Sep

1

Switching Between Eyeglasses

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For someone with bad eyesight, few things are more annoying on a constant basis than having to switch between glasses. I’ll have a nice pair of Prada sunglasses, but I can only wear them on days that I wear my Accuvue contact lenses. I didn’t think to buy sunglasses that fit my prescription (though that is entirely possible and indeed easy to do). On days when I wear my glasses for long distances, I usually end up having to drive, which means I can’t wear my sunglasses. Inevitably, I end up with a headache from squinting.

I personally have not tried the transition lenses that were so popular five years ago. I have heard rumors that they transition nicely to more light, but once outside and you enter a building they take quite a bit of time to adjust to darkness. Its just like when you come in the house after a day in the sun and its takes your eyes a few moments to adjust, only the transition lenses take several minutes. For that reason alone the popularity of transition lenses has waned in recent years. I’m willing to give it a try considering the alternatives.

Another option I’ve considered is laser surgery, but of all the people who go into to take the test, a startling few are actually good candidates. Even if you do pass the candidacy test, there are countless problems that can arise, and you must redo the surgery after several years and at present technology can only have the surgery a handful of times. For me, having a laser shot into my eye socket isn’t an option.

Aug

1

The Hottest London Eyeglasses

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Sunglasses in London are not really a necessity, but that just makes fashionable eyeglass, like the designs by Prada, all the more important. You’ll spend half your time in the office, a quarter in the tube, and the other very precious quarter of your time inside your apartment. Really, your time spent outside is limited. However, you’ll still see countless beautiful men and women in designer sunglasses around London.

Ralph Lauren frameless glasses are especially popular in London. You’ll see loads of businessmen and women in suits on the tube with frameless RL eyeglasses. They are stark, business-like and extremely versatile. For any fall-back pair of glasses for business, dressing up or a night on the town you should really have a pair of RL eyeglasses.

White frames with very slight or gradient tinting on the lenses are popular with younger women in London as both sunglasses and corrective eyeglasses. You’ll see this style on fashionable young ladies, especially those trying hard to bring Asian fashions to the UK. You can find designs like this from Versace, Dior, and similar color schemes by Prada.

Finally, whatever your eyeglasses choices keep in mind you can always get contact lenses if you don’t feel like having metal and glass on your face. Contact lens technology has come a long way. If you were considering the option several years ago but decided against it, it may be time for a reevaluation.

Jul

19

Plastic, polycarbonate and glass lenses

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When ordering your designer eyeglasses or sunglasses, you’ll often have the option of choosing your lens material.

Glass. These lenses are perfect for all prescription ranges, from spheres to cylinders and in all prescription strengths. They are amazing because they are scratch resistant, they hold additional coatings firmly, and are chemically resistant. This makes them easier to clean, easy to care for, and longer-lasting than their plastic counterparts. On the down side, glass lenses can be heavy if your prescription is strong, and in some high-impact sports they simply are not as safe because they can shatter or crack if impacted. Additionally, the processing time is a bit longer for glass lenses, so you may have to allow extra time when ordering.

Plastic. These lenses are usually your cheapest option, they hold most coatings and fit basic prescriptions. If your prescription is extremely strong, plastic lenses may be too thick for you, and will definetrly detract from the overall look. The weight of plastic lenses can become burdensome with stronger prescriptions as well. On the down side, the weight and thickness of plastic is a drawback for anyone with strong or even medium prescriptions, and they can crack, scratch and be smeared up quickly and easily. This makes them a bit harder to care for than glass.

Polycarbonate. These lenses are best for the +/- 2.00 through +/- 6.00 prescription range and fit most types of prescriptions. They are great because they are the safest of the three options with minimal likelihood of shattering or cracking, meaning they are best for someone with a highly physical lifestyle. They are lightweight and thus ideal for children as well. The optics, however, are somewhat sacrificed for durability and safety, and thus are not ideal for people with extremely high cylinder prescriptions. Additionally, polycarbonate has been known to hold coatings less perfectly than glass or plastic, and this can lead to smearing, scratching or smudging once the anti coatings wear off.

Jul

14

How to avoid strain from prolonged use of eyewear

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Personally, I like to switch between my Baush & Lomb contact lenses, a pair of designer eyeglasses, and a classy pair of designer prescription sunglasses. These three options offer a variety depending on what I’m wearing, and switching between various options means my eyes never outgrow a single one. Eyes can become sore with prolonged contact lens use, so glasses are needed. Its hard to be outside in a windy or even dry environment in contacts as well, and wearing sunglasses over eyeglasses is a joke, so prescription sunglasses are a necessity. I find that my eyes feel more comfortable when I am constantly switching between all options.

