Silhouette Launches iPhone App
Silhouette has taken the iPhone to heart – and eye – for optical browsers looking to try on eyewear and sunwear. With the introduction of its Virtual Mirror for the iPhone, Silhouette charges to the head of the Internet-scape. Their application allows consumers to try on a selection of Silhouette styles, lens shapes and color options creating fully customizable frames best suited for the customer’s face with just a few iPhone clicks and taps.
In 2009, Silhouette offered consumers the revolutionary Virtual Mirror consulting tool. Designed in accordance with the Silhouette philosophy that “the best frame for eyewear is always the face of the wearer,” the Virtual Mirror allows consumers to select quality, handcrafted eyewear that suits their individuality and personal preferences, while allowing their natural beauty to remain the focus. Read more
Goldfinch Eyeglasses: Timeless Style for Men
Vintage silhouettes and details were the inspiration of the Goldfinch Eyewear Collection designed for the stylish and sophisticated modern man.
They provide an image of timeless style and while allowing your individual personality to shine through. The Goldfinch eyeglasses frames combine chunky, handmade plastic styles with metal trim and logo treatments. This collection offers the man of taste a true alternative to today’s uniformity eyewear styling. The Goldfinch Eyewear Collection has fused 1950s and 1960s styling to produce the perfect everyday eyeglass frame. Continuing in the tradition that is as timely today as it was 50 years ago Goldfish has blending the lines of Vintage and Modern. Read more
Eyewear Tips & Tricks
Since we first went online in 1996 with our Internet-based eyewear store, our dedicated opticians have accumulated a number of tips and tricks to help our customers with making the most of their eyeglasses, frames, corrective lenses, contact lenses, reading glasses, goggles and sunglasses experience, so we thought we’d share the best of them with you.
1. Go rimless - Combine lightweight, rimless eyeglasses frames with anti-reflective lenses for almost invisible corrective eyewear.
2. Get personal - Have you considered personality glasses? Even if you don’t need corrective lenses, a pair of stylish frames with plain lenses may be a great way to change your look in seconds. From the beautiful bookworm to the glam god just pick your pair, add clear anti-reflective lenses and change your entire look in a flash.
3. Keep it clean - You would be surprised at how many people do not know how to properly care for their eyeglasses once they receive them. Using a mico-fiber cleaning cloth is best (we send one to every customer). Also, wetting the lenses before wiping with the cloth is a good idea. Washing lenses with a non-ammonia dish washing detergent or some store bought lens cleaner is the best way to preserve the coatings on your lenses. We are told that the cleaning cloth we provide to our customers is washable as long as you do not use any fabric softener or fabric cloths in the drying.
4. Clear the fog – Water goggles will not fog if you clean inside and out with dish detergent and then let them air dry. This will also reactivate the anti-fog if it has been a while since the purchase. However, do NOT use water on the lenses before cleaning as it will cause additional fogging.
5. Colorize – Lens colors can make a difference. For instance, amber or brown colored polarized lenses are great for tennis, skiing, boating, fishing and driving. Yellow lenses work great for hunting and shooting. Gray is great for golf, water sports, driving and flying. Vermillion or rose are good for skiing and fishing and green is a good all-purpose lens color.
6. Watch your backside – Anti-reflective coating on clear lenses is to increase light transmission. Sunglasses tints by design are to decrease light transmission. Using polarized high quality lenses will block glare with excessive darkening by the amount of light that is being limited to reach the eye. Using backside anti-reflective coating will almost stop completely the reflections when the sun is behind you or light reflected where it hits the back surface of the lens.
7. Screw loose? Have a problem with screws backing out of your frames? Coat the screw with a little clear nail polish. This keeps them from backing out and they still be removed if needed. Be EXTRA CAREFUL not to get the polish on the lenses.
8. Computer vision – All computer users who spend 3-9 hours a day on the PC will strongly benefit from computer glasses or Gunnar Prescription Computer Glasses.
9. Skip the polish - If you have night time driving issues, even if you add anti-reflection, you can still have glare rings if you polish the lens edges. Polished edges are simply cosmetic and don’t aid in visual acuities. So, if you drive a lot at night, you might want to skip the lens edge polish.
10. No free ride for cosmetic contacts - For contact lenses that change eye color without power (plano lenses), you still must have a doctor’s prescription. Contacts are a medical device and if not fit under a doctor’s supervision, can cause a range of eye health problems.
