Urban Optiques’ “La La La Lafont” Video Makes the Official Lafont-Paris Eyewear Blog!

We woke up this Saturday to find that our first experiment in trying to bring our eyewear alive for our clients and patients through video got noticed …  4,000 miles away in Paris!

Yesterday, Lafont featured the Urban Optiques video highlighting one of our favorite French eyewear designers on their official blog “Le Blog LAFONT.”

What’s most remarkable to us about this whole story is that Lafont found our video on their own. We never tipped them off.

Lafont recently relaunched their website and included a blog as part of the redesign, which we thought was really forward-thinking.  So it was the highlight of our weekend to find our video included Lafont’s website.

You can check it out here:

http://blog.lafont.com/2010/03/12/lafont-clip-by-urban-optiques/

And here is the video on Optiques TV that started it all:

Hopefully this will intrigue you enough to come in and check out the more than 70 Lafont-Paris eyeglasses we have in stock at Urban Optiques!

Tags: Designer Eyeglasses, Designer Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses, European Eyeglasses, European Eyewear, European Sunglasses, Eyewear Video, Fashion Eyewear, French Eyeglasses, French Eyewear, French Sunglasses, Lafont, Lafont Eyewear, Lafont Paris, Lafont Sunglasses, Lafont Video, Paris, Urban Optiks, Urban Optiques

View the final segment of the complete Badgley Mischka Spring/Summer ‘10 Collection Preview from Amsterdam Featuring Couture Eyewear from Sama

Part III of the Badgley Mischka runway collection at the 11th Amsterdam International Fashion Week.

Not only does the collection have a fantastic soundtrack from Ra Ra Riot and gorgeous clothing, but it also features some amazing eyewear from Badgley Mischka by Sama.

Music by Ra Ra Riot

Ghost Under Rocks – Ra Ra Riot
Can You Tell – Ra Ra Riot
Can You Tell (Epochs Remix) – Ra Ra Riot

Tags: Badgley Mischka, Badgley Mischka Alfie, Badgley Mischka Boyd, Badgley Mischka Corset, Badgley Mischka Couture Eyewear, Badgley Mischka Eyewear, Badgley Mischka Perry, Badgley Mischka Ready to Wear, Badgley Mischka Runway, Badgley Mischka Sprin 2010, Badgley Mischka Summer 2010, Badgley Mischka Sunglasses, Can You Tell, Couture Eyeglasses, Couture Eyewear, Couture Sunglasses, Designer Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses, Eyewear, Fashion, Fashion Eyeglasses, Fashion Eyewear, Fashion Sunglasses, Ghost Under Rocks, Luxury Eyeglasses, Luxury Eyewear, Luxury Sunglasses, Optometrist, Ra Ra Riot, Style, Urban Optiks, Urban Optiques, Vision

Introducing Our ProDesign | Denmark Tints Collection Only Available at Urban Optiques

At Urban Optiques, we like to get creative with our eyewear.

It’s easy just to stock the same run-of-the-mill frames and brands that the chains carry, in the same predictable shapes, colors, materials and lenses.

If that’s what you truly want, you can always visit www.costco.com or www.pearlevision.com (yes, believe it or not, we’re comfortable enough that you’ll eventually choose us that we’ll actually send you to our competitors’ websites to compare.)

But we’ve quickly realized that our clients and patients expect something different.

They want the new, the stylish, the fashionable, the unusual – and sometimes — the cutting edge.

That’s why they’ll drive from as far away as Ohio (yes, they really do) or Grosse Pointe to find their perfect eyewear in downtown Northville.

Which brings me to our new ProDesign | Denmark Tints Collection.

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Tags: Cool Eyewear, Danish Eyewear, Danish Sunglasses, Designer European Eyewear, Designer European Sunglasses, Designer Eyewear, European Eyewear, Eyewear, Fashion, Fashion Eyeglasses, Fashion Eyewear, Funky Eyeglasses, Funky Eyewear, Hip Eyeglasses, Optician, ProDesign, ProDesign Denmark, ProDesign Sunglasses, Style, Tinted Eyeglasses, Tinted Lenses, Urban Optiks, Urban Optiques

Straight From Paris, We’ve Added More Than 40 New Lafont Eyeglasses in Colors, Shapes and Patterns That Are a Feast for the Eyes!