My designer eyeglasses are not the cheap glasses women wear only at home when in their pajamas. I’m not Bridget Jones. My eyeglasses are Jimmy Choo, elegant and yet simple. I even prefer to wear them when I’m dressing to impress, because they are such a bold piece of art, and seem to accompany every item in my wardrobe very nicely.

My prescription sunglasses are a bit more casual, I adore the old fall back Ray Ban Aviator shades, but they just don’t look right on me. So, I opted for something that better suits my face shape, skin and hair color—the Carrera women’s line is simply classic, and has a sporty undertone that really makes them versatile but still classy.

Some people swear that switching between different pairs can increase eye strain. If this is your experience, you’ll need to make an appointment with your optometrist and have them recheck your eyes, as well as checking your contacts, glasses and sunglasses. They can tell the prescription by looking at your lenses, so they can tell you if one pair is slightly off. All three prescriptions need to be perfectly matched to your eye to decrease strain.

Feb

26

Do Tom Ford Ads Go Too Far?

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Tom Ford has taken serious heat over the years for their risky advertising strategies that mix nudity with fashion. While this concept isn’t new (Abercrombie has been doing it forever) it was taken to a whole new level by Tom Ford when they did a series of photo and video ads with same-gendered couples in the midst of passionate acts. Meanwhile, excesses of male nudity seem to make people more uncomfortable than seeing nearly nude female models. Call these double standards if you like, but Tom Ford continues to support this risky ad strategy as in the very least, it is causing a buzz, and as we all know—that’s free press!

Several of the ads feature entirely nude women or men in Tom Ford eyewear and other accessories. Meanwhile, one commercial that aired in 2009 depicted a man and women at their own separate apartments getting ready for a night no the town. They rush towards each other in downtown New York only the viewer is shocked when the man and woman run right past each other and into an embrace with a person of their own gender. This caused waves as two women kissing while two men made out in the background was a lot to handle for some people without any warning. Meanwhile, Tom Ford, who is himself homosexual, defends the ads as no different than heterosexual relationships used by companies to promote their products.


So did the ads go too far? Who cares, we love the drama and we still love Tom Ford’s creative and fresh new eyewear designs. We’re happy when they advertise, and we’re happy when they get free coverage in the press. We’re even happier it’s a bit fun to look at in addition to selling eyewear.

Dec

23

Why Darker Frames are In

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Darker frames, like those Billy Holly made famous when he punched the sunglasses lenses out of his Ray Ban Wayfarers, are in style for beautiful women. If you are like many other fashion followers you’ve probably been wondering why and where this trend started. Here is our opinion.

Ugly Betty was an instant hit. Many young women can empathize with Betty, an ambitious and kind young woman who tried to make it in the fashion world despite her apparent lack of fashion. Women empathize with her because most women feel awkward and unsure about fashion and feel judged by those who they perceive as fashion-forward.

Tina Fey makes the working woman cool again. With the success of 30 Rock, Tina Fey has stepped into the mainstream. Her sexy look is complemented by thick black sunglasses which help her look sophisticated and sexy, despite the jokes her on-stage coworkers harass her with. Women love Tina’s sense of humor and ability to cope with being a working woman in a man’s business.

Female politicians are coming to power. With the success and respect for politicians like Janet Reno, Hillary Clinton, Sara Palin, Madeline Albright, Angela Merkel, etc. women are idolizing a new kind of female heroine. These women get to powerful positions with intelligence, hard work and determination, and the recent surge in more conservative clothing and black frame glasses pays homage to their successes.

Women want to be taken seriously. Despite the successes of women in the last generation, many still feel their chances are hindered by their gender. Dressing and acting professionally helps advance the female cause, and the professional-looking librarian eyewear helps women look the part.

Dec

2

Tis the Season for Giving

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Christmas is neigh upon us as fall draws to a close and the leaves on the ground are covered in frost in the early morning hours. While many do not consider winter a fashionable season, Prada begs to differ. Winter fashion is one of the key markets for the designer apparel and eyewear industries, where winter specific items are as hot as the nights are cold.

Winter eyewear is especially popular with designer brands like Prada, Gucci, Dior and Versace, who have designed whole outfits around their winter eyewear. Without the leaves on the trees, there is nothing to stop the sun’s harsh rays, and the snow, ice, sleet and rain only act to reflect light into the eye all winter long. Instead of straining all season this year, hop into a classy pair of designer eyewear.

Winter specific sunglasses are usually plastic, as metal frames could freeze or become cold against the skin. Likewise, they are light weight, with smaller temple bars so that wearing a hat or ear muffs over the sunglasses will not put extra pressure on your ears.

