Nov

2

Early Bird X-Mas Shopping

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It’s a poor idea to wait past November to do your Christmas shopping. The best way to deal with Christmas is to get a box in a hidden place in the apartment and then shop all year long for gifts. When you see a good sale, buy your niece a gift and wrap it, throw it in the box and keep it until the holidays. See some hot sunnies on sale by Versace and know the mother in law would love them? Put it in the box! Then, when November rolls around you can open the box and then just shop for the few gifts you didn’t fill up over the year. Loads of businesses do discounts and deals in October and November because sales are lower in these months since people save up for December. So, you’ll find huge savings in the lead-up to winter.

Some of the best gifts are the practical ones. Like glasses, sunglasses, lotion, hair accessories. Things that will get used every day so the person thinks of you often, and uses your gift. That’s money well spent, and better spent than on a figurine or trivial item. Clothing makes a good gift, if you really know the person. But don’t risk buying the wrong size if you are unsure, you may offend someone. And clothing can be grown out of, it can rip and tear. More likely, accessories are better gifts. And this is the route most people go in when shopping anyway. Especially for kids and teens.

Oct

20

Celebrity Sunglasses Fashion

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Olivia Mum in Oliver Peoples. These sunglasses look like they were made for her face. This is the best example of a person really taking the time and energy to find a look that works so well for her that it appears the frames were built for her specifically. This kind of attention to detail is unique, but is doesn’t have to be. There are a few things that celebrities do when choosing frames to achieve this one-of-a-kind look.

First, like Olivia, you need to find frames that fit. That means finding frames for your gender and then looking at the shape of your head and trying to match that to your frames. For example, if you have a tiny head try kid’s designer sunglasses. They often have the same looks as adults but small enough for anyone to wear. Unless you have a giant head, that is. And for bigger skulls, try for frames that are solid and wrap around, which make the head look logically proportioned and not overly large. Simple, metal frames achieve the opposite, and make the head look bigger than it is. Knowing these few proportional things can help to give you a more customized look and style.

Another thing that celebrities do well is follow the trends and use the ones that work for them. Sometimes you’ll see someone in a style that is popular but isn’t flattering for them personally, this shows a total lack of creativity and attention to detail, and is a real shame because fads are simply that, flashes in the pan. Fashion is lasting.

Oct

14

Last Minute Wardrobe Savers

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If your wardrobe could use some help, then you need last minute savers, or final touches. A great wardrobe is about accessorizing in a great way. You can wear the same thing as Jennifer Anniston and look like a loser, mostly because her accessories signal her attention to detail and in fashion that’s the most important aspect of any look. She wears Tom Ford shades, Tiffany jewelry, and her shoes are likely Jimmy Choo. Those key elements are perhaps more important than what jeans or shirt she has on.

Accessories are the key. Here’s how you can accessorize like a celebrity. First, start at the top and work your way down. You can toss your hair in a haphazard ponytail and still look hot if you have the right accessories. For women, Tom Ford sunglasses are an easy look that works for most face shapes and hair and skin tones. For men, Serengeti or Police sunglasses are usually the top sellers for any face shape, and they come with street credit, too.

Working your way down, think about the jewelry you buy more than how fancy it looks. You need some subtle pieces, some simple ties, some complex layered pieces and so on. No wardrobe is complete with just a few necklaces, you need a collection. Second, bracelets are all the rage at the moment on what seems to be a more the merrier situation. So, layer those bad boys up and get jingling. Rings are not in fashion the way they used to be, so be sparing with them.

Oct

8

The Many Fashion Trends of Hollywood

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Hollywood is a strange place. There’s no denying it’s a world unto itself. You’ll see things in the area that would be illegal everywhere else, or at least frowned upon with a giant, Bill Clinton-style upside-down smile. You’ll see people in giant, cartoon-like Prada sunglasses and baseball caps trying to hide their identity.

But there are probably more paparazzi and amateur photographers in Hollywood than there are stars, so these guys should stop trying to conceal their identity and just strut around dressed like ridiculous peacocks in what I can only assume they do as a joke to see how many idiots will follow their fashion just because they are famous. Sometimes when you see Brad Pitt’s grey beard in beads, or his ridiculous Carrera sunglasses, or his cloth shoes with bows, you start to wonder who is playing the joke on who.

