For my sweet sixteenth, I will be having a huge bash whereupon more than 100 people will be in attendance. There will be white horses and rings of flowers; chocolate fondue and orchestral music. I will be wearing a brand new green, A-line Carolina Herrera dress with Christian Luboutin pumps. My friends will all say aloud that I am a vision of beauteous glamour but secretly be envious of me. This event will be dedicated to me and me alone.

Father said before we drew up the plans for my festivities that I could have anything I want. I said that that the one thing I desire most of all in this world at this very moment are some brand new Chanel sunglasses. Sure, I have other designer sunglasses and sure, they don’t get much wear. Chanels are just so chic and elegant with their interlocking C’s and quilted arms. If I wore them around my school, I’m positive people would turn their heads and think, “Wow, I wish had I had Chanel sunglasses like her” It’s not to say that I need anymore attention as it stands. I mean, that would be kind of drag to constantly have curiously adoring eyes on you wondering where you got your designer accessories.

 I think that if Father were to buy me the oversized classic black Chanel pairs that I covet so deeply, I would be the happiest girl on this planet with oversize sunglasses. I would wear them every day until they broke. I would match them with my Chanel clutch or my Chanel jacket. Imagine the possibilities! Chanel may have to pay me for advertising some day.

With sophisticated technology coupled with a growing demand for designer sunglasses at cheaper prices, counterfeit sunglasses are being engineered to look just like their authentic counterparts. If you set out to buy the phony sunglasses, then you know what you are getting into in terms of quality and price. However, in some cases, people have been hoodwinked into purchasing fake sunglasses at relatively high cost thinking they were the real thing. One particular brand that unfortunately has been hit with this trend is the Oakley trademark. Here are some tips on how to recognize when an Oakley product is fake:

-Be wary if the price is under $75. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Because of the quality of the materials used, the general retail price is often several times this much. However, if you find sunglasses at a discount price, don’t automatically assume that they are fake. You can find wholesaler Oakley sunglasses at a comparatively good value.

-All Oakley sunglasses should come in a box or case with proper documentation. If your pair of sunglasses don’t have the papers that come with a legitimate purchase, you are getting duped.

-Oftentimes, designer sunglasses such as the Oakley ones, have a logo somewhere on the template or the arms in order to show the brand name. Although this is frequently a symbol of how real or genuine they are,  even this is difficult to recognize since Oakley impersonators will sometimes reproduce the logo as well.

-If you purchase your sunglasses online, be sure to check the seller’s feedback for any negative comments. Also make certain to read the fine print. You may very well find out that the seller reveals that the pair of Oakley sunglasses you are purchasing aren’t authentic.

-In the case that you receive your pair of sunglasses and they seem real enough but you are still worried–you can check their authenticity at an authorized Oakley dealer. Because they come in contact with many real and fake sunglasses during their career, they will be able to tell you almost right away whether yours are legitimate.

Ultimately, you are the one who will determine if the price is worth the quality. You may find that if you paid only $75, you don’t mind that your Oakley sunglasses aren’t authentic. Or you may want to pass and find the real deals. Whichever you choose, do remember that the ones that can protect you best against the harmful UVA and UVB rays are the most important.

My friend and I went to the mall earlier this week to buy some new sunglasses. We both need sunglasses for different reasons. I want a replacement to my old D&G frames that unfortunately broke when I accidentally ran them over. My friend wants Chanel sunglasses because she’s a self-admitted “Chanel Virgin” and would like to undo this as soon as possible.

We walked through the doors of a Sunglasses Hut and were surprised to see just how many people were in the store. According to my past experience, having a crowd is always a good sign. This means that more than one person thinks that it is good and worth going to. We quickly bee-lined for our respective sunglasses. I looked at all their selection of Dolce and Gabana sunglasses and could not find the same ones that I had loved but lost. It was actually very disappointing. I know that this variety is still sold in other stores but this particular branch didn’t have them. For posterity, I browsed the other ones to see if I could find a substitute. My heart hurt a little bit more every time I saw the price tags: $200, $250, $285 and $550! I wondered if those sunglasses were crafted out of acrylic or pure human lives.

My friend reported back to me with more or less of the same reaction. It was just too unreasonably expensive and we agree that the cookie-cutter quality wasn’t even worth the steep price. Let down and disenchanted, we walked out of Sunglasses Hut. My friend suggested that we go home and go online to find better sunglasses that are more affordable.

Hey, it’s me again–Harry the Homeless Man. You may remember me from my weekly blog about jetted showers. I am here to say that after considerable success with my other work,  I have decided to started a web log about sunglasses. Why sunglasses you ask? Well as a vagrant living in sunny San Diego, I am somewhat of a connoisseur regarding this accessory. Not only do I come in constant contact with discarded sunglasses which I take back to my tent for further inspection but I also have met quite a few residents here who love sunglasses.

