Archive for the ‘Glasses Fashion’ Category

Think Skin

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Clients often ask us for direction when it comes to what’s hot in frame fashion. Most people don’t want to wear something that’s dull and boring, if they’re going to have to wear glasses they want something they feel good in. Colour is everywhere in specs at the moment, with plastics and metals in a stunning array of rainbow hues. The key to choosing the right colour is to pay attention to your skin tone, because a frame that goes with you will flatter your natural good looks and make people notice you, not your specs.

If you’re an English Rose, with pale skin that has cool blue undertones, then you can take a dramatic frame in strong, clear, bright colours. Blue-red, black, silver, cold purple will all make your eyes glitter and will draw attention away from fine wrinkles on your delicate skin.

If your skin is fair but warm, with a Californian sun-kissed gleam, you need honey, gold and butterscotch brown tones to add a golden glow and set your skin ablaze with Autumn colouring. Reds for you should veer more towards the orange end of the spectrum. If you want something neutral then look for a tan brown or a khaki green. These colours won’t wear you – people will focus on your eyes, not the frame.

If you have a dark or tanned complexion you can take strong colours that will stand out against your sultry skin. Black and white will be a knockout, warm orange and lime will zing and make the whites of your eyes shine out. Hot orange-toned-red and fuchsia pink will pop and look incredible on delicious dark skin.

Olive skin, which is warm in tone, can take all those subtle tones that pale skins can’t. Your red should be yellow based, but you look stunning in all tone of khaki, rich brown and darker shades of the Autumn palette. You’ve probably got dark eyes, and you’ll know you’ve found the perfect colour because gold tones in your eyes will be enhanced.

When you’re trying new frames, look at yourself in natural daylight, and girls, try them with and without make up so you can examine your skin tone. If you have a cool complexion try them when you’re wearing black or white, warm complexions should try them with cream or brown. These basic background colours will allow you to focus on the effect on your face. Are your eyes alight? Do your teeth look white? Is it highlighting shimmers in your eyes or hair? When you find the one, your whole face will come into sharp focus, and not just through your shining new lenses!

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In Recovery

Monday, June 14th, 2010

With our new Government finding their feet and stores such as Boots recording record profits, it would seem that we’re making tentative steps towards believing in a recovery. Are we seeing signs of this in the Optical market, and is it affecting what we sell?

Several big names have sounded optimistic about their prospects through 2010, all backed up by their sales records for the first quarter of the year. One of the world’s biggest luxury frame manufacturers reported a return to normal sales figures for 2010, with signs of growth for the upcoming months. Ultralase, who perform Laser surgery for vision correction were 25% up on consultation bookings at the beginning of the year, and obviously these are two key areas where luxuries, not necessities are showing marked signs of improvement.

Last year manufacturers were being cautious about new product, scaling down new collections and showing a more austere approach to design. Ostentatious bling was replaced by more subtle styles, and there was a retro feel to many new styles which hinted at a return to classics that would stand the test of time. Disposable, faddy fashion was gone, in favor of styles that would stick around.

Designer fashion held back a little too, with showy logos replaced by discreet styling and detail. To be taken seriously in the workplace clients wanted smart specs with a grown up attitude. Some even ordered frames with no power lenses to add to their studious image! Some contact lens patients switched back to specs in an effort to lower costs.

So as 2010 progresses, we see some of these changes going into reverse as we go into recovery. The High Street shopper is gradually losing their caution and sales of sunnies, contact lenses, and luxury brands are on the increase. Despite news of Government cuts and the cloud of the deficit hanging over us, we’re gradually returning to our shopping habits within the Optical sector.

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All that Glitters

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Are you looking for a go anywhere, always chic, simple frame? If the bold charms of coloured plastic are just not you, then you may wish to opt for the shiny and chic good looks of classic metal.

