Historians believe that monks in Italy made the first form of glasses as early as in the 1200′s. Lenses were set into bone, metal or leather like two small magnifying glasses with inverted V shaped handles that could be balanced on the bridge of the nose. Eyeglasses however first hit the fashion scene in 1352 when Italian artist Tommasa da Modena painted a series of frescoes with monks wearing glasses. That same year, Crivelli painted Hugh of St. Cher, which featured its subject in glasses. In their early years, eyeglasses looked very primitive – some looked like little masks while others were goggles.  In that time, paintings were our form of Vogue magazine. So one could say right from the start that glasses were an ever-coming fashion trend.

In 1784 Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals to avoid having to regularly switch between two pairs of glasses, one for reading and one for distance. He is frequently seen as the first fashion model for classic round frames while John Lennon became a more modern model for that style of eyewear. As for this century, in 1958 we saw the first progressive multifocal lens. In this new century however, glasses have taken on an industry of its own, using design to guide function, making less-than-perfect vision an opportunity to accessorize. Glasses can allow you to express yourself in a far more unique way then any other fashion accessory and, when push comes to shove, fashion is about expression.

Try on a pair of cat-eyes and instantly you feel like you could keep up with the best of the pin-ups, and maybe even a little sex kitten comes out. Put on a pair of smaller, more serious shades – maybe it’s just me – but I couldn’t feel more intelligent if I was clutching the New York Times on the way to a presidential rally. There are retro shades that bring you back to times past, there are futuristic models that foreshadow a time to come. Whatever you feel, whoever you want to be, there is no easier way to dress the part than with eyewear. And what if you have different moods on different days?  Don’t make my mistake of getting an edgy haircut which you have to wear day in and day out; had I known I could have achieved a different look with eyewear and be able to change at the end of the day then I can promise you I would never have gotten bangs.

  With the evolution of eyewear in mind, glasses are no longer heavy and unwanted spectacle, no pun intended. A watch, they make hundreds of. Plastic Surgery? Passe. You see the same handbag 50 times walking down Newbury Street or Times Square.  In glasses, no two people wear them the same. There is a frame that is specific to you, and no one else. So what you don’t see is two people in the same lenses.

Sometimes in life, it is not only about how the world sees you, it is how you see the world; and literally and figuratively, the view doesn’t get better than from a really great pair of glasses.

The day comes when you are told that you need to start wearing glasses. For anyone with less than 20/20 vision, panic may then ensue. What if I don’t look as good as I want to? What if glasses cramp my style? How will I ever find a pair to do justice to my face? While these are all valid fears, there are some tools of the trade to know before buying a pair of eyeglasses that will make the transition into eyewear an easy one. They key here really is to find the frame that’s right for you. Easier said then done? Not quite. With a few simple guidelines, finding out you have less then perfect vision will unlock a whole world of high-fashion eyewear you literally and figuratively never saw before.

1. Don’t just walk into any generic glasses store unless you want a generic glasses look. To keep this one simple, if you want something unique, you’ve got to go somewhere unique. There are brands out there that only make glasses, unlike that of mainstream brands that seem high end who stamp their logo on any piece of plastic. Do your research, and find a store in your area that carries labels that are focused on combining eyewear style with substance. Labels to look for? LaFont, Face a Face, Beausoleil, Robert Marc (and this is just the beginning, but try to find a store who can deliver you a frame that will enhance your face, and not just your vision).

2. Now that you’re steered in the right direction as to where to buy, once you’re surrounded by top notch frames, the second step becomes much easier. Finding the right frame for your face.  There are usually two guidelines people use as a starting point. 1. The eyewear shape should contrast with the shape of your face and 2. Your glasses should be in proportion with the size of your face (i.e. your eyes should be in the center of the frame). After this, it gets a bit trickier as no one face is alike.

For a square shape: Because your jaw line creates a square shape already, adding a square or rectangular frame would widen your face by your temples and make you look more square. Narrow oval or round shapes however will create contrast from your jaw line and draw attention to your eyes, in a good way!

