Jun

30

Contact Lenses and Eye Exams

Filed Under Eyewear Knowledge, Inside SmartBuyGlasses | View Comments


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

Filed Under Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge | View Comments


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.

Jun

8

Top Five Coolest Eyewear for Summer

Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments


If you’re looking for the hottest fashions for summer, than look no further than the end of your nose. More then every before, eyewear fashion has been absorbed into pop culture as the key element of any wardrobe. From office attire to a sporting event—no outfit should go without a hot pair of eyewear. We’re here to help you find the most hip pair of eyewear for your summer planning.

1.) Fun in the Sun. For beach, picnic or athletic outings, nothing says fun more than the traditional Ray Ban Wayfarer. This classic look comes in many bold and pastel colors, and complements almost any face shape. In addition, you wont have to be stressing about how you look in these shades because they are universally cool.

2.) Office chic. For the office, there is no reason to slink on style or personality. Fun shades like those from Jimmy Choo are a perfect way to make a statement without going overboard on fashion or under representative of your personality and style.

3.) Sporty fun. For you athletic activities, you’ll want eyewear that compliments your lifestyle as well as keeps you stylish and lightweight. Check out Bolle’s female summer collection, or Serengeti’s men’s athletic wear. Both offer athletic options without looking cliché.

4.) Girl’s Night. For a nigh on the town, you’ll want to dress to impress without looking overly done up. This is a careful balancing act, and a tightrope dance many fail! This may be the best time to try out contact lenses like ClearVue, with new innovations that make them even lighter and more breathable then every before, you’ll find something that works for your.

5.) Working wear. For most other daily activities, from grocery shopping to cleaning house, you’ll want eyewear that stay firmly in place, offer comfort and form fit, and don’t make wearing eyewear difficult. Try Ralph Laruen’s simple collection of designer eyewear that keep you looking nice, but are also practical for daily use.

Jun

5

Best Celebrity Eyewear Looks

Filed Under Blogroll, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments


Lindsey Lohan looks amazing in these Persol sunglasses. For a young woman whose life seems forever in turmoil her fashion sense stays amazingly on track. While I’m not 100% crazy about the strange nose piece on these Persol sunglasses, she manages to pull it off and keep it looking edgy without having the oddities in the design dominate her features.

Celebrity eyewear fashion is a designer category in its own right. With hip singers sporting eyewear better suited for window dressings, like Rhianna’s shutter shades, you just never know what you’ll get. Elton John, whose Oliver People-like round shades in the UK, and other strange designs throughout his career really made it possible for stars to experiment with eyewear fashion.

Angelina Jolie and her hubby Brad Pitt are renown for their love of amazingly adventurous and staple eyewear. They both love the traditional Ray Ban Aviator look—a look that really works for them despite how hard it can be to pull off. For celebrity status, it doesn’t get much higher than this duo, and their fashion sense hints and their calm and casual assent into lasting stardom. Their adventurous clothing (like Brad’s biker clothes and edgy shades and Angelina’s explorer-like, Laura Croft look and Aviators) keeps people interested, intrigued and excited about their personal lives as well as their lives on the silver screen.

If you want to get the celebrity edgy look, you’ll have to step slightly outside your comfort zone and create a persona you hope to exemplify. By doing this, and sticking to it (in the fashion sense) you’ll be able to create a winning wardrobe complete with the right eyewear, clothes and other accessories to help you start living the part.

Jun

1

High Fashion for Daily Life

Filed Under Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear Knowledge, Fun with Eyewear | View Comments


Demi Moore looks fantastic in these Louis Vuitton – Impulsion sunglasses (image), and this is just one example of high fashion for a reasonable cost. If you want to live in the designer world you have to dress the part, and designer eyewear is the best way to make a fast impression. She looks fantastic!

Though Demi Moore may be a bit older (sorry, Ashton!) she does a lot for her features by wearing designs that are more youthful and lively than her actual age. Soft waves in her hair, excesses of blush and daring, retro-modern shades all contribute to giving Moore a younger look. This is easily to mimic and quickly see drastic results that will amaze you.


Paris Hilton isn’t fighting the advances of old age, but she had made a living out of simply wearing high fashion and acting like a fool. Some say she gives fashion a bad name, but ultimately she would not be noteworthy at all without high fashion, and we think that speaks volumes about the power of fashion! She looks stunning in the soft, youthful waves and oversized Miu Miu sunglasses.

Literally the fastest way to make your look more designer is to slap on a pair of amazing sunglasses and a revamping of your hairdo. Soft waves are in style this spring, and oversized sunglasses will be in style for quite a while. Its important to find sunglasses that fit your face and to only get the oversized shades if they work for your features!