& The hot colorblocking trend in clothes is showing up in eyewear.

photoS: james worrell; prop styling: Miako Katoh; Market Editor: brooke glassberg

Clockwise from top: Toms, Beachmaster, $119; Warby Parker, Arthur, $95; Alexander McQueen, AMQ 4232, $338; Foster Grant, Lolita, $20.

Eye candy

The hottest new glasses and sunglasses—plus how to save on your next pair and find flattering frames

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our-eyes everywhere will rejoice when they see the latest fun, faceflattering specs. Cool styles that used to be reserved for sunglasses have made their way into day-to-day eyewear, says Eurydice Sanchez, a trend forecaster for the fashion website Stylesight. Shades are getting a makeover, too, with more wearable—and less blingy—classic shapes and colorful styles. Hot designers like Stella McCartney and Elie Tahari are jumping into the eyeglass market along with new trend makers like Corinne

McCormack, a fashion designer who became an optical designer when she couldn’t find any readers she liked. Most sunglass collections have a one-totwo-year shelf life, while some key shapes and styles in regular glasses have longer lives. So if you haven’t bought new frames in a while, it’s time to go shopping! We have everything you need to know—the season’s hottest trends (all of the styles shown here should be available this fall), new places to shop, and smart ways to get great styles for less. ShopSmartmag.org August/september 2013 |

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accessories The new readers are a sight for sore eyes with bold colors and designs.

You can’t go wrong with retro, like these updated horn rims.

3 top trends in eyeglasses ... Colors go bright— or disappear

This season you’ll see bright frames in every color, says Neil Blumenthal, co-founder of the popular online optical shop Warby Parker. Expect bold solids in amethyst, emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Think of color as a way to update a traditional frame shape. Color blocking—combos of different hues—is now showing up in eyewear as it has in apparel. On the other end of the spectrum, transparent frames that are clear or have colorful tints, a popular sunglass style, are now showing up in regular glasses. Also look for colors that fade to white or clear, solids that fade to patterns, or matte finishes that morph into shiny ones. Tortoiseshell and horn-rimmed glasses are classic. This year they’re getting a makeover with flecks of rich, dark jewel tones. Also new: laminated frames with a colored layer sandwiched in the middle, and tortoise in subtle tints. And neutrals that were big in the 1970s—peach, gold, caramel, bronze— are having a revival. “Warm hues are universally flattering,” Blumenthal says.

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Retro styles rule The biggest trend still going strong is “geek chic,” or chunky, retro-inspired looks. Think cat eyes, round silhouettes, thick Cokebottle glasses, and Wayfarers (like the sunglasses, but with clear lenses). Semirimmed frames or bicolored frames with, say, tortoise on top and clear on the bottom put a modern twist on an old-time look. Oversized frames are, well, huge. Especially cool are large, soft squares and rectangular pillow shapes. “Younger women find it new and fresh even though their moms were probably wearing it 30 years ago,” says Mark Ginsberg, senior vice president of global marketing at eyewear maker Marchon. Patterns, especially florals, are chic. Textures are new, too: Jil Sander offers a wood-grain look; Valentino embeds lace under clear acetate; Guess offers matte finishes. Materials include titanium and extra-light plastics.

New designers and retailers shine

Steven Alan and Stella McCartney are among the latest clothesmakers to spin off into the world of eyewear. And in the past year or two Victoria Beckham, Toms (of buy-a-pair, give-a-pair footwear fame), and William Rast also have started lines. Marchon, one of the big three manufacturers along with Luxottica and Safilo, recently launched a line from Chloe, as well as Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Nine West, and G-Star is coming this fall. Cutler and Gross, the London-based custom-eyewear company, crossed the pond to open its first shop in New York City this past May. If you want to pick up a pair of readers, you have lots of options beyond the drugstore. Many department stores, including Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, carry stylish ones. Belk stores are launching a new eyewear department this fall.

Clockwise from top: Jimmy Choo, JC 75, $300; Magnivison, Posh, $25; Warby Parker, Quincy, $145; Kate Spade, Alease, $175; Corinne McCormack, Annie, $68.

Hot looks mirror some of the eyeglass trends but take them over the top.

BIG remains big BUT with LESS BLING

When it comes to sunwear, bigger is still better. But the embellishments are more subtle these days. Designers who once added lots of crystals are toning it down—say, black bling on black frames for a just hint of shine, or a handful of subtly integrated studs.

classic shapes stay hot

The three hottest shapes are round, modified cat eyes (more curvy, less angular), and Wayfarers. Also, classic styles like the aviator are always cool. Wire frames are in, too; look for colored metals and creative, new brow-bar details.