For a round shape: Round shapes, you need to be careful in choosing glasses. While there are many that will look incredibly flattering, there are many that will do the exact opposite and make your face look wider. A large, heavy or rounded frame can weigh down the face but you are also in luck! With round faces comes the ability to wear geometric and rectangular shapes that not all can pull off! Another perk? Rimless glasses are not only tres chic, but work especially well with your face shape.

For an oblong shape: Oblongs, because your face is slightly narrower than it is wide, you are actually looking for a frame that will widen your face at the temples. You get to wear the larger, wider frames that the rest of us cannot! Try something that is wide and rectangular, or even something rimless as long as there is a visible dark color by the temples.

For an oval shape: Oval shaped faces can truly wear any frame. Oval people in the glasses world are the equivalent to those who can eat and eat and never gain a pound. While other face shapes may hate you, all glasses frames seem to love you – so be daring and try on a funky pair for size, you never know what just might work.

For a triangular face: Triangular faces, because they are narrower on top than on bottom, can have a lot of fun with frames. Frames will widen up your top half a bit, and balance out your jaw line so for you, glasses are a gift. Also because your intention is to widen your visage, you can do things with color and embellishments that other shapes cannot. Cat-eye shapes look great, as do colorful creations, or any frame that adds a little something something – these were made for you.

For a heart shaped face: Because your jaw line is narrower than the rest of your face, you want to find a frame that will narrow out your top half. Rimless frames were made with you in mind. They correct your vision, andare right on trend, without drawing negative attention between your temples. Butterfly shapes are also very flattering, but do have a feminine touch.

For a diamond shaped face: For a unique shape such as the diamond, unique glasses are a must. Because your face shape is a mixture of many of the above, diamond shapes have a lot of options when it comes to finding fabulous frames. From oval to cat-eye’s diamond shapes can wear it all. Things to beware of however are heavy, round, or rectangular frames.

3. There are frames for every face-shape, there are frames for every fashion – what is most important however is that you find the frame for you. Have fun with frames, as there are a lot of frames out there and remember, you don’t have to settle for a look you don’t like. You don’t have to have the same pair of glasses as everyone on the block. Make sure you find the right store for you that will have not only what you are looking for but also the quality you deserve and don’t be afraid to make an investment. We’re talking about fashion for your face, and if you think about your visage, as it is the first thing people see, what better a place to invest?

The reason that we decided to create this website is because there are no other weblogs devoted to eyewear both as an essential fashion accessory and as an evolving, technology based, medical necessity for many of us.  We are certain you’ve never considered how much your eyewear choice can influence how others perceive you and why an eyewear wardrobe might be necessary for your lifestyle.  There are a myriad of weblogs discussing both men’s and women’s fashion trends and the latest moment to moment changes in accessories, yet, your eyeglasses are more visible than many of the other items you wear.  So as collectors, connoisseurs and experts on eyewear of all sorts, we thought we would stir things up a bit by setting the facts straight on some consumer issues, tickle your creative fancy with the latest eyewear trends, and answer questions about eyewear that have always mystified you.

Just because sunglass lenses are dark doesn’t mean they are doing anything for your eyes other than tinting the background. You’ve got to know WHAT type of lens you have in those glasses of yours. And don’t make any assumptions because they are from a high-end designer and carried a price tag that equals a round-trip ticket to Paris (out of season of course).

          I know, I know, all the buzz words that keep floating around are confusing…Transitions®, UVA/UVB protected, Drivewear®, polarized lenses, gradient tints, grey versus brown lenses and endless other variations. What works and what doesn’t? And most of all, what do YOU need? Girls (and guys), I’m not going to cover “sports lenses” in this little review, that will come later, but this will serve to sort out some of the confusion and help you ask the right questions when you are shelling out for the trendiest shades, whether they are prescription or not.