Recently, I have taken up the formidable task of being a  secret spy for a government organization that I will not name for obvious reasons. I can’t reveal this covert mission either but I will say that the men in the trench coats approached me because they saw that I was wearing special Spy Sunglasses. They thought it was only appropriate to award me with this secret undertaking.

 I found these babies on the corner of J and 15th. I’m not sure who dropped it but I’m sure they didn’t know that their sunglasses fell out and onto the ground because no one would intentionally cast off Spy Sunglasses in such pristine condition. I should know; I never see them along my travels. They’re only rare around these parts because people who own them like to hang onto them. I can see why. The ones that I now own have an uber modern black block design with 100% UVA and UVB protection. I know they’re incredibly sturdy because I tested them underneath a bicycle one day. Sometimes, I like to wear my Spy Sunglasses and pretend that I am a robot. Then, I do a really good rendition of a robot dance around people like you who are petrified of homeless men because they’re diseased and insane. I’m here to say that I’m not diseased. I’ve had all of my shots.

Anyway, my unmentionable mission is to be completed within the next five days. I think I’m going to sit in the assigned spot, slip on my super cool Spy Sunglasses and pretend as if I can’t see. I will jot down some notes about the people that I spy and report back to the faceless men in trench coats. Hopefully, if things go well, they will give me another  assignment. Until then, I’ll just sit here perfecting my spy skills as well as my robot moves.

The Ray Ban brand is something that has been on my “Most Coveted List” for a long while now. I love everything Ray Ban. From their classic Ray Ban Wayfarers to their incredibly sleek aviators. Their level of sophistication and pure style is what makes my heart really flutter. The fact that they are simultaneously low-key and versatile is something that draws me to them over other brands of sunglasses.

I have two pairs of Wayfarers–classic black and red. I match them with my clothes to produce an effortless look. Sometimes, my Ray Ban sunglasses will even be the focal point of my outfit. Especially if I’m wearing something relatively colorless like some jeans and a white tee, my red Ray Bans will add that extra “pop”. Another reason I adore the Ray Ban sunglasses that I own is because their lenses are slightly oversized enough to cover the dark circles under my eyes. Somedays when I wake up after a sleepless night, I’d rather just slap on some sunglasses rather than have to put on concealer or makeup. Ray Bans make it possible for me to completely hide behind my specs–something I find very comforting.

Finally, the most important of aspect of the Ray Ban brand is their quality. The pairs that I have all have sturdy acrylic frames, embossed designer logos at the temples, wide arms and scratch-resistant lenses. All are 100% UVA and UVB protective which means that no sun can get through to damage my eyes. I like that remaining mysterious and cool are made so easy with Ray Bans!

I am a recent San Diego transplant from the frozen wintry ponds of the East Coast. I came here knowing full well what the change in weather would be like. Basically, less gloves and more sunglasses. What I didn’t know was a clear domination of Spy brand sunglasses over all others. I had never even heard of them prior to landing on these sun-lit shores. Now, I know that everyone who is in the “know” owns a pair of Spy Sunglasses.

Spy Sunglasses were engineered to be for those who dabble in extreme sports and need sunglasses that will perform for them just as they perform for their sport. They’re designed to stand strong against the elements of the weather. For example, if you want to go white river rafting or  snowboarding, you won’t have to worry about the water or snow hitting your eyes. Because of this aim, the performance variety of Spy polarized sunglasses tend to look like they are a bit futuristic and some are too blocky for my taste.

I did find out that there are Spy Sunglasses for people who don’t want to look like they’re going to a rave circa 1990. These selections are more feminine and smoother than their famous sunglasses. I think I would go for this make if I do end up buying some Spy Sunglasses. I’m tired of standing out like a sore thumb as the “newbie”.

When I was thirteen years old, I had to get my first pair of prescription glasses. It was a very awkward time for me as it was. Now I had to suffer from kids calling me “four eyes” or “nerdazoid”. I know that I could’ve just brushed it off but self-esteem at the time was at an all-time low. Eventually, I got used to the glasses and even bought several different frames so that I could match them to whatever I was wearing at the time. I embraced my glasses as somewhat of a fashion statement. However, later, I still decided to get lasik eye surgery because  I wanted to not have any unwieldy contraptions sit atop my nose for any longer. In this blog, I will write about ways to avoid getting eye glasses and/or prescription sunglasses in the first place so that you won’t have to deal with teasing or spending extra money.

We are often told as children to eat our carrots because they are “good for your eyesight”. If you thought it was a myth your parents told you to get you to eat your vegetables, you’re wrong. Antioxidants have been proven to protect the lens and retina of your eyes to positively affect your vision. Carrots contain beta carotene which your body converts into vitamin A, an antioxidant. Other good provisions to eat to improve your vision are nourishing foods high in Vitamin C and E because they assist in the long term health of your eyes.

Besides eating the right food, there are some exercises you can do to prevent bad eye sight. A lot of us use computers at work and we can sometimes spend up to the full eight or so hours staring at the screen. This can be incredibly straining on your eyes. Although you can’t afford not to do work, you can take some small breaks every ten minutes or so to let your eyes rest. Look at a point in the distance far away–the further the better. If you want to do a more specific exercise, look at your finger about 4-6 inches away from your eyes. Then shift your focus to a target that’s around 10 feet away. Transfer your focus from your finger to the distant point. Repeat several times.

Although you may not be able to reverse your bad vision and completely steer clear of glasses because your eyesight is often dictated by genetics, you might be able to stave off any incremental increase.

I went on a snowboarding trip this past weekend so I needed to find some performance sunglasses that would be able to outperform my speed (because I am a pretty quick when provoked by lively competition). Someone had told me a horror story about their friend accidentally falling on the slopes and scratching their cornea because they didn’t have the proper eyewear. Even if it was untrue, it scared me straight. I knew that I had to come well equipped or I wouldn’t be able to board at all.

I went to a couple of stores that sell performance sunglasses and they all seemed to recommend the Oakley brand. Because of its growth in popularity since it first came out, they have been flying off the shelves. I was told that Oakley sunglasses offer the best in UV protection. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have anything to do with the lens’ reflective color. Rather, it is the shielding ability that is built into the plutorite material. No matter what hue it is, it will block out all the harmful UVA and UVB sunlight 100%. That was the biggest plus.

Besides that, I was also looking for sunglasses that would be able to function well while I was mid-air doing a trick over the hills. Oakley sunglasses are made of a lightweight and comfortable alloy that is simultaneously versatile and strong. In addition, it’s designed in such a way that you don’t even feel it when it’s on. The arms of the sunglasses are kind of bowed out as to not touch your temples. At the same time, it’s still snug and secure around your face so if you were going to participate in extreme sports as I often do, you wouldn’t have to worry about them falling off.

This Christmas, I tried to kill all birds with one stone: I bought everyone the gift of designer sunglasses. You may think that it would be off the charts expensive but it actually wasn’t! I went to a sample sale at a sunglasses wholesaler I had learned about on the internet and was able to save a bundle for the bundle I got.

I got the royal treatment as I walked through the warehouse containing all the designer sunglasses you can imagine. They first gave me a gift bag for attending the event and as I waited in line with a hoard of other surprisingly well-behaved women, I was plotting in my head exactly what I wanted to get. Once inside, my first experience shopping at a sunglasses wholesaler was opened wide. There were tables and tables of sunglasses of every shape and size from every designer–famous or otherwise. I literally could not believe my eyes. I immediately went to the Versace sunglasses table because I know that my sisters adore this brand. I grabbed a few for amazing prices and then headed onto the next table, the Oakley sunglasses booth, so that I could buy some sunglasses for my dad and husband. The vendor girl was even nice enough to tell me what looked good and what didn’t.

By the end of my shopping excursion, I had racked up over 10 pairs of sunglasses. I even managed to slip a purchase of Arnette sunglasses in there for myself. The wholesale price tags were just too scrumptious to pass up. I highly recommend this place because it’s ideal for gift-givers and buyers alike.

My dad recently got lasik eye surgery to correct his near sightedness and when he came home, he had these huge unattractive visors that made him look like a character from Star Trek. The doctors said that because his eyes were sensitive and fragile, protective eyewear is absolutely critical. Especially in post-surgery state, the sunlight can have the damage the cornea and cause hazing or blurriness. However, after seeing my poor dad walk around the house with his futuristic eyewear, I knew I had to step it up for him.

I spoke to his doctor and he said that as long as the sunglasses had 100% UVA and UVB protection and blocks as much as light as possible, it would be OK. I immediately went to Sunglasses Online–a great online store that sells all kinds of sunglasses–and purchased the best pair of polarized sunglasses I could find. The best thing about the Anarchy polarized sunglasses I bought was that they are not only clean looking but their nylon base frame wraps around and the arms are thick as to not let any sun light in whatsoever. The black frames and lenses are also classic look that is perfect for dad to wear anywhere–indoors or outdoors. Now at least he won’t look like a huge dork while protecting his eyes.