Metal has the advantage of being neutral, smart, slim and relatively inconspicuous on the face. The fully adjustable nose pads give comfort and stability, and the whole frame can be contoured to fit you perfectly. The pads sit the frame away from the cheeks so they are less likely to slip down, and mist up!

Your first decision is shiny or matt – shiny is bright and smart, but shows up more against the skin. Matt is chic and understated, and often darker colours are calmed down with a matt finish. Matt is a little trendier at the moment, and is often used to add style to chunky metals. Some frames of course mix shiny with matt, to enhance trims and spotlight detail.

Colour is important with metal as decoration is often minimal on slim rims and sides. There are always the classic choices of gold or silver, but approach with caution! Silver can be very harsh in too white a shade, a sterling silver colour for instance is not flattering on most complexions. If you like gold then a cool tone is best, not a bright yellow gold which does not look good on many types of skin.

For men the choice usually boils down to the always popular grey gunmetal, black or bronze. These are classic, neutral, and always go with anything. Just find the shade for you. If you want a dark colour matt black is always on trend. Or matching up to your eye colour is flattering and enhances your natural good looks! Blue eyes in navy frame are stunning. For women, pretty shades of mauve and raspberry are nice on cool complexions, while cold blue and grey will calm red faces. Metal is marvellous in the right shade and finish, so take the time to take a close look!

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The Boys from the Girls

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

While checking our brand new frame stock this week, an interesting point for discussion came up in our team. In the case of frames, what makes a fashion or a style particularly suitable for men or for women? Where do you draw the line?

Now obviously there are many frames that men would not be seen dead in – anything coloured, twiddly, splattered with bling, bedecked with roses or butterflies etc etc. These are the easy ones. For girls however the possibilities are endless. How cute did Lilly Allen look in her massive boys geek frame? How chic is Anne Robinson in her cool rectangular metal? Yet both of these are styles that are traditionally worn by men.  For girls, the only boundary is how chunky they want to go, as it makes the face even more feminine to wear a big boys’ frame.

Of course some men have a penchant for the flamboyant, and we applaud you, brave boys who want bright red or green, or who love diamonds and want some glitter on their glasses. David Beckham is welcome to call us any time!! Most however insist that specs are totally functional and they don’t want to get involved in this girly fashion nonsense. They want simple, discreet specs, and if you have a small face, something plain from the women’s section might be the answer.

Unisex styles were all the rage a few years ago, but then as frames got bolder this very plain shape and style fell out of favour. Thicker sides cried out for decoration, and brightly coloured plastics overtook spindly metals in the fashion stakes. Rimless too tapped into the unisex look, but these are less popular over the past couple of years.

So the rule is not be ruled by convention, and if you like a frame don’t worry about the category it’s been fitted into. Embrace your masculine or feminine side and let your heart rule your head!

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Investment Dressing

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Fashions come and go in every aspect of our lives, and love them or loathe them your glasses are as much a part of your look as your hair, clothes and accessories. Obviously your specs have to fit that look, and if you’re a classic dresser, and don’t appreciate constantly changing, have a think about the long term decision of investment buying in frames that never go out of style…..

For Women – Although this is the category where you can never be totally fashion proof, there’s always a neat metal in any Opticians collection. Gold is always around, in a size that fits your face without going oversized or minimally trendy. Simple silver is always an option too. Steer clear of decoration for true simplicity, and avoid trend setting plastic sides or twiddly bits. A Fifties type plastic in solid brown or black will always be sexy, functional, and in style. For something a little different but always around, a classic cat’s eye shape always hovers on the edge of cutting edge!

For Men – In a plastic frame it’s the Michael Caine heavy square shape, wildly on trend for hot young things, classic for the older gentleman! Useful in tortoiseshell or the most solid black. Steer clear of trendy by avoiding very chunky sides or wild coloured linings.  In metal there’s the simple dark silver or gold square frame, or an Aviator. The latter works well in gold, for a Seventies vibe that never seems to want to go away.

