Archive for the ‘Knowledge is Power’ Category

Ric Jensen touches the frame on his new glasses to call up their reading power. Batteries in the frame send a current that changes the orientation of molecules in the liquid crystals of the lenses. When he touches the side of the frame again, the reading power disappears. He also can adjust the glasses to see at a long distance or at an intermediate level.

EmPower glasses. They look like a typical pair of glasses, but they automatically adjust to the wearer’s needs with the touch of a finger. Manufactured by PixelOptics of Roanoke, Va., the glasses are said to be the “next generation” after blended trifocals. These glasses provide a wider field of view, less distortion and avoid common side effects that may come with progressive trifocals and bifocals, the company says

How they work

The glasses provide vision correction that is instantly activated by a layer of liquid crystals embedded in each lens, according to the manufacturer. The correction force is powered by a battery, and wearers control the level of correction with their fingertips. They touch the frame of the glasses by their temple to turn the electronics on or off, and a swipe of the fingers activates the automatic correction mode.

Could this be the future of optical glasses, or just another fad that will soon be replaced? Only time will tell…

I went to see The Avengers with my old man the other day. Talk about action! High octane explosions mixed with intense hand to hand combat. A definite field day for any comic book nerd…or action movie fanatic! One thing I noticed, because of my interest in eyewear fashion, were the spectacles that Bruce Banner aka the Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo) was wearing throughout the film. Check out the pics below:

The frames Dr. Banner wears are simple, sophisticated,  and slightly sexy.  If you’re looking for frames with this kind of vibe check out the brands below, both of which can be found at Gafas!

(From L-R: Leisure Society – Princeton; Barton Perreira – Dudley)

Over the last few years A-list movie star, Johnny Depp, has become synomous with blue-tinted lenses. During the Japanese promotional tour for the third enstallment in the Pirates of the Caribbean Series, Captain Jack Sparrow’s blue lenses created quite the media buzz. Speculations have been made involving many theories as to why Depp is sporting these colourful lenses. Here are a couple of the more prominent ones:

Diet:

It turns out that for several years prior to Depp’s visit blue eyeglasses had been in the news in Japan for their purported appetite suppressant effect. In May 2005 a Japanese television program first reported that when the city of Glasgow, Scotland, changed some of their orangish street lights to bluish lights a mysterious effect was noticed: Glaswegians suddenly mellowed out and the city’s crime rate dropped. Some say this can be attributed to an increase in seratonin in the residents’ brains (an increase associated with blue light), which can affect mood, sleep, and appetite.

Migraine:

Coloured lenses effectively damp down the effects of lights or patterns that trigger visual migraine, explains Arnold Wilkins, professor of visual perception at Essex University. He goes on to say, “One theory is that using colour redistributes the excitement in the brain that occurs in a response to something such as stripes. By doing this, the hyperactivity in the brain is reduced when exposed to these triggers. Colorimetry, the science of how the brain perceives colour, is already being used to help people with epilepsy and dyslexia (disorders also related to brain excitablity). With dyslexia, for instance, colour filters have been shown to improve reading performance in many cases…”

Regardless of the reason, Johnny Depp has definitely made blue lenses fashionable. I guess we at Gafas need to hop on the blue-lense train pronto!

Google has unveiled futuristic prototype eyeglasses that offer a heads-up display with a connection to the internet.

Dubbed “Project Glass,” the fashionable and discreetly designed specs project icons and images within the wearer’s field of vision and allow voice-activated control and communication.

In the video demonstration above, a wearer is shown in a daily routine while checking the weather, reading and sending messages, taking and sending photographs and participating in a video chat.

“We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input,” Google says in a post on a Google+ page devoted to Project Glass.

The glasses will be tested in public by the company’s development team, but Google has not said when they might be sold or at what price.

It’s all very futuristic, no doubt. There is no release date yet, but without having tried a prototype on ourselves they seem as though they would be vaguely intrusive if not downright creepy. Call me a traditionalist but glasses are meant to be looked through, not to check the weather, emails, taking pictures, etc. What are your thoughts?

