Posts Tagged ‘plastic frame’

Crystal Clear!

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

If you’re a bit confused about which colour is the new black, or if you’re a cool or a warm colouring, then you may like to try a new neutral this season, in a piece of eyewear that flatter every face, and will go with absolutely everything! So what is this wonder colour, we hear you cry?! Crystal of course, for sparkle, cool chic, and go everywhere simplicity.

Crystal has been around for many years, as those of us who remember the good old NHS specs will remember! It’s at its best in clear, sharp, white tones of transparency, and very cool fading into other colours, like smoky grey or rosy pink. Adding other tones gives you a little warmth if you’re not sure about the stark icy effect.

It’s also good with a patterned layer inlaid in it, retaining the clear finish with a touch of interest. Or look for frames with added sparkle, in the form of stones or metal decoration.

For the boys crystal works well as an accent colour on a plastic frame. The traditional Geek look of heavy plastic frames fading to clear at the lower rim is always in fashion, and lightens the look of a solid frame. Black, grey or tortoiseshell brown is perfect fading to clear.

A word of warning however, if you smoke, steer clear of clear! It will discolour to yellow, so either give up the evil weed or be prepared to have frames that change colour. If you dye your hair you may find that crystal sides will discolour behind the ears, so opt for a crystal front with coloured sides.

With summer brights or cool nude tones, crystal will suit beautifully this season, so the way ahead is totally clear!

Even Barbie Goes Geek Chic!

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

It’s an interesting fact that the mere sight of a studious looking girl in glasses makes most men go weak at the knees. That Librarian image of a good girl who might just turn out to be bad if you can persuade her to whip off her specs and shake loose her hair is an ever popular fantasy that has been used in photo shoots, film and possibly real life since specs wear began.

This week, even Barbie dolls get in the act, as Mattel launches a new version of the blonde bombshell, complete with laptop, Bluetooth earpiece, and geeky chunky specs. The new model was chosen by fans and is based on the personality of a computer engineer. So if you want to be taken seriously by your male colleagues, and use all the deadly weapons at your disposal, then the look for girls is clearly computer geek chic.

Women are taken more seriously in the workplace, and are likely to be more successful in interviews if they wear glasses. Something work appropriate and stylish is a heavyweight, dark and single colour plastic frame, with the minimum of embellishment and the maximum of blue stocking appeal. It will lend a fashion edge to your boring work suits, and is sturdy and practical for every day wear.

Chunky rim plastics are perfect for high prescriptions, as they disguise your lenses. If you just wear specs for reading they are wonderfully intimidating if you slide them down your nose and peer over the top edge! They are also great for varifocals as you can choose a shape that’s deeper, giving you plenty of room for your distance, reading, and middle distance prescriptions.

With your bold and eye catching Librarian specs in place you only need to add a slick of bright lip colour to make it clear you’re one of the girls not the boys, and you’re good to go – just ask Barbie!

An Irritating Problem!

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

We had an interesting e-mail from a patient this week, asking our advice on a lifelong problem which is very irritating! With her permission, here’s her enquiry:

“I’ve worn glasses for over fifty years, but gradually found that they give me an allergic reaction across my face. They’re not so bad when they’re new, but over the months they go all rough on the edges, and then I get a bright red rash. I’m ordering new frames again, but can I stop it happening? My face gets really sore when it flares up.”

This is something we come across from time to time, and for the sufferer it’s very distressing. It’s unsightly, painful, and expensive if you have to keep replacing your glasses! Usually it’s down to a Nickel allergy, as most metal glasses frames have some Nickel content. There are two key solutions – the shape of your frames and the material they are made of.

Firstly, the rims of the frame should only touch your skin on the bridge of your nose and behind the ears. Usually these frame parts are plastic, or have plastic parts over the metal. So make sure the frame fits properly, and have the plastic bits replaced as soon as they start to show signs of wear. Choose a frame which is shallow enough not to sit on your cheeks, or go for a semi-rimless which has a nylon thread along the lower edge. This will stop potentially irritant metal touching your skin.

Secondly, always clean the frame every night, to stop skin acids from eating through the coatings on the rims. The metal core of the rim is protected by several layers of lacquer, but you need to wash the rims regularly to stop the protection being eroded.

If this still doesn’t work, then swop to a plastic frame or a Titanium metal. We’ve never come across anyone who’s allergic to either of these materials!  Still choose a shape that won’t sit on the skin, and wash regularly. It may also be worth investing in two different shapes that sit in slightly different areas of your face. This gives skin a chance to recover from the constant presence of the frame. Stainless Steel is another hypo-allergenic material, but make sure you find one that is 100% pure, not an alloy.

Midsummer Madness!

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

In order to save you from the same fate as the unfortunates we’re going to tell you about now, we’re going to share some stories to make you think, so have a successful speccy Summer!

We knew the heat was on last week when the temperatures soared, but we’ve never had this problem before – a lady mailed us to order some glasses, which were urgent due to a calamity on Tuesday – she left her plastic frame on the dashboard of the car all  afternoon. the frame ‘went all bendy around the edges” one lens fell out on a gravel car park and she trod on the other one!!

Two different clients squashed their glasses – without cases – into bags and the frames snapped in the middle. Remember that glasses are not flat, they are curved!! With some frames there is a big space between the folded sides and the front. Shove them in a pocket and they’ll flatten and ultimately break – why are we telling you this – it’s really good for business!!

One young lady had a few too many Pimms at a BBQ, tried to take the same contact lens out twice (ouch!) damaged her cornea and has had to order specs as she can’t wear her lenses at the moment. A chap in charge of the school PTA BBQ had a few beers (well it is thirsty work) fell over on the way home, and has no idea where the specs went…..hope they didn’t end up in a burger bun!

Usually a couple of pairs go over board at this time of year, and some are lost in lost luggage. We will supply insurance quotes if you are in need of them!! Mail us for details. You are often covered with house contents if for instance the dog eats them, although the vet bill is another matter….