COLORS and lenses go in new directions

Monochromatic matching lenses and frames are hot; so are translucents and frosts, sporty mirrored lenses, smoky colored lenses, and matte finishes (especially black on black). Color blocking and bold hues are everywhere. New marbled and colorful confetti looks take tortoiseshell to the next level. Even the lenses are getting brighter; polarized sunglasses are becoming more fashionable with gradient colored lenses.

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… and sunglasses

What you should know about buying eyewear Picking out the frames can be tricky, but so can figuring out the best place to buy glasses. In our survey of prescription eyeglasses buyers (see below for more details), those who shopped at a doctor’s office or independent shop were among the most satisfied with the service, but they were also among those who paid the most. Here are a few other things you should know:

Surprise! Eyeglass chains don’t necessarily have the best deals.

In fact, in our survey people who shopped at LensCrafters and Pearle Vision paid some of the highest prices. Sure, LensCrafters has a big selection and can often make your glasses in an hour (Pearle was usually slower, as were all of the other retailers). But unless you’re in a hurry, you have a coupon, or your insurance is picking up most of the tab, you may want to start at BJ’s, Costco, or For Eyes Optical.

Surprise! Eyeglass stores are not the best places to comparison shop.

We found it hard to find the same frames at various stores so that we could compare prices. We had better luck online. (See our chart on the next page.)

Surprise! Buying glasses online is easy.

As you’ll see on page 64, there are lots of Web tools that can help you find flattering glasses. Our shoppers uncovered huge savings by searching online for the brand and model number of specs we liked in stores. Not comfortable ordering lenses online or need multifocals (which some e-tailers don’t sell)? Buy frames online and take them to Costco, BJ’s, or Walmart to add lenses.

Best & worst retailers

These are the top and bottom chain retailers according to our survey of 19,500 prescription eyeglass buyers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. (Prices are median paid, without insurance.) Need speed? Try LensCrafters.

top-rated overall

Costco

bottom-rated overall

America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, JCPenney, Visionworks Least expensive

BJ’s ($176), For Eyes ($181), Costco ($186) Most expensive

Pearle ($305), LensCrafters ($298)

Shown from top: Valentino, V611S, $285; Valentino, V108S, $325; Guess, GU 7243, $78; Michael Kors, M2061S Rachel, $99; Warby Parker, Madison, $95.

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accessories

GREAT SITES TO SHOP

Who sells it for less? $160 LensCrafters

When we shopped for this Vogue frame (VO2709b) without lenses at various retailers online and at walk-in stores, we found big differences in price. We found similar results when we shopped for other frames.

$123 FramesDirect.com

$96 SimplyEyeglasses.com



$80 LensesRX.com

save 50%!

before you buy a new pair, do these 5 things! ■ Find out your pupillary distance. When having your eyes examined, ask your doctor for this number. You’ll need it if you shop for glasses online. Also, ask the doctor what type of lens is best for you, such as a bifocal or a trifocal. ■ Check your coverage. And find out whether the shop accepts your insurance. Even if it doesn’t (online retailers often don’t), your plan may reimburse you for at least part of what you shell out. ■ Get ready to haggle. Eye doctors and independent shops are the most willing to negotiate on price, especially if you’re not covered by insurance. Another advantage of walk-in stores: They can provide in-person service that

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online retailers can’t—for instance, making adjustments on frames. ■ Ask about the warranty and return policy. Frames should be guaranteed against manufacturer defects for at least a year, and your lenses should be perfect no matter how many tries it takes. Also, find out whether you can return the glasses if you decide you don’t like them. Some sellers will make you another pair at little or no cost. ■ If you find a great deal, be ready to buy two pairs. Trust us, it’ll be hard not to buy more than one pair when you see the prices online. And if your glasses are lost or broken, you won’t have to worry about having new ones made right away.

Can’t make up your mind? Go online and you can really make yourself crazy. There is a virtually limitless supply of spec styles. But you’ll be rewarded: Websites can sell lenses and frames at steep discounts because of volume sales and no overhead. You can try them on virtually by uploading a photo of yourself, or use the sites’ other try-on tools and options. Some, like Warby Parker, send you a bunch of frames to try on at home. Other sites we like include 39DollarGlasses. com—yes, it really lives up to its name!—and Lookmatic, which offers live try-ons via webcam. Prices are for frames with prescription lenses unless otherwise noted; watch for special promotions. All sites meet our requirements for privacy, contact-info disclosure, and customer service.

