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.

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

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.

May

20

Lady Gaga’s Fashion and Fame

Filed Under Brand Wave, Celebrity Watch, Designer Sunglasses | View Comments

us0520.JPGSome people think Lady Gaga has take fashion too far, too fast. After looking at the ridiculous outfits online in bulk, I have to agree. While she can look fashionable and hot (like in the Carrera sunglasses in the image here) she seems to miss the mark when she dresses up entirely in Kermit the Frog corpses and goes out in public.

Her sense of fashion may be completely backward, but she does manage to use eyewear in a completely creative way. She isn’t trying to make her face look the most attractive it possibly can. Instead she is playing the female Willy Wonka and trying to make herself look as unique (and odd?) as possible. Check her out in these otherwise normal Tom Ford, rounded bronze sunglasses. The sunglasses would look amazing on any actress, take Angelina Jolie for example. Yet Lady Gaga uses them to give herself an almost alien look, a wide-eyed mechanical appearance that is neither sexy nor hip. While she may see the fashion of the future and try to introduce it now, we’re thinking she’s from a different planet!

us0520_2.JPGFinally, Lady Gaga’s embarrassing clothing choice while at the Grammys and the Oscars may draw attention to her, it leaves many thinking that she is trying to distract viewer’s attention from other things. Without the glamorous makeup and ridiculous clothing would Lady Gaga stand a chance in Hollywood? Her lyrics and music are only somewhat inventive, but she really stands out in her music videos and daily clothing choices. Without that, she really isn’t much different from other female pop stars!

May

8

Modern Colors and Designs for Modern People

Filed Under Brand Wave | View Comments


In the world of fashion and design, nothing is more important than innovation. Without constant change and movement, the industry would die. The evolution of design is not so much in a straight line as it is in a concentric array of circles. Bell bottoms, for example, were in fashion in my parent’s youth, then after a 30 year break they were back in style again briefly in mine. In the world of high fashion, cyclical discoveries are common, but we’re more interested in true innovation, like the now famous shudder sunglasses design that Prada has since perfected.

And Prada is no wimp on the innovation scene. Their creativity in shoes is unparalleled (although Alexander McQueen has done a nice job bending the laws of anatomy to fit décor). Prada’s sunglasses often get the reputation of being all black, simple and elegant. While there is this element to the Prada design house, you can also find some of their more daring and bold innovations, as well as some flops that will hardly sell. But even the loser designs help widdle away what is not fashionable to reveal what it.

Alexander McQueen’s modern designs are impeccable. From shoes to his biggest splash in eyewear. If you really want to look modern, and yet as creative as possible, then Alexander McQueen is undoubtedly the designer for you. Some visions of the future portray us in skin-tight matching suits, Alexander McQueen goes against the idea of fashion as conformity and opens up the idea of a future as unique as our rainbow of personalities.

Apr

14

Spy Snowboarding Equipment wins at the 2010 Burton US Open

Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses | View Comments


Spy eyewear has long been the envy of every racer sponsored by a company or brand other than Spy. On the slopes and half pipes across the globe, serious borders eye Spy equipment as the best in the field, not only for their classy attributes, but for the sleek designs that exemplify the snowboarding spirit. At the 2010 Burton US Open, Spy was ever-present, with two of the three placing competitors as Spy brand supporters.

Louie Vito and Louri Podladtchikov placed second and third, consecutively at the open, both have been on nearly every podium in 2010, including the European X Games a mere week before the US open. Louie took home the silver by starting with an impressive front side double cork 1080, then right into a huge cab double cork 1080, front side double 900, back side 900 and into a front side 1260 to finish of a nearly perfect run. Louri impressed the judges with his cab double cork 1080, into a front side corked 540, then dropping the hammer with his double Mc twist 1260 right into a front side 1080. Fans went crazy after both runs, and Spy eyewear were there to help these professional snowboarding greats onto the podium yet again.

Spy eyewear area great both on and off the pipe, the edgy black designs of their eyeglasses mean they are a favorite in the clubs and recording studios of Seattle, as well as on the slopes in Europe. The sunglasses designs are as impressive as any male performer could hope, with edgy tough designs that don’t just emulate women’s eyewear fashion.

Mar

16

35 Reasons to Love Ray Ban Sunglasses

Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses | View Comments

Ray Ban Sunglasses are so widely loved and adored by people from all walks of life and all professions, that it is hardly surprising that they have the renowned and fame that they enjoy today. Here is a list of the top 35 reasons you should love Ray Ban Sunglasses:


1. A trusted brand
2. Designer look
3. Vince Vaughn wears them
4. They go with everything
5. High-quality materials
6. Non-pretentious look
7. Great gradient tinting option
8. Avril Lavigne wears them
9. All-American look and feal
10. Wayfarers are always in style
11. Angelina Jolie wears them
12. The Clubmaster design is always chic
13. Long lasting life and durability
14. Aviators designed for pilots
15. Wonderful dark tinting option
16. Lindsey Lohan loves them
17. Wayfarers are the most popular cinematic eyewear
18. Athletes adore them
19. Skaters and snowboarders wear nothing else
20. Wayfarers come in various colors and designs
21. Maverick, from Top Gun, wore them
22. Made in America
23. Most widely sold sunglasses in history
24. Clubmaster design recently revamped
25. The Blues Brothers wore Ray Ban
26. Wayfarers are a favorite of Hollywood starlets
27. Polarized lenses
28. President Obama wears them
29. Audrey Hepburn wore them in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
30. Made famous in California
31. Owned by Luxottica, a trusted eyewear company
32. Members of U2 wear them
33. They made ‘Risky Business’ a hit
34. Elvis Costello loves them
35. They keep getting better!

Mar

3

2010 Winter Olympics Fashion

Filed Under Brand Wave, Designer Sunglasses | View Comments


This year there was added pressure to our already stressed athletes. With blinding snow and fog storms atop Whistler Mountain, goggle choice was an incredibly important aspect of these athletes make it or break it events. Star athletes like Lindsey and Shaun choose Oakley goggles, and for a reason. Dark tinted or orange tinted goggle lenses increase contrast, for these athletes that means precious fractions of a second more to respond to changes in the course before them, like tiny ripples in the snow or ice. In events where speed is important and reaction times have to be milliseconds fast, the tint of the goggles matters more than you can imagine.

Oakley creates high quality, top-of-the-line goggles that even the pros don’t argue with. Shaun White is even working with Oakley on a line of goggles with special designs to hit the market soon that are specific for snowboarders rather than skiers. Meanwhile, Lindsey’s Oakley goggles helped her see upcoming bumps in the snow on her snowboarding runs.

While performing at the top of one’s game is the goal at the Olympics, the dream can’t come true for everyone. Sadly, Lindsey Jacobellis broke American hearts when she floundered out of the snowboarding downhill race mere seconds into it. All bets were on the young, blonde American to bring home the gold, something she only narrowly missed 4 years ago. But with US hearts broken by the lady’s misfortune, we’re left wondering a bit about how amazing our stars looked both on and off the slopes. Is it just me, or are this year’s Olympians incredibly fashionable, sexy and personable? For people who spend much of their time secluded in training centers around the globe, this year’s Olympians like Lindsey Jacobellis, Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn are just too adorable to look away from!

Next Page →