One of the latest (and least great) trends we’ve seen in a while is a resurgence of the famous 1920’s hair styles. Katy Perry and Marilyn Manson’s wife are partly responsible for this, but so is the new fascination with vintage and retro looks. Rather than using the old hair styles the way they originally were, people are innovating them and making them apt for the 21st century by dying their hair ridiculous colors (aka: blue, pink, red) and then wearing it in traditional housewife styles. This started out as a cool look but now that every thirteen year old with an extra $12 and access to a sink has dyed their hair it isn’t punk, isn’t counterculture, and it just isn’t cool anymore. That makes you silly if you do follow the trend, you’re showing you have no personality of your own for developing your own variations of old or new fashion.

Sep

29

Why Designer Sunglasses are Healthier

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It can be said that all sunglasses are created equally, but it just wouldn’t be true. If you’ve ever bought a cheap pair of sunglasses you know just how wrong that statement can be. A cheap knock-off Armani pair may save you a few bucks, but they are more likely to break, they are more likely to have evaded safety checks and most importantly not all fakes or generics are even UV protection standard. Rendering them cool looking (maybe) but basically useless.

There are so many reasons to buy the real deal and only one reason to buy a generic pair or fake: money. The cost of real, brand name sunglasses is high. You can pay up to $400 for really fantastic, designer (performance-enhancing) sunnies, but is it worth it? You’ll find that there are many designer brands that are affordable. The general rule is that a decent pair of sunglasses should cost you a pretty penny in order to deliver the best in high-quality materials, R&D, standards, safety checks and of course you have to pay a bit for the branding, which makes you look cool and is thus worth a bit of dough.

Let’s examine the problems associated with going generic. First, your lenses will deteriorate quickly. You’ll find scratches and nicks in the glass or plastic very soon. You’ll also find they don’t come with any of the standard protecting coatings in most fakes. These coatings elongate the lifespan of your lenses, and also protect your eyes further. They are worth the extra cash. Especially the anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings that make life all the more lovely.

Sep

23

Allergies and Eyewear

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Allergies are a pain in the neck.. And throat. And eyes. And ears. Everywhere, really. The last thing you want when you have allergy problems is to add to the problem by tossing in a touch of agony by wearing contact lenses. Even the best hydrating lenses like Acuvue Contacts don’t stop the pain and itchiness that comes from contact lenses in allergy season. Thus, do yourself a favor and stick to eyeglasses in spring and fall when the seasons change.

Some things to keep in mind are that carrying eye drops may help you stay hydrated without overly affecting your vision or comfort. You’ll also need to wash your hands frequently. We all know you’ll be forces to touch your eyes so don’t risk them being dirty or covered in pollen. No one is disciplined enough to keep from scratching an itch, so plan ahead and keep clean and hopefully you won’t end up making any of the problems worse.

One of the best ways to keep your allergies under order is to wash your glasses every night. You can soak them in water overnight and scrub them down periodically and make sure you keep them clean. This little soaking trick makes the difference during a long spring when allergies are at their highest.

Keeping sunglasses on all season can keep some particles from getting into your eyes, and keep your eyes hidden if they do happen to be overly red or itchy. For people whose sinuses are out of control this is one of the best ways to keep your allergies a secret. Although you’ll need to be able to wear sunglasses that are not too heavy so that they don’t add more pressure to your sinuses.

Sep

16

Contact lenses and scuba diving

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Any scuba diver knows that wearing contact lenses under a dive mask is a bit of a risk. Ideally, the best method is to get a dive mask with prescription lenses. If you have to wear contact lenses, go for deep moisture lenses. Why? Well, the Hydrogel contact lenses will be able to deliver more moisture to yours poor, dry eyes.

They get dry because the increased pressure underwater makes the air dense, your eyes get literally starved for more moisture. If you happen to get water in yours eyes, salt or clear water, you’ll feel the burn. Salt can also be abrasive if it’s thick, which can damage your lenses. Be careful of the residue in the water and clear your mask normally with your eyes tightly closed. This will decrease the likelihood of your contacts coming out.

