of vintage Ray Bans that fit like they were tailored for my face. The fit was the first thing I noticed when trying on the Mosley Tribe Dunn's. The nose piece sat a little high on my bridge and as a result the fit was sacrificed and as a result a great deal of light was exposed to my eyes becoming no longer a practical accessory but more of a fashion only piece. Now I do like sunglasses that are visually appealing and maybe at times a little loud but I also expect them to serve their purpose. It is quite possible that the nose piece could be bent to accommodate a higher bridge. But I would hope that by forking out almost $200 I would be completely satisfied with the fit.

However there are two positions on this. On the flip spectrum I would imagine that (though a unisex frame) a majority of the Dunn consumer would be females who tend to have much smaller features than myself. As a result I would suspect that these frames are highly sought after in the female eyewear market.


Mosley Tribe took a very unique and modern approach to these retro-spec aviators that I would imagine serve their very function quite well on a smaller proportioned face. And if that is infact their target market, which I imagine it is, then these are a great entry level sunglass to compete with the Dolce and Gabbana's and the Prada's on the market. Overall I would give these a very high rating for you ladies out their on the hunt for some new frames and of course you guys with small-ass noses.

Next week we take a look at the Oakley Koston Frogskins and the Oakley Jawbone.