For Sunglasses – There are years when sunnies just don’t seem to alter at all, and shapes like the classic Jackie O round plastic have been around since before the Beatles! Some classic Rayban styles have been around for over fifty years too, without showing signs of going away. The gold Aviator with a green or grey lens, and the Blues Brothers Wayfarer shape are perennial favourites. These shapes and colour combinations have not changed since they first hit the scene. And if you’ve got any doubts about classics, just remember, if it’s good enough for Kate Moss, it’s definitely good enough for you!

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Out With the Old

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

As we welcome in David Cameron and wave goodbye to poor old Gordon, the country is heaving a sigh of relief that all that nonsense is sorted and we can get on with our lives. As the Tories bring change from New Labour, what else should we be moving on from?

Bifocals – anybody out there still wearing them? What are you thinking? Are you still listening to cassette tapes and using a slide rule too?! Now that so many of us use computers and live pretty dynamic lifestyles, it’s a wonder that bifocals have any place today. Switch to a varifocal – it lets you see everything without changing specs, it looks good, and you have computer distance sight too.

Glass Lenses – there are still some clients who believe that glass lenses give better sight than plastic. Optically however both materials are now just as good. Glass isn’t as safe as plastic, and is heavy. It’s useful if you work in a very dusty atmosphere and your lenses scratch really easily, but otherwise there’s no advantage to using it and it’s not really the safest option to wear bits of glass on your face!

Rimless Frames – dare we say it?! This fashion trend went out when Sven left the England squad. There are plenty of ultra lightweight groovy frames out there that mean you don’t have to resort to paying a fortune for flimsy bits of metal that hold your lenses in place. And if you got some in the hope that you’d look like you’re not wearing spex, we have some news for you – you still do!

Tiny Frames – big is beautiful again folks, and although we’re not heading back to the halcyon days of the Deirdre Barlow, the size is creeping back up. As lenses are lightweight nowadays and technology moves on, specs are still light weight even if they’re big, which is why the larger trend will be still be comfortable. So stop peering around and over the top of teeny little frames, and remember that size really does matter!

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Celeb Watch for the New Government 2010!

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Greetings Celeb watchers, hope you’re all fluffing up those pussy cat bows and chic court shoes now we’re all grown up, posh and Tory for summer. A new PM, more importantly a new PM’s wife to keep an eye on, and sunshine on the way. What more could we want? Some new stuff of course, so who are we watching this week?

Sarah Jessica Parker – can we wait any longer for SATC 2? Hurry back Mr Big! SJP rocking a funky look in a very cool huge shield sunnie. Always ahead of a trend SJP, Carrie would be proud!

Julia Roberts – Adorable twins – check. Huge beaming smile – check. Tres chic and always on trend gold metal Aviator – check. What’s not to like?! Always stay sunny Julia!

Halle Berry – knock out bod and legs to die for, but what’s this – are mirror shades back in fashion? They actually look pretty amazing on the luscious Ms Berry, but then what wouldn’t?

Sandra Bullock – The Rom-com Queen looking a bit of a fashion Princess in a fabulous graduated tint that sets off her killer cheekbones. Sandra has quietly stunning looks and she pulls off this severe style with no problem.

N.B. note to Cheryl Cole, glad to see you’re out and about having fun, but please have a chat with Will.i.am about those blue and yellow diving mask specs he’s wearing. When Hugh Grant wore them to the cinema in Notting Hill that was funny, but the joke’s as old and grey as Hugh now…..

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Chic Means Geek!

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Pay attention boys – you may have been thinking about a change of style, and the Geek frame has been around for a while and is showing no signs of going away. New collections from the likes of Paul Smith, Giorgio Armani and Gucci are all still full of hunky chunky solid plastic frames, and they’re getting bigger all the time. So if you’re taking the style plunge, how can you make the transition as easy as possible?

