Not So Fast, Alligator...

Has it really been over a year since my last ad post?  Le sigh.  That brings us to Lacoste.

Obviously there's some specs appeal to be had here, but I took the time to tear out this page, scan it, e-mail it to myself, color-correct it in Pixlr (thanks, One Fine A!), and post it here...whew...because just look at that tag line. Unconventional chic.  

What's so unconventional here?  It's a Caucasian man and woman wearing solid-color polos--that cost about a C-note each.  And they're sporting glasses (albeit super-cool ones) that are not really too hard to find.  

Did I miss something?  Lacoste, are you being cheeky?

Warby Parker Class Trip: Nashville

I'm so far behind on this post that it's not even funny at this point.  But alas--it must be shared.

A few months ago: Imagine my autumnal surprise to learn that Warby Parker, my beloved buy-one-donate-one purveyor of reasonably priced specs, was doing a "class" trip around the country.  And Nashville was one of the destinations.  (In case you haven't heard, we're the newest IT city.  Not like internal technology.  Like the shiz.)

They converted a schoolbus into a rolling optical library and took it on the road.  Locally they stopped at super-buzzworthy custom denim store Imogene + Willie.  See how they turned the front part of the bus into a chalkboard?  Maybe a bit overdone in interior design by now but super cool on a dang schoolbus.

See how they had all the specs lined up, just ripe for the pluckin'?  It was like heaven.  

They even had library cards to keep up with the frames you like the most.  Then there was a photo booth right outside the bus.  My coworker/friend Candice had gone with me, and we definitely cheesed for the camera.

 While I was right there, I decided to go into Imogene's, which now has a permanent Warby Parker try-on boutique.

 Right?!

The main part of the store has excellent style.  They have rolls of denim up near the ceiling, next to dozens of custom paper patterns.  (They make jeans to order.)  It's a bit pricey for me but a fun store nonetheless.

As if I could not have been more in love with WP at that point, I came home a couple of weeks later to find the following on my doorstep.

And inside....

What in the world could be better than a specs-y Santa sugar cookie?  I pretty much lost my mind at that point.

East Nasty

This weekend I ventured out to East Nashville, which some folks lovingly call East Nasty.  That was really my first true visit there.  I'd eaten a meal or two across the bridge, but Saturday my pal Emily B. and I took our sweet time.  Below are some photographic highlights.

Perhaps my favorite stop was Wonders on Woodland, which is an excellent antiques store on Woodland Street.  Unfortunately, they do not have a website.  What I liked most was that this shop was highly curated.  It is not what Barb (my mom) would call a dig store.  I had office supply envy just inside the door.

Upstairs was this mantelpiece with artwork.  The one in the middle reminded me of Joni Mitchell.

Don't these chairs fulfill your every Mad Men fantasy?

This was a nice deco installation.

This pillow pretty much says it all, no?  It's an item at Old Made Good on McGavock Pike.  At this store, they take vintage items and often rework them to be quite whimsical.  They had a whole men's room, full of old hunting memorabilia, vintage gentlemen's magazines, and lots of plaid work shirts.

And it wouldn't be a complete post without a specs shoutout.  This was a super charming necklace on display at OMG.  (Isn't that clever?)

We also visited Eclectic Design + Boutique on Porter Road, where I picked up a candle from local Etsy seller Oil & Wax.  Hint: there's a great chance you'll see more on this soon.

I hope you enjoyed this min-tour through the East Nasty.  And I hope you're gearing up for eating turkey, giving thanks, and spending some monies.  Mazel!

"I Bought All of These"

JK.  I haven't really mentioned it this year, but I'm attempting another no-spend first quarter.  Today I find myself browsing online for more art to go on my walls.  However, I'm basically just torturing myself.  But that's why God (or Steve Jobs) invented the Favorites tab.  The image above is called "I Bought All of These" by Kate Bingaman-Burt over on 20X200. 

Have you heard of this site?  It's been around a while, and they offer limited-edition prints, photographs, and more by all kinds of artists.  It's rather addictive.  Where do you find cool art?

Cute Specs!

I ran across this Land of Nod insert in a Crate & Barrel catalog the other day.  Isn't she just about as cute as can be, the way she's concentrating on those blocks?

I Spy Back to School For Grown-Ups

I ran across this cool Daily Candy list of products for "big kids" as the smaller ones get back in the academic groove.  Here are some standouts, at least from a visual perspective.

Um.  Duh.  :)  This is a magnifying glass, of all things!  Isn't it boss?  Well, I'm sad to say that the price (78 buckos) matches.  It is neat to look at, though.  And look through, I bet.

Aren't these reusable lunch bags graphically appealing?  They're normally sold in sets of 3 for $24, but you can get a deluxe set of 5 for $38, if you're so inclined.  I don't know how well these will work, as they are cotton, but they would certainly be a discussion piece at the break table.

Shady In The Best Way

Warby Parker is coming out with a line of sunglasses.  And just like their regular specs, for every pair sold, they'll donate a pair of glasses to someone in need.  Plus, soon enough they'll have prescription shades. 

I can't wait.  It will be the first time I've ever been able to wear sunglasses.  Ok.  That's a bit dramatic because I've always had options.  But they have not been up to par.  Not the case with Warby Parker.

Just Peachy

I spent a nice, long weekend in Atlanta with my pals Samantha and Jonathan, a fun married couple.  We went to Paper Source, Yeah! Burger, CB2, Lotta Frutta, Youngblood Gallery, Highland Row Antiques, The Beehive, Richard's Variety Store, and IKEA. 

I had a blast.  Here are some pictures.  :)

I want two of these stools.  Bad.