Giving the gift of designer eyewear is a great way to help your loved ones stay fashionable, protected and chic, and to give a gift that they don’t toss in the closet and never use again. When buying sunglasses for a winter gift keep in mind your recipient’s hair and eye color, doing your best to match the sunglasses to the person. For darker skin, hair and eyes it is best to go light with eyewear, usually white, silver or bronze. With lighter skin, hair and eyes a safe bet is to go dark and simple or with a safe color like blue, brown or black. When in doubt about what style will fit your friend’s face, remember that with fashion even if it doesn’t suit 100% they will still rock the show because of the brand’s power and the power of the look.

So, in the words of Charles Dickens, “God bless us, everyone!” and happy shopping this holiday season!

Sep

29

Retro eyewear back in style in 2010

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uk0929.JPGFor those of you who pine for the olden days, retro fashion is coming back into style this fall with huge infusions of wood tones and sleek, 50’s lines and designs. Pull out your mama’s old Jackie O’s (or pick up a new pair by Dior) or your daddy’s old Ray Ban Wayfarers without lenses, and you’ll be set to go this season.

The retro looks that are coming back include thick black frames without lenses (or Ray Ban frames with prescription lenses rather than tinted lenses for the great outdoors). This Billy Holly look has returned to the fashion world with a twist, this time around its beautiful women in tight pony tails who are donning the Billy Holly Wayfarers without lenses. Don’t believe me? Check out Dior’s new ad campaign featuring just such fashion. While the cheaper option would be to reuse your dad’s old frames, the more classy route would be to buy the newer, female-sized Dior look-alike frames.

Ray Ban has brought back the Clubmaster design, and the retro look is all the rage along the California coast. Get your modern Clubmaster in any bright color for a new remix of a traditional look. For optimal retroness (if I may coin that word) pair your clubmasters with a high-tops and tight Levi’s for a true flash back to the past.

While the retro look is sure to be a short-lived fashion trend in 2010, it is a cyclical look that returns every few season, so an investment in a pair of retro shades or eyeglasses can be considered a long-term investment when one considers the trend will return often in one’s lifetime.

Aug

7

Which Fashion Label has the Best Logo

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Clever and creative marketing makes all the difference in the fashion industry, especially the eyewear industry where some of Hollywood’s biggest stars are recruited as models for the fashionable frames. From Versace to Persol and Fendi, only one can claim the title of the designer eyewear best logo. uk0807_n.JPG Several of the designer logos are overly simple and a bit bland. Prada, for example, is simply a white background with the word Prada written on it. Perhaps they think the weight of their designs does not warrant over creativity. I disagree. Versace, on the other hand, has created a logo that is so intricate and complex that it is not easily recreated and is too intricate to weave into normal eyewear designs as a trademark. Gucci, with the simple name and the circular logo that is so recognizable, has managed to find the best possible way to combine simplicity with a bit of creativity to end up with a logo that is truly unique and versatile.

Police sunglasses, though unique and present a wide range of styles and designs, has a logo that looks like copyright infringement on Emporio Armani’s black striped eagle. Both designs are great, but the fact that the eyewear industry is relatively small means that one of them should consider hiring a new marketing manager.

In the realm of sports eyewear, no one has a logo quite as recognizable as Nike, though adidas is a close second. Oakley’s ripple-water O is easily recognizable and presents a sharp and modern look.

All things considered, we think Gucci takes the cake on best logo design for fashionable eyewear.

Jul

19

Glasses for the Blue Eyed Fashion Fiend

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Brown-eyes beauties have it easy when it comes to fashionable frames while the blue-eyes darlings have several things to consider when choosing colorful and fashionable frames. Prada, for example, is a design best suited for brunettes with dark features and high cheek bones. While Prada on a fair skinned person is common, especially in Hollywood where everyone idolizes fashion, it is not recommended. Prada is a dark brand that favors thick lines, bold textures and seemingly daunting shapes. It takes a very strong face to hold Prada shades, and most blondes do not have the features such bold designs require.

For blue eyed babes, the best bet is to show off your peepers with frames that follow your cheekbone line and sit, nearly invisibly, on your face. Brunettes may have it easy, but blondes still have more fun. Here are some fun alternatives to the ‘back in black’ Prada trends that have woefully swept the nation.

Dior sunglasses offer something unique in the fashion world– gradient tinting that isn’t tacky. For blondes, this is the manna from fashion heaven. With light eyes, light hair and light skin, your features demand subtle color and soft lines, not dark and harsh frames. Dior offers thin metal frames, usually very appealing on a blonde, as well as colored, gradient tinting to extenuate your eye color and bring out the highlights in your hair.

Like Dior, D&G offers gradient tinted lenses and lightweight, metal frames. Choose the design and model that fits your cheek and jaw line and looks natural on your face rather than overbearing. Remember that fashion trends are not for everyone, if you are blonde then pass on Prada this season. This year, Prada has proven that too much of a good thing can be bad!

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