While April in Paris is still three wintery months away, it already feels like springtime on the rue du Faubourg St-Honoré inside Urban Optiques.

That’s because on Thursday, the first of several shipments of new Lafont eyeglasses and sunglasses arrived.

We’ve added more than 40 new frames from Lafont, drawn from the new Spring/Summer 2010 Lafont Paris Collection, as well as new, fresh designs from the Issy & LA and Lafont Reedition Collections. We also added several new  Lafont Pour les Infants frames for children, ‘Tweens and infants.

While the majority of our new Lafont suns will arrive closer to Spring, we did pick a couple of very chic Lafont sunglasses, just to remind everyone that winter doesn’t last forever.

Less than two days after adding the frames, we’ve already sold three of the new Lafont models, which is a great sign.

In celebration of the addition of the new Lafonts, we’re doing a buy one frame at regular price and get 1/2 off select Lafont frames from our previous collection.

This is a great opportunity to pick up two very different styles of Lafonts (one for work and maybe something bolder for play), so be sure to ask about the special when you stop in to browse the new collection.

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Tags: Designer Eyewear, European Eyeglasses, European Eyewear, European Sunglasses, Eyeglass Frames, Fashion Eyewear, French Eyeglasses, French Eyewear, French Sunglasses, Lafont, Lafont 2010, Lafont Eyeglasses, Lafont Eyewear, Lafont Frames, Lafont Issy amp LA, Lafont Lunettes, Lafont Paris, Lafont Pour les Infants, Lafont Reedition, Lafont Spectacles, Lafont Sunglasses, Metro Detroit Lafonts

… Or How We Took A Different Approach With Displaying Our New Lanvin-Paris Eyewear Collection

We try as much as possible to do things differently around Urban Optiques.

For example, we tend to carry a lot more in-store frame stock than most optical shops and optometrist offices (we like to have plenty of cool stuff on hand for you to try on); we don’t schedule our eye exams in 15 minute blocks like the chains (we actually believe in spending time with you to help you care for your eyes); and we don’t display our eyewear in the usual, factory-made, run-of-the-mill display cases (we use “rescued” antique furniture and cabinets.)

If you’ve been in our eyewear studio, you’ll know that displays are something that we spend a lot of time on.  Lately, we’ve been experimenting around with some different display approaches to enhance the visual experience of shopping for eyewear at Urban Optiques.

How we decided to present our new Lanvin-Paris Eyewear Collection is a great example.

Highlighting Lanvin

Since we’re the first Michigan eyewear boutique to carry the Lanvin-Paris eyewear line, we wanted to try something different with how we displayed the brand in the store.

Fashion junkies will know the Lanvin-Paris label instantly, but for the uninitiated, “Lanvin” will sound like … well … “French.”

So we wanted to try to capture and present the essence of France’s oldest couture design house for people who may be finding out about this legendary brand for the first time.  Despite its venerable roots, Lanvin isn’t as widely known in the U.S. as a brand like Prada or Chanel (although we think it should be.)  So we needed to somehow capture the spirit of this line and pass it on to our clients.

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Tags: Couture Eyewear, Couture Sunglasses, Designer Eyewear, Designer Glasses, Designer Sunglasses, European Eyeglasses, European Eyewear, Fashion Eyewear, Fashion Sunglasses, French Eyeglasses, French Eyewear, French Sunglasses, Jeanne Lanvin, Lanvin, Lanvin Couture, Lanvin Eyeglasses, Lanvin Eyewear, Lanvin Paris, Lanvin Sunglasses, Urban Optiks, Urban Optiques

These five fashion trends straight off the runway will be shaping eyewear this fall and into 2010

We’re seeing five trends in fashion this fall that we think are going to be shaping choices in both eyewear and clothing and accessories through fall and winter.

From big shoulders, to animal prints and Twenties- inspired glamour, the runways this season served up a decidedly eclectic fusion of past, present and future.

Girl Meets Boy

First, men’s-inspired shapes made a return, including built-up shoulders, tuxedo jackets and narrow fitting blazers.