11. Be exact - If your contact lens prescription is written for one specific brand, i.e. Acuvue Oasys, you must order that exact lens. We (or any other merchant) cannot legally change the prescription to another brand, i.e. Freshlook Colors. The contacts have to be ordered exactly as the doctor has written on the prescription or the doctor has to rewrite the prescription should you want something different. Every contact lens fits differently due to base curve and diameter and only your eye doctor can determine a safe fit.
12. Hide it - A trick to hiding edge thickness on heavier prescriptions is to select a frame with wide temples (arms).
13. Bounce it – If you are trying to eliminate glare in a photo with eyewear raise the temples to bounce the flash down out of frame.
Check back often. We’ll be adding more tips to this page in an ongoing effort to provide the latest in eyewear and optical information for our readers.
Related pages & posts: Top Eyewear & Optical Tools, Eyewear & Vision Resource Directory, 10 Contact Lens Facts, Bolle Tips for Wearing Goggles over Corrective Eyewear, What’s My Eyeglass Frame Size? , Vision Prescriptions for Babies – How?, Beyond Rimless – The “Barely There” Look, Shooting Glasses, Goggle Information.
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Cycling Eyewear: Perfect Gear for Biking
Don’t forget the right eyegear. Cyclists need and want eyewear with all the bells and whistles. Eyewear that protects them from wind and debris . . . that’s extremely lightweight and comfortable and keeps them at peak performance in all conditions. And they love a sleek, streamlined design that’s as aerodynamic as their helmets and bikes – a design that makes them look cool and see even better.
WHAT BIKERS NEED IN THEIR EYEWEAR
* Shatterproof, scratch-resistant lenses
* Excellent peripheral vision
* Enhanced vision in all light conditions (interchangeable lenses: yellow and amber are ideal for low light situations)
* RX adaptability
* Venting/anti-fog systems
* Head-hugging design that fits comfortably with helmets
From left: V-TI from Smith Optics; REVOLVR from Wiley X Eyewear.
Related posts and pages: Sunglasses catalog, Protective Sports Eyewear, Wiley X sunglasses, Adidas sunglasses, Smith Optics sunglasses, Sunglasses 101 – Outdoor, Tennis & Sports Sunglasses, Motorcycle Sunglasses.
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Eyeglasses as Fashion Accessories
Eyeglasses have certainly evolved over the years and are no longer something only that “four eyes” kid down the street wears. Eyeglasses are now available with lenses that are lighter and thinner – no more “Coke bottle bottom” lenses. And, the variety of frame styles and shapes has exploded. Your father’s tortoise shell and wire rims aren’t the only choices these days.
In other words, your glasses are no longer something that you are not proud to show and wear for everyone you see. In addition to their obvious function as a tool for good vision, eyeglasses frames have become a definite fashion accessory.
The latest trend from fashion designers is to voice their artistic opinions in designer eyeglasses. Every major clothing and apparel designer has entered into the business of making eyeglasses frames. This has made eyeglasses a definite must-have addition to any wardrobe.
FramesDirect offers leading-edge brand designer eyeglasses including Calvin Klein, Ray Ban, Giorgio Armani, Oakley, Laura Ashley, Gucci and hundreds of other eyeglasses, all at prices you can afford.
Your first step in finding your perfect eyewear should be our FrameFinder(sm) Virtual Eyeglass Try-On. From the timeless frames of Adrienne Vittadini to the lightweight, wire lines of Silhouette, you can upload a face photo and try on the web’s best fashion eyeglass frames.
Outstanding Fit and Comfort
All eyeglasses at FramesDirect.com are guaranteed to be 100% comfortable.
We also guarantee to save you money.
We want you to look great in your new eyeglasses and can give specific recommendations about which eyeglasses will be the most suitable for your face shape. Just give us a call at 1-800-248-9427.
See our entire eyeglasses catalog online.
Related pages & posts: Calvin Klein Sunglasses, Fashion Sun Glasses, Fashion Eyeglasses, Gucci Sunglasses, Oakley Sunglasses, Ray Ban Sunglasses.
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Celebrity Eyewear Sightings
SHADE DIGGER – Grammy Award winning rapper Kanye West (1) approached eyewear designer Alain Mikli to create a pair of custom, retro-inspired handmade frames for his video “Stronger.” The hip hop star seems to really like his new shades and has been spotted performing in them all summer long. Here he sports them during the Live Earth New York concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
LEADING LADY – Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon (2) in Michael Kors Collection style MKS555 from Marchon.
OCEANIC – Bernie Mac (3) wears Minimal X rimless style 1960 from Silhouette in the movie “Ocean’s 13″.
