Jul
29
Best Sunglasses for Road Trips
Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
Summer is in full swing and the time for road tripping is before us. So, what are some of the essentials for a perfect, All American road trip? Well, you’ll want a great playlist with all the road trip classics, a cooler full of refreshing beverages, and a pair of sturdy and classic Ray Ban Aviators or another American-made brand.
Driving sunglasses are extremely important for long road trips. On the road, literally every moment your eyes are assaulted with flashing images, hazards, signs, other traffic and attractions. You need to stay calm, ready and attentive without ever getting sore eyes or strain due to sunlight. If you wear prescription lenses, you’ll need to have a pair of contact lenses to wear for long drives so you can take your sunglasses on and off, or else be prepared to switch between your prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses as the demands of the road change.
Some of the best sunglasses for road trips have the following features:
Gradient lenses that allow you to have darker UV lenses and UV protection towards the top for while you are watching the road , and less color in the lenses for when you are changing the radio or checking the map when more light is needed.
Light weight frames are also important. America is huge, and any road trip is bound to cover several hundred miles meaning you’ll be on the road for hours on end. You’ll want sunglasses that are comfortable and lightweight. For driving in a convertible, you’ll also want something form-fitting and preferably non-metallic as metal frames heat up against the skin quickly.
Jul
24
Benefits of Bug-Eye Sunglasses
Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
Some people, men especially, don’t understand the bug-eye sunglasses (otherwise known as Jackie O shades) look. Critics claim people wearing them look like anime characters, or resemble a fly. But once you’ve tried on a nice pair of Dior bug-eye model sunglasses you’ll be hooked because of all the benefits.
Wide visual field. Because the lenses are so large you get a wider range of vision. Smaller lenses and frames leave your periphery somewhat blocked, and hamper overall visual range. The bug eye sunglasses don’t do this, and with contact lenses in, or with prescription lenses the range and comfort far exceed smaller frames and lenses.
Blocks more light, especially peripheral light. Because the lenses are so large more light gets sent through the lenses and filters out UV rays that damage your skin and eyes. This gives you superior protection for your eyes, but also for the extremely sensitive skin around the eye—which is a prime spot for wrinkles. The number one way to decrease your wrinkles or prevent them is to wear adequate sunscreen or block the light with a hat or large sunglasses. This is especially true of women with crow’s feet. In addition, more peripheral light is blocked with bug eye sunglasses because they are often form-fitting. This causes decreased eye strain and skin damage, as well as a more comfortable and relaxed fit.
Distributes weight. Bug eye sunglasses evenly distribute the weight of the lenses and frames between your ears, the bridge of your nose, and to a smaller degree the surface area of your upper cheek. Sitting flush or nearly flush against your face means there is less resistance, less drag and less to balance. You’ll notice how light they feel (despite their large size) because of the even weight distribution.
Jul
19
Contact lenses, a guide from A to Z
Filed Under Authenticity, Brand Wave, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
Acuvue. They provide both disposable and long-wear contact lenses, though they are most well known for their durable and long-lasting 1-day Acuvue soft lenses. They are thin, soft and yet durable and if necessary can be worn overnight without causing pain.
Air Optix. The opposite of Acuvue, these lenses are more popular with people hoping to get more wear out of a single, long-term lens. High quality, affordable and with quite a following.
Bausch & Lomb. The special 2-week lenses are what I wear. I think it is the perfect mix between a disposable contact and a long-wear contact, and financial I like the breakdown.
Cooper Vision. The biomedics line is especially popular due to the UV ray protection in the contact lenses. The disposable lenses, although not recommended, can last more than the one day advertised.
Focus. The Dailies collection is extremely popular, and incredibly moisture rich. For people with constant dry eye or sensitivity to wind these are a great option.
O2 Optix. These lenses are unique in that they are designed to allow your eye to breathe. You know that sophicating feeling some contact lenses can leave, especially if you wear them every day. O2 Optix transmit five times more oxygen to the eye, and because of this are comfortable, and healthy.
Proclear. Their special PC technology lenses allow for moist eyes all day long. For folks with dry eye problems these lenses, like the Focus options, are extremely helpful in fighting dry eye and scratchiness caused from abrasions from heavier contacts.
Vertex. These are specifically designed for an active lifestyle so they combine great fit, moisture enhancing and breathability with a slightly larger contact to avoid slippage during athletic events.
Jul
12
The Best Fishing Sunglasses
Filed Under Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
Fishing is not only a skilled sport, but one that requires apt and focused attention and a whole lot of luck. Having spent the last month on a lake in Michigan fishing I can testify to the importance of high-quality equipment on the lake. Nothing is more important (other than rod and reel obviously) than high-quality sunglasses. A great pair of Ray Ban Aviators or sporty Oakley sunglasses will go a long way in prolonging your vision and helping you to see past waves covered in sunshine.
