"Between a quarter and a third of Los Angeles's land area is now monopolized by the automobile and its needs-by freeways, highways, garages, gas stations, car lots, parking lots. And all of it is blanketed with anonymity and foul air." - Alistair Cooke

Normally, when I hear the word ‘Freeway’, my mind is inexorably drawn towards thoughts of the canine companion of Jonathan and Jennifer (aka ‘The Harts’ of Hart to Hart fame). A leap of association that has less to do with the machinations of the human mind than an unhealthy obsession with 80’s television.

But now thanks to Alex Israel, an artist and writer living in Los Angeles (and the founder of Freeway Eyewear), my brain can make new mental leaps in the direction of sunglasses. Launched this Spring, Freeway’s styles are named after the roadways in and around Los Angeles; allowing the wearer to choose from 1–Pacific Coast Highway, 10–Santa Monica Freeway, Interstate 15, 101–King's Highway (or El Camino Real), 110–Harbor Freeway, or 405–San Diego Freeway.

In Mr. Israel’s words, these glasses "are made for international shipping magnates, lithe gamines, American gigolos, blonde bombshells, ladies-who-lunch, country-club tennis pros, martyred grunge rockers, post-modern architects, Bat-Mitzvah tutors, out-of-work actors, psychic friends and you; Seeing is believing."

I am, sadly, neither a lithe gamine nor a lady who lunches on anything more exciting (in the general run of things) than a sandwich; none of which is going to stop me from agonizing over which of these particular paths I wish to take.