EL CARTEL – Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee (4) recently wore the Sucre sunglass in tortoise from República Eyewear for the Kenmark Group on “MTV’s Total Request Live”.
WHO ARE YOU – Actor Robert David Hall (5), who plays coroner Dr. Albert Robbins on the CBS hit drama “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” wears the ClearVision Andy frame.
OFFICE SPACE – Comedian Rainn Wilson (6), who plays sarcastic sales rep Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” in Nautica N8028 from Marchon.
YEAH – Hip hop star Nelly (7), whose latest album “Brass Knuckles” was released this month, wears Sean Jean SJ112S from Marchon.
PARTY DRESS – R&B singer Usher (9) wears Yves Saint Laurent YSL6120/s from Sàfilo at a party hosted by hip hop mogul Jay-Z in Las Vegas.
HEART ATTACK – Wearing shades by Chrome Hearts from Optical Shop of Aspen are R&B singer Mary J. Blige (10) in Disfunctional and socialite/ex-jail bird Paris Hilton (11) in Queenie.
IT ALL ADDS UP – Brazilian born actor Rodrigo Santoro (12), who has appeared in such films as “300″ and “Love Actually” a well as being voted one of People magazine’s sexiest men alive, in Calvin Klein style 849S from Marchon.
HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS – Daisy Fuentes (13), who hosted her own CNBC talk show and “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” in Michael Kors Collection style MKS570.
-Jackie Micucci
Follow our growing list of Celebrity Eyeglasses and Sunglasses Sightings.
Related posts and pages: Gucci sunglasses, Christian Dior sunglasses, Calvin Klein sunglasses, Sunglasses Catalog, Hot Sunglasses for 2008 – Oversized is In!
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Silhouette Sunglasses – Trendy Designs
Silhouette has done its best to give the design of sunglasses new impulses. By incorporating new styles and shapes, Silhouette’s designers have created an extraordinary look which makes them much desired and fashionable accessories that are always in style, combining comfort with a fashion sense that is light years ahead of its time.
Here are some favorite Silhouette sunglasses styles that are available online now.
Silhouette Model 8561
Minimal Art – reduced to the max: this functional, no-frills, austere Silhouette look has created a stir in the international frame industry. Featuring a futuristic space look, these sun wear models seem to float before the wearer’s eyes like a near-weightless protective shield. For the collection, these models are being offered in Ruthenium-Silvertone.
Silhouette Model 8572
Silhouette’s color designers restructured the current models with a trendy chromatic range: in addition to the bronze-colored bridge/temple options, the lens coating, too, features a sheen. These Titan Minimal Art models are moreover given an additional high-fashion touch the attractive coloration. The generous lens of Model 8572 communicates cool sophistication and will certainly attract many fashion-conscious sun wear customers.
Silhouette Model 8575
Inspired by the 1980s: the X-large aviator model for fashion insiders. A new interpretation of the Minimal Art theme with double bridge and a generous, trendy lens shape embodying an entirely novel color dimension. The futuristic high-tech-look is ensured by the phased lens coating in Bordeaux. These ergonomically styled sunglasses cling pleasantly to the contours of the head and moreover offer supreme wearing comfort. These models are given a classy appeal and dynamic shape by the elegant titanium temples which curve gracefully, thereby creating a hingeless, smooth, transition zone.
See our entire collection of Silhouette Sunglasses as well as our complete sunglasses catalog online. For your prescription eyewear needs, see Silhouette eyeglasses and the very popular Silhouette Rimless eyeglasses.
Beyond Rimless – The “Barely There” Look
Following up on our recent post on Frameless or Rimless, What’s the Difference?, we thought we’d point out that top optical news web site 20/20 is featuring an audio visual presentation on the “barely there” look of rimless eyeglasses. Take a look at Beyond Rimless.
The presentation features a number of rimless brands in our catalog, including Silhouette Rimless, Jhane Barnes (including the Jhane Barnes Sine in the presentation) and Sean John.
Rimless eyeglasses are the ulimate in eyewear freedom with light, almost invisible fashion frames.
Frameless or Rimless, What’s the Difference?
Actually, frameless and rimless frames refer to the same thing – sturdy, lightweight lenses that a light arm piece attaches to for support as in this image of the M+ Rimless 1034 rimless frames.
And, of course, because there is no frame to restrict vision, you have better peripheral vision with frameless eyewear. Depending on the frame and lens, they can be practically invisible.
Among our top frameless sun glasses are Maui Jim, Nike, Ray Ban, A & A Optical, Costa Del Mar and Revo.