On the whole, boys are a little less adventurous than girls in changing their look. They’re not bombarded with images of products all the time; they don’t read quite as many fashion mags as girls. Men often grab the first thing they see, safe in the comfort zone of t shirts and jeans identical to the ten pairs they already have at home. So going for new specs can be a traumatic experience, and girls, you need to support your men folk with helpful advice and don’t giggle when they try something new! (Just steer them gently in the right direction – that is the direction you want them to take!)

One of the problems with going for a new look in glasses is that you’ve been used to the faithful old pair, and new frames make you look totally different. So take it in easy stages. If you’ve been wearing a metal frame, start thinking about slightly thicker frames. Don’t go from rimless to solid black plastic in one giant leap! Think about new materials but in the same shape or colour as your old frame, and evolve slowly from there. Try brown before you go for black, or look for a plastic that’s dark across the top but clear at the bottom.

Have a go with our try-before-you-buy offer at TheInternetGlassesCompany, which lets you put frames on in the comfort of your own home without anybody laughing! Canvass a few opinions only when you feel comfortable in your new look. When you hit on the perfect style you’ll wonder why it took you so long and you’ll never be seen dead in your old pair!

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Learning to Love my Specs

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

I’ve been wearing glasses for about twenty years now, since my mid-teens. This is probably the worst time in a person’s entire life-span to become a speccy four eyes, just when every single cell of your body is causing you dread and angst! At least the glasses gave me something tangible to focus (!) my immense hatred on!

I could quite cheerfully have punched the optician when he cheerfully announced that my borderline prescription had tipped over into full blown short sightedness, and I needed glasses. The sulks over the next few weeks were immense! I hid them at the bottom of my rucksack and only dragged them out if my life depended on it. Quite often it really did, as I narrowly missed getting hit by cyclists and small children and wandered into roads thinking I was still on the pavement.

In my twenties I got contact lenses, and the world was changed into 3D and a landscape with birds flying, buildings with bricks etc. The real shock has been the last couple of years, when I’ve gradually drifted back into wearing specs. This new love affair started when I saw a Marc Jacobs frame and was instantly smitten. It was shiny black with sexy curvy sides, and with my chunky fringe and power bob I was transformed into an intellectual and serious force to be reckoned with. I’ve now become addicted to spex, with ten pairs in an array of colours doing all the work for me when it comes to accessorising.

I wish I’d done it years ago, as lenses were never perfectly comfortable on me and I was always smudging my makeup and fiddling with my eyes. So I’ve made peace with my myopia and at least I have an excuse to splurge on Designer fashion!

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Celeb Watch May Day 2010

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

The temperature has been rising Celeb watchers, (and not just when we saw those shots of Matt Smith with his shirt off!) Spring is well and truly underway and our thoughts turn to festival season and summer hols. The ash cloud has vanished into thin air, flights are flying, and we’re getting geared up for summer…….what are you waiting for Celeb fans? Get star spotting then get shopping……

Kate Bosworth – the coolest hippie chick ever, check out the Californian sun bleached blonde locks, toning effortlessly with a chic and shiny gold metal Aviator.

Kate Bosworth in Gold Aviators

Kate Bosworth in Gold Aviators

Kelly Osbourne – rocking a Fifties vibe, in cute retro round eyes, the smallest sunnie we’ve seen this season. Go set those trends Kelly!

Matt Smith – you lucky lucky girl Daisy Lowe, snagging the hottest young Doctor in town. Matt’s going for the Gold Aviator too; an excellent choice to soften chiselled features and look cool. Go Doctor – you can impress us with your sonic screwdriver any time…..

Gwen Stefani – always one to watch. A huge black sunnie, the perfect contrast to her ice blonde hair and alabaster skin. Nice choice of a chopped off shape to flatter her tiny face.

No time to lose Celeb Watchers, gotta hit those shops and get kitted out for steamy nights and sun scorched days. Whose look to channel? Much easier than making a decision on the election – Kelly, Gwen, Kate……..it’s best not to offend and we can go for all three…..

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