This is what fashion is.

-- Simon Jablon, designer

Do you have new sunglasses this summer?

Well, if you want to look stylish, they should be round. Think "Harry Potter" or swimming goggles.

I know this, not because I am stylish, but because The New York Times had a really long article about it.

Square glasses? That's so 2008.

Think round. (You heard it here first.)

SUMMER TRAVELS: It seems many of you are flashing your sunglasses on beach vacations this month.

Bob Divita , a recent retiree from Maryland -- now at Savannah Lakes Villages -- sends a postcard from Maryland's Ocean City, which he calls that state's "Myrtle Beach."

(Bob, I spent a weekend there back in 1976. You might be right.)

Sally C. Vavrasek , of Evans, is at another beach -- North Carolina's Outer Banks. She is "vacationing ... just relaxing on the sprawling beach and enjoying some time with my sisters and extended family from Pennsylvania."

A postcard featuring a huge plate of seafood comes from Fran Adams , of North Augusta, who writes: "You always have a hard time getting a card from Rhode Island ... you would love this place if you like seafood."

A big group sends a card from Hilton Head Island, S.C. Having a "great time" are: Judy Darby , Tripp , Pierce , Meredith , Stacy , Jeff , Courtlyn , Summer , Tim and Kelsey . "We love it here in Sea Pines."

The final entry of our Sunglasses Patrol comes from John Maffett , Donna Hadden , David and Leisa Hadden , who send a card from Hell in the Grand Caymans. They write: "We chaperoned the senior class of Thomas Jefferson Academy on a cruise to Grand Cayman. Now everyone can truthfully say the TJA seniors have gone to ...."

We get the picture, folks. Keep your sunglasses on.

The rest of you can keep your pens handy, and send me a postcard from your summer vacation. Just mail them to me at The Augusta Chronicle , P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928.

TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one from Seth Benson , of Millen, Ga.

A commercial property owner has three shops in a row, all for rent. The first prospective lessee shows up and says he wants to rent the shop on the left. The owner says, "Fine, what kind of shop do you have?"

The guy says, "A menswear shop."

The owner tells him he gets a free sign and asks what he wants on it.

"Menswear," says the man.

A second guy comes along and wants to rent the right hand shop. When asked, he says he wants "Menswear" on his sign. The owner tells him that the left-hand shop will be the same.

"No problem," says the man.

Finally a third man comes along to rent the middle shop. The owner is most concerned because this guy also has a menswear shop.

Rather wearily, the owner asks him what he wants on his sign.

The guy looks at the store on the right. He looks at the store on the left, then he smiles and says, "Entrance."

Reach Bill Kirby at (706) 823-3344 or bill.kirby@augustachronicle.com.