From L to R: Entourage of 7 (Hank); Entourage of 7 (Crenshaw); Salt.Optics (Yates)

Intelligence:

Black matte frames suggest intelligence. They frame a person’s eyes in such a way that says “I don’t have to try to look cool. I am cool.”

Style:

Confidence oozes from a person who ears black matte eyeglass frames. You can buy a shape and glass translucency that’s fitting to your style. Choose something distinctive and unique to you. Go with what you like. Signature style can be hard to develop, but once you do, you will most certainly have the distinction you seek.

Strength:

Just as all people do, frames vary in their resilience and strength. Many of the black matte frames absorb the glare of flash cameras, sunlight or the bright lights of the red carpet. Fingerprints are not a concern, either. The black matte frames are often made of the materials that represent practicality, common sense and power.

Versatility:

The best frames will work for any situation. Black matte offers that. Wear something that is classic, irrefutably fahsionable in any scenario, that will match any variation in wardrobe. Black goes with everything and when they’re matte, you can be sure your style will be classic and understated enough for the most discriminating tastes.

In true Paul Frank fashion, it’s all about how fun glasses can be. Keeep checking to blog for info on when the new Paul Franks come to the store. In the meantime come by Gafas and try on the current roster of Paul Frank frames we’ve got!

As you may or may not know Entourage of 7 is the story about Rikke and Jakob Talbo, co-founders of the famed frame company.  After a decade working for industry leaders, in 2004 the native Danes moved to Los Angeles destined to live out their vision of creating their own luxury eyewear label.   Influenced by the Danish design masters of the 50’s – 60’s and the LA way of life, the designs have transcended into a clean but laid back style.  All Entourage of 7 frames are made in Japan using only the best materials such as beta titanium and Japanese zyl acetates. Come by Gafas today to try on a pair of PCH’s or any of the amazing Entourage of 7 frames we have in our store!

From left to right: Marcel Stewart (Benvolio), Kaleb Alexander (Romeo)

Gafas associate Marcel Stewart (who is a rising actor in Toronto) will be featured in two Shakespeare plays this month: Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth. Both plays will be happening at Central Commerce Collegiate, which is at Harbord and Shaw (near Ossington Station). There is a performance of R&J happening next Saturday, April 28th, at 2pm, and then Macbeth will be performing the same day at 7:30pm. If you’re interested in seeing some theatre than why not check out these two amazing plays! Tickets can be purchased at the door OR by going to www.shakespeareinaction.org!

From left to right: David Shelly (servant), Kaleb Alexander (Romeo), Marcel Stewart (Benvolio)

From left to right: David Shelley (Macbeth), Marcel Stewart (Witch), Shaina Silver-Baird (Witch), Kaleb Alexander (Witch), Chris Karczmar (Banquo)

From left to right: Peter Smith (Duncan), Eze Anguis (Malcolm), Marcel Stewart (Bloody Captain)

Entering it’s 5th Season, the Emmy Winner (4 years in a row) for Most Outstanding Drama Series, Mad Men has received critical acclaim for it’s historical authenticity and visual style. Mad Men has also been credited with setting off a wave of renewed interest in the fashion and culture of the early 1960s. According to The Guardian in 2008, the show was responsible for a revival in men’s suits…[and] everything from tortoise shell glasses to fedoras”.

One example is the frames worn by Lane Pryce (seen above) who has become partner at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. These frames embody everything that Lane represents: distinguished, confident, and stylish. We don’t have the exact same ones at Gafas but drop by the store and try on our array of vintage inspired Entourage of 7′s…we’ll have you looking like an Ad Exec. in no time!

Tom Ford has announced the Special Edition Tom Ford Eyeglasses 2012 Fall-Winter Collection. This Tom Ford Eyewear line is inspired by the elegance of the 50’s. The great people at Tom Ford have created new frames for both women and men made of the best quality gold-plated metal with precious water buffalo horn on the front and the temple tips.

The women’s Tom Ford eyeglasses are offered in yellow-gold plated metal with brown and gray striped horn, or yellow-gold plated metal with white and gray striped horn. The men’s Tom Ford eyeglasses are offered in white-gold plated metal with brown and gray striped horn, or yellow-gold plated metal with black striped horn.