Bonlook.com

BEST FOR personal style advice. Founded by two women “determined to offer stylish, high-quality, affordable

Glasses.com’s 3D Virtual Try-on creates a computer model of your head!

Coastal.com

BEST FOR freebies. You might recognize Coastal from its Facebook posts offering a free pair. Yes, it’s legit, though some stronger prescriptions might not qualify. The line is designed and manufactured in North America; the site also sells high-end brands (7 for All Mankind, Ray-Ban, Vera Wang), but you can’t get those free. When you buy, the site donates globally to people in need. How it works Browse by style (“business,” “funky”) and check them out on an uploaded picture of yourself or a face you chose from the site’s gallery. Price Frames start at $48; lenses are extra. For your free first pair, use code FIRSTPAIRFREE at checkout. Shipping $9.95 and may include a 7 percent handling and insurance surcharge. Returns 366 days.

Eyefly.com

BEST FOR celeb chic. A tightly edited selection of fashion-y frames is the handiwork of an industry insider who’s been creating eyewear for designers, celebrities, and brands for two decades. (The site doesn’t sell bifocals.) How it works Choose a category (women or men, optical or sun), then narrow it down. Do an online try-on with an uploaded photo, then post it on Facebook to get feedback. You can also use a virtual model. Coming soon: You’ll be able to try five pairs at home. Price $94. Shipping $4.95. Returns 30 days from receipt.

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eyewear,” Bonlook.com sells specs that come with anti-reflective, scratch-resistant coatings (plus UV protection on sunglasses), including bifocals, multifocals, and progressive lenses (for an additional $199). Sign up for $10 off your first order. How it works Upload a photo for a virtual try-on, or work with a virtual personal stylist. Take a short quiz, e-mail your picture, and get a custom video featuring recommendations just for you. Price $99. Shipping Free. Returns 30 days from receipt.

Mezzmer.com

Glasses.com

BEST FOR daily deals. The website of 1-800-Contacts offers eyeglasses, sunglasses, and readers in a wide variety of brands. Check out daily deals for deep discounts (click on the Sale tab). How it works Shop by trend (geek chic, cat eye, aviators); take the quick framematch quiz to narrow down the extensive selection; or chat with a glasses guru. You can do a free at-home try-on for eyeglasses only. Get four pairs for seven days (it’s OK to call for an extension; you’ll be charged after 14 days). Price Frames start at $67 plus $59 for prescription lenses; $149 for multifocals. All include coatings. Shipping Free. Returns 30 days from receipt.

BEST FOR getting the right fit for your face shape. You take the measurements of your own glasses to help ensure that you choose the right new pair for your face using its Fit Guide. Lenses come with scratchresistant, anti-reflective, and UV coatings at no extra charge. No bifocals or progressives. “Like” it on Facebook and get half price on a second pair. When you check out, Mezzmer makes a donation to one of five charities (you choose). How it works Select the frames you like, then take a few easy measurements at home to see how their size and shape will suit your face. Price $69 for glasses or fashion sunglasses; add $50 for prescription eyewear. Shipping Free. Returns 30 days from receipt, minus a fee of $15 for glasses or $35 for prescription sunglasses.

Glassesshop.com

BEST FOR its 90-day money-back guarantee. Launched in 2004, this site is owned and operated by eye doctors with 25-plus years of experience. It sells its own frames at insanely affordable prices, and will soon be selling a selection of frames from designers such as Giorgio Armani and Diane von Furstenberg. How it works You can choose from hundreds of styles, including those from a best-seller’s list. The site carries bifocals and progressives, too. Do a virtual try-on or look at other people’s shots. We like its price-matching guarantee; if you find a lower price online or in a store, the site will match it. Price Designs start at just $5. Shipping $6.95 ; free on orders of $59+ with code FREESHIP. Returns 14 days from receipt.

warbyparker.com

BEST FOR at-home try-outs. The site has a hip, vintage aesthetic. New designs are introduced seasonally. For each purchase, glasses are donated to someone in a developing nation. How it works Shop by frame shape, material, color, or width. You can also visit one of its showrooms or its new retail store in New York City. Or request up to five pairs for a five-day loan. Price Start at $95. Shipping Free. Returns 30 days from receipt.

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