The outdoor sportsman is a different breed from the traditional athlete. Outdoorsmen don’t train in the traditional sense, they train in the philosophical sense as they pray for abundant fish. With good eyewear, you can ease up on the prayers a bit. Aviators cover a broad range of vision and because the ear pieces are a bit longer than normal they will stay on your face as you reach over the boat to net your fish. Another option are the Oakley sports sunglasses that make your vision a bit more enhanced and, in some cases with orange or yellow tint, increase contrast so you can see when a fish jumps or bubbles, or size up your beast as you reel it in.
Nike also makes great sports eyewear that can be fully utilized on the boat. But serious fishermen might make you the laughing stock of the community if you head up north to do you fishing in neon eyewear. Your best option is to avoid the overtly sporty gear and stick to traditional and versatile gear like Ray Bans or even your friendly Serengeti.
Jul
9
Ed Hardy Ski Goggles: Review
Filed Under Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
This year I got a pair of Ed Hardy women’s ski goggles from Smart Buy Glasses. Since I spent the winter in Whistler, BC, Canada, I thought I’d write up a review for the goggles that kept me safe on some of the world’s harshest slopes.
Vision: the snug fit of the Ed Hardy goggles made it possible for me to wear them all day long on the slopes with my Clearvision contacts in, little to no air penetrated the goggles and they did not fog up on the interior—which has happened to me before with rental goggles or generic cheaper equipment common on lesser slopes. Whistler is no place to be cheap. Since the mountain was fit for the Olympics, it is surely deserving of top-quality eyewear.
Tint: the Ed Hardy ski goggles come with an extra pair of lenses (pop in) that are orange tinted. My second day on the slopes of Whistler a storm rolled in that included all the worst conditions for skiing including fog, sleet, low-visibility and summit snow. The orange tinted lenses popped in quickly while I was on the ski lift, and increased contrast so I could see the minor changes on the slope fractions of a second faste, saving me countless wipeouts.
Fog: Anti moisture coatings (water proofing) made it possible for me to ski in the fog, sleet and snow that varied across the dual mountains of Whistler/Blackcomb.
Style: many snowboarders maintain that skiers are simply not as cool or chic as their snowboarding counterparts. This is downright ridiculous. Skiing takes a lot more skill, more muscle control and the end wow factor is a bit higher. Ed Hardy goggles on a skier should not be out of place, but sadly many skiers think they can’t wear cool gear while on skis. This is erroneous! Bring the cool back to skiing with Ed Hardy next winter, as this reviewer gives their goggles two thumbs up for style and performance-enhancing attributes.
Jul
7
Lady Gaga makes fashion unfashionable. This is just a fact. Prada and Dior are now being lumped in with the trashy and uninspired looks of our drunken celebrity elite. While she claims to be breaking down the stereotype of what the female body should represent and look like, I think she is simply trying to stay in the limelight as long as possible (at the heavy cost of making fashion seem even more ridiculous than the layman already thinks it is!).
And eyewear fashion is getting a particular look of scrutiny from the general public because of the appearance of strange eyewear phenomenon like the shutter shades made famous by our rapping friends, and the oversized goggle-like eyeglasses worn by movie villains like those in Ironman. Blind-aid sunglasses of Lady Gaga (in image) are simply not helping sunglasses popularity in America.
While movies like Sex in the City try to make fashion, well, fashionable, I think they are missing the mark on a massive scale and only serving to make fashion look ridiculous and elite. Fashion should be accessible to everyone, not just celebrities or socialites like Sara Jessica Parker and Lady Gaga. Fashion should create beauty, enhance the physical form and be available to everyone. With Target and Wal-Mart enlisting the help of designers to make ready-to-wear fashion that is high class and yet affordable, one would think a love for fashion was on the rise. On the contrary, with high fashion now available to the masses celebrities are forced to go more and more extreme in an attempt to stand out and keep their elite status. This is why you see Sara Jessica Parker running around New York looking like she escaped a Looney bin, and why Lady Gaga walks around with lace socks on her head.
Jun
30
For many people who are considering contact lenses for the first time, there is a lot to consider. First, will they be comfortable? Will the exam be painful? Will I be able to touch my own eye? Here are a few tips and information on switching to contact lenses that will help make the transition easier for you:
1.) The contact lenses eye exam is a bit different than your regular glasses exam. However, in most cases if you have had the eyeglasses exam in the last three months you can usually skip the separate contact lens exam and simply opt for a contact lens fitting. A fitting is a measurement the optometrist will take to determine the shape and curve of your eye as well as the size of your pupil. Knowing this can save you money you would have otherwise spent on a whole contact lens exam.