          Before offering you a brief review of what’s available in the marketplace, I will make one definitive statement, “the only type of lens that will truly protect your eyes from glare, whether on land or sea, as well as protect your eye health, is a POLARIZED lens.” That’s it in a nutshell. UVA/UVB protection is great and prevents exposure to ultraviolet light. BUT, the understated fact is that the blue wavelength of light from the sun is what causes both glare and potential sight deterioration. Any lens that does not include polarization as part of its stated technology is just not going to give you the protection against rays of the sun that you “think” sunglasses are supposed to afford. OK, let’s deal with each in turn.

          Transitions® (or photochromic lenses), which are great products that have been around for a long time, are handy. They give you UVA/UVB protection (good) but are not polarized, so it they have their limitations. By turning dark in bright sun and light indoors, they’re great when you are in and out of stores, cruising down the street, or taking a walk. They are tops in terms of convenience; PLUS, you can have the photochromic technology added to your regular prescription eyewear. However, they won’t turn dark behind a windshield (and therefore won’t help you when you are driving west late in the afternoon and are blinded by that bright sun), kill glare of any sort, or protect your eyes from future damage.

          UVA/UVB protection is the minimum that most sunglasses offer, combined with some type of tint. This is similar to having Transitions®, but unlike Transitions, is not “photochromic” (changing in color), and, once again, does not offer protection from glare (or allow you to see through it) as well as not protecting your eyes from the most harmful rays of the sun. And girls, you’re gonna squint in bright light, so lay on the eye cream!

          Polarized lenses offer the absolute BEST protection for your eyes. Not only are you getting UVA/UVB protection, you are cutting out that nasty and harmful blue wavelength of light that contributes to cataract formation and early adult onset macular degeneration.

Polarization is the best and only way to see clearly without glare from the sun whether on land or sea. These lenses will keep you from squinting (even dark tinted lenses won’t do that!) in the sun and when driving, keep you safe! Think of all those blind spots caused by the sun in late afternoon…wearing polarized lenses cuts through the glare and lets you see what’s in front of you. So the bottom line on polarized lenses is: no wrinkles from squinting (!!!), healthy eyes in the future, and clear vision in glaring sunlight.

          Could anything be better than a polarized lens you ask? Absolutely!!! Merge a polarized lens with Transitions® so you have a polarized lens that responds to ambient light, getting lighter indoors and darker in sunlight. Add the ability to function well in overcast weather and you have…Drivewear®…one of the best innovations in eyewear in the last ten years as far as I’m concerned. In fact, I love Drivewear so much, I’m giving you the product website so you can read the details for yourself (www.drivewearlens.com). A product developed cooperatively by the team at Transitions® and Younger Labs (who manufacture NuPolar® polarized lenses), Drivewear® came to market at the end of 2006 and is available in non-prescription and prescription forms. Available in only one color, it ranges, at its lightest, from a yellow/amber to a dark bronze/brown. So, friends, if the color works for you, and if your prescription isn’t too high, Drivewear® will knock your socks off. And if you don’t need a prescription lens, its well worth the bucks to have this product put in those designer sunglass frames of yours. This blogger loves her Drivewear® so much that she’s having her second pair made as she types this (in fabulous leopard print Lafont sunglass frames called Normandie)! Any Drivewear users out there who want to put their two cents in???

          As for tints and gradients and other cosmetic lens treatments, you’re on your own. They are strictly for looks (and to impress the paparazzi) unless you manage to get a gradient on a polarized lens. I wouldn’t use these as a substitute for sun protection, but rather just to look cool. You still need a polarized lens to protect your eyes (and the skin around your eyes from those squint lines, girls). The right lens can be found at a discount chain store or an upscale optical boutique; just use the keyword: polarized. And polarized lenses can be put in almost any frame you already have by a skilled optician who can offer you a choice of brown or grey lenses. And if you’re like me, and have to try the latest and greatest, visit your optician and ask about Drivewear®.

          One last reminder from your friendly blogger…for those of you with infants, toddlers and young children…they need polarized lenses too!

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