While we saw early signs of an ’80s revival as far back as 2008 with the resurgence of Ray-Bans and Wayfarers, the presence of so much ’80s-inspired clothing on runways this fall suggests that the decade that brought us “Wall Street”, Madonna and Tom Cruise singing in his underwear in a pair of Ray-Bans has clearly weaved its way into this season’s styles.

For those of you who have been waiting two decades for the return of the 80’s “power suit”,  2009/2010 might finally be the year.

Big, padded shoulders have returned, as well as oversized buttons balanced with long flowing silk scarves.  On eBay we’re seeing vintage ’80s suits from the likes of Dior and YSL get snapped up, so it seems this is one fashion trend that has some legs.

For men, it’s a continuation of some of last year’s ’80s inspired clothing, including the return of solid or striped shirt with white collar, popularized by Michael Douglas’ Gorden Gecko in the 1987 movie Wall Street.  Can suspenders be far behind?

In terms of matching the “Girl Meets Boy” look with eyewear, you’ll do best to choose a frame with strong geometric shapes and a heavier, more robust materials.

Keep the overt bling to a minimum on these frames, and instead opt for something that incorporates more subtle, integrated embellishments like small crystals, polished metals or unusual textures into the temples.

Pulling off the “Girl Meets Boy” look demands bold, power-eyewear that is balanced with softer, feminine touches.  We like Ray-Ban Wayfarers with this look as well, since they are the quintessential ’80s eyewear.

For men, pair that solid or striped shirt with the white collar with a pair of classic round Oliver People’s eyeglass frames in gold or silver metals, or a Prada men’s aviator sunglass like the Prada PR 65HS in silver.

Or, depending on your facial structure, we love the bold sophistication of the Tom Ford men’s frame.

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Tags: Badgley Mischka, Badgley Mischka Couture Eyewear, Badgley Mischka Dorothy, Badgley Mischka Josephine, Badgley Mischka Sunglasses, Chanel Fall 09 Collection, Chloe 1165, Chloe Eyeglasses, Chloe Eyewear, Designer Eyewear, DKNY Fall 09 Collection, Donna Karan, Donna Karan Anaconda Bootie, Donna Karan Fall 09 Collection, Eyewear Trends, Fashion, Fashion Eyewear, Fashion Trends in Eyewear, Ferragamo Fall 09 Collection, FRED Eyewear, FRED Pearls, Lafont Audace, Lafont Parasol, Lafont Sunglasses, Lanvin 3132 Eyeglass, Lanvin 3136 Eyeglass, Lanvin Eyewear, Lanvin-Paris Eyewear, Oliver Peoples, Prada Eyewear, Prada PR04IS Sunglass, Prada Sunglasses, ProDesign Eyewear, ProDesign Zense 7349, Ray-Ban, Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, Ray-Ban Wayfayer, Style, Sunglass Trends, Tom Ford Eyewear, Vintage Eyewear, Vogue Eyewear, Vogue Sunglasses, YSL Fall 09 Collection

See and Be Seen in Lanvin-Paris Eyewear from Urban Optiques!

We love deliveries at Urban Optiques — especially big, brown boxes from the UPS guy filled with box-upon-box of new eyeglass frames and sunglasses. We get even more excited when the box is filled with a new designer eyewear line that we haven’t previously carried.

So when we received our first shipment of Lavin-Paris eyeglasses and sunglasses this week, the office was filled with “ohhs” and “ahhs” as we unwrapped each these chic, sophisticated frames (and yes, we typically try on each of them while we do it.)

Lanvin Eyewear:  From Paris with Love

Previously unavailable in the United States, getting your hands on a pair of Lanvin eyeglasses or sunglasses meant either jumping a jet to Paris, or calling up that long-lost French pen-pal from grade school and having them ship you a pair.

Luckily, Lanvin-Paris struck a international distribution deal, so this high-quality, very fashionable eyewear line is now available in the U.S.  As soon as we had an opportunity to add Lanvin to our designer collection, we did. From our market research, Urban Optiques is one of the few Metro-Detroit eyewear boutiques to carry Lanvin-Paris eyewear.

Fantastic Eyewear from France’s Oldest Couture House: The Lanvin Story

Fashionistas will already be familiar with the Lanvin-Paris label.

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Tags: Albert Elbaz