If your contact lenses do come out, you’ll have to surface and put in new lenses or end your dive. This is the most detrimental catastrophe for someone with impaired vision. If your lenses come out what else can you do but either continue the dive with impaired vision or discontinue the dive.

Aside from popping a lens, your eyes will get assaulted in a myriad of ways while under water. Even if you get no water in your mask you’ll experience extreme dry eye. Always dive with moisture for your eyes, always bring lotion and always bring spare contact lenses or glasses. You can’t dive with glass under your mask, so don’t even try. It’s dangerous and extremely risky.

Sep

6

Black vs White Sunglasses

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Sometimes it’s a simple choice to pick black or white sunglasses or eyeglasses, but then you have to consider seasonality. If you can only purchase one color, this becomes a tougher choice, still there are a few rules to follow that will help you in making this important decision. For example, Prada designer look better in black while Versace looks better in white.

Last month we covered the gold vs silver debate, and this time the rules are slightly different. For starters, we suggested that darker skin wear silver and lighter skin wear gold. But with black and white it’s the opposite rule. Pale skin looks more tan and richer against white sunglasses, and brings out the summery look and slightly blushed hues. So, to achieve a look where you come across as darker, wear white shades.

You’ll often see blondes with pale skin attempting to look more tan with white shades or white clothing, this is especially true in Europe and Australia, where blondes are often paler than their dark haired counterparts.

The opposite is also true. Black shades against dark skin bring out the warm hues in the skin town and make the skin look lighter yet with more depth, like a copper color. This is a stunning look and black against dark skin is one way to achieve this.

In this instance, wearing gold with dark skin and black shades has the double effect of pulling out the copper tones with the dark shades and then highlighting the copper with the gold earrings or necklaces. You see this in northern Africa, where women have been making their skin look gold-like for ages with similar techniques.

Aug

31

Sunnies to match your mood

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Sometimes you want to go wild, sometimes you want to be conservative. You can’t have one wardrobe that matches all your moods unless you have a very diverse wardrobe. You’ll need some wayfarers for your fun moods, and some Prada shades for your serious moods. The number of shades you’d need to have a complete wardrobe is pretty endless, but luckily there are a few key shades you can get to have a rounded outfit for every mood.

For professional moods, you’ll want to get into a decent outfit and slip into some Versace shades. These are both professional as well as attractive, so you’ll look classy without looking too conservative or too business like. The key is to look natural in whatever you are wearing, from a clown costume to a suit to a prom or wedding dress, looking natural and comfortable is the top priority.

For sporty wear, you can’t have a complete look without a pair of Nike or Adidas shades. They make a lot of sense because they are performance enhancing as well as cool looking. You don’t want to confuse people with what you are doing, and if you happen to be out of shape you need to set the mood for other people by wearing the costume of one who is working out so people know what you are up to.

Sexy looks are hard to pull of when you are covering half of your face with plastic. So, for a sexy look you either go over the top with the size or you attempt a Crawford-style look with smaller shades. Either way, go big or go home in terms of sexy style.

Aug

19

High-end Designer Sunglasses

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The best sunglasses are obviously designer shades, especially the sexy high-end ones that are a bit harder to afford but way more valuable (think: street cred, sex appeal and quality). Some of the best high-end bands are Armani for men and Versace for women. True, these aren’t unknown brands and there is a special exclusivity in newness and freshness, but then again the giants of the old guard are always impressive in their own right and Armani and Versace have stood the test of time.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when searching for high-end sunglasses. You’ll want to keep in mind your hair and skin colors before pairing your face with sunglasses that don’t match your natural beauty. If you are dark skinned, try to go for lighter shades, especially light browns. A huge fashion mistake is to wear stark contrasts, like white against black skin or vise versa. These make you look too stark and cold, and contrived.

If your skin is lighter, a slightly darker pairing is a good idea to make your skin tone pop. Like dark greens and blues against pale skin to make it look even whiter and more glimmering. Browns are an easy color to match with any skin color or style, and are thus the most versatile. Still, gold and silvers are a great backup and are excellent for bringing out shimmers in your skin.

To recap, some of the best brands for high-end fashion are Armani, Versace and similar brands like Police for men and Prada for women. These high-end brands are sexy, sleek and have a prestige all their own.

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