2.) If you are taking the entire contact lens exam, be prepared for a bit more involved process. Eyeglasses exams take into account the distance between your lenses and your eye. Contacts touch your eyeball, so that distance needs to be calculated out. Hence the different equipment for the exam, the higher cost (usually) of a contacts exam, and the necessity of a fitting.
3.) Before you leave your optometrist’s office you’ll want to make sure he or she walks you through the process of inserting and removing your contacts. Many people get home and find they cannot put the contacts in themselves. Don’t leave the office until you feel comfortable.
Jun
19
How to Ensure your Online Distributor is Credible
Filed Under Brand Wave, Inside SmartBuyGlasses | View Comments
Many people feel that buying eyewear online is a risky business. This just isn’t the case. In this day and age, buying online is as safe as buying in the store. Many online distributors even have return policies, and offer more competitive prices because they don’t have to pay for a store front, employees to stock the shelves or deal with customers. Shipping costs are quoted separately and with that addition you’ll usually still come in under the cost of in-store shopping.
There are a few easy ways to tell if your online distributor is credible. First, there are regional and national bodies designed to monitor online companies to ensure people are not making a profit by ripping of unwitting customers. Where sellers on eBay and Craigslist are often unmonitored, online stores are regulated and watched, this makes them a bit safer already than your mass market online stores.
Any online store should offer a phone number to contact customer service. You should be able to give them a call before you purchase anything to see how responsive they are and how willing they are to answer questions and concerns. Most good online companies are more than willing to chat with you, they want your continued patronage. If you find a company with no phone contact details (or online forms) then I’d shy away from it.
Finally, online stores should have customer testimonials and information on how the company helps the community. Look for a ‘community involvement’ page to see if your online distributor has a heart, and if they do you can always call and ensure they really are donating to these charities. If they are, then it’s a good sign your company is legitimate.
Jun
16
Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses for you that fits your lifestyle, your fashion sense and your look can be difficult, especially if you want to stay connected with popular trends. We’ll help you decide what style and brand is right for you, from Dior to Alexander McQueen, we have ideas that can help you find exactly what you’ve always wanted – the perfect pair of sunglasses.
Face Shape – this may be the single most important part of selecting a pair of sunglasses. Rather than latching on to the latest and greatest fads of the age, do a bit of homework on celebrities who have a face shape similar to yours and see what looks worked for them. They have professionals stocking their eyewear wardrobes, so take advantage of that expertise. Pay attention to shape, color, brand and especially design. This approach works for men and women alike, though some male celebrities should now be copied, like Vince Vaughn, for example, whose style represents a man who lives continuously with his mother.
Brand – if you don’t get any good ideas about a key brand for you from your celebrity look-alike, then consider what each brand represents. A brand like Prada, for example, has a very high-class appeal and may come across as pretentiously snooty if the rest of your wardrobe isn’t designed to match. On the other hand, a brand like Ray Ban has wide appeal, and says of the wearer, ‘hey, I’m laid back, but I’m also cool.’ Finally, a mid-way brand like Bolle or Serengeti says you are aware of fashion and live on the cusp without taking it too seriously.
Jun
12
The Hottest Fashions for Summer Cruising
Filed Under Blogroll, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments
Summer is in full blast and the cruse season has come upon us. By now you’ve done your springtime fat blasting workouts and have purchased a fresh wardrobe to impress all your cruising buddies with. Now its time for the crowning item in your new wardrobe that is equal to the new you—your very first pair of non-generic designer sunglasses by Jimmy Choo.
People who love fashion know the big names in the industry, Prada, Gucci and Dior are becoming mainstream and new designers are emerging to imbibe new life into the industry. In this day and age, when every outfit at Wal-Mart or Target has been assembled by a designer worthy of Paris Fashion Week, it is becoming extremely hard to tell the difference between a $20 shirt and a $200 shirt. Eyewear fashion seems to be the opposite. Fakes are easy to spot and big designer brands are often overly gaudy or tacky. The latest trend is for fashionable folk to cling to the slightly more obscure designers like Jimmy Choo as their favorites for accessories and big ticket items like dresses.
So, when you board the cruise ship this summer, whether it be Cunard or Carnival, you’ll want to look your best knowing full well in advance that the people on board will be able to tell the difference between your real and fake eyewear, but possibly not between your generic or brand name clothing. Spend your bucks before disembarking on a nifty pair of shades that will be versatile enough to go with every outfit.
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Recently Written
- Best Sunglasses for Road Trips
- Benefits of Bug-Eye Sunglasses
- Contact lenses, a guide from A to Z
- The Best Fishing Sunglasses
- Ed Hardy Ski Goggles: Review
- Celebrities who Ruin Fashion
- Contact Lenses and Eye Exams
- How to Ensure your Online Distributor is Credible
- Finding the Perfect Pair
- The Hottest Fashions for Summer Cruising
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