Cool succulents at CB2.

Random antique-y goodness.

The Beehive is really neat.  It's like an in-person Etsy.  That's how Samantha described it--spot-on.

You know I always have my eyes peeled for specs.

Here Samantha is chilling with her imaginary wine in a 67-cent glass.

We had an excellent time together.  Thanks again, Samantha and Jonathan!

I Can See Clearly...

Hey blog friends!  Thanks for bearing with me through the last couple of no-update weeks.  I had a few bumps (and ice) in the road, but I'm back.  And I brought specs-y with me.  (Sorry.)

The second collection from Warby Parker is now available!  These new frames just cause optical lust in many ways.  WP has also added a little feature where each frame's page tells you which face shape that style will work best on.  The prices have not gone up (about $95 for each pair), and they still donate a pair for every pair purchased. 

I'm going to keep rocking my Coltons most days of the week and spice it up with Thompson from time to time.  Has anyone else tried out Warby Parker? 

Iconoclastic Specs

Have you ever seen the show Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel? 

It's great.  Robert Redford produces this show, which brings together two standouts in different fields who interview each other.  This weekend it was Cate Blanchett, one of my favorite actresses, and Tim Flannery, a fellow Aussie friend of hers who studies climate change.  This was right up my alley, but imagine my surprise when I saw Cate's crazy-cool specs.

I love them...and her.  Not everyone could pull off such a dramatic (ha) frame, but she is one of the few.  The show comes on Saturdays at 9 Eastern/8 Central, but they re-air episodes all the time.  The week before it was a re-run of Fiona Apple with Quentin Tarantino. 

Look out when Charlize Theron meets Jane Goodall.  It promises to be a (insert-clever-monkey-joke) time.  

Geek in the Pink

I'm mildly obsessed with Warby Parker and have been thoroughly enjoying my new specs.  Even though I probably won't be buying more frames any time soon, I still find myself perusing their website every few weeks. 

Here's the most recent discovery.



Isn't this awesome?  They've made a new version of their Japhy style in this nifty pink shade, and $50 from each sale goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  Style and substance.  That's a rare combination these days.

Let's All Go to the Lobby...

...and then promptly back to our seats to revisit some classics, especially after seeing these reimagined movie posters on the unfortunately named EveryGuyed.  I love the simplicity and the graphic punch, and even for the few movies in this lineup that I haven't seen, I know exactly what they're getting at.  Yes, I just ended a sentence with a preposition.

I first saw these linked from Valet and then again over at Manifold Destiny, but that won't stop me from posting here.

A Visit Home/New Specs Debut

This past weekend I got to go home and visit some friends, including Lexie and James, Holly and co. (including Stella!), and my mom and brother.

Here is a picture of me with that sweet baby.  Isn't she precious?  She loves her Toms.  Sorry.  And those are my new Coltons from Warby Parker.

This is my other new pair, called Thompson.  This shot was back from the demo days, and I tried my best to doctor the picture within an inch of its life.



Originally I thought that the Thompsons would be the go-to, everyday frames, but the more I wear the Coltons, the more I like how they're just slightly oversized and funky.  My mom called them tiger.  She meant tortoise but wouldn't concede.  It wasn't worth the argument.  Believe me.

Aren't Hue Ready for a Quiz?

I had to.  This quiz was in my inbox today from Real Simple.  It's called What's Your Color Personality?.

I already knew what I would "score," but it was still fun to take the quiz and read the information at the end.  It only took about five minutes.  Give it a whirl, won't you?

It Doesn't Suit Me...

....when fashion houses go bananas. 

Exhibit A:

I saw this ad when flipping through the massive (for them) September issue of GQ.  What?!  This is an ad for Bottega Veneta, and although the bag and suit are very cool, WTH is up with the Colonel Sanders string tie, chunk-tacular police officer shoes, and go-go-gadget white socks? 

Well, that's not to mention this pose, which was last witnessed on that nymph during an especially confusing scene in 300. 

A few pages in, my style compass was re-centered. 

Thanks, Hugo Boss.  This is how you show a suit and neat bag.  Plus, there's mad specs appeal happening here.  Whew.

I get that fashion is not always supposed to be mass-market and wearable, but that first picture is just too much.  You have to draw the line somewhere.  I'd say Kentucky Fried Fashion is far enough.

The Tortoise Always Wins in the Long Run

Remember how I was smelling specs and candy once upon a time?  And then I felt quite defeated? 

Well, the day has finally arrived. 

Guess what was on my doorstep.

It was like Christmas in August.

Have you ever seen anything so glorious?

I had five pairs of tortoise shell frames, just calling my name.  They did.  They said "Tommy.  Tommmmm-eeee.  Wear us.  Wear us."

So I did.  Repeatedly.  From the pictures, they may look identical, but I seriously loved 4 of the 5 pairs I picked out to try on.  (Sidenote: You definitely need to get on the wait list at Warby Parker if you're interested.  I signed up a few months ago.)  I discounted one and possibly two frames because they're too similar to what I wear now, but the competition remains fierce. 

And let's just face it.  There's a really good chance I may buy more than one pair, at $95 each, plus a donated pair for each purchase.

My anti-blog friend Emily took several pictures of me in each style, but I couldn't bring myself to post them.  I think maybe it's the demo-only plastic lenses, but my entire eye area looked red.  Like Us Weekly red.  Like drugs.  It wasn't good. 

At any rate, I'm beyond excited.  I have four more days to deliberate, lean waaaay into the mirror (I'm blind), and lust over eyeglasses.  I will almost surely order from Warby Parker.  And I will blog about said purchase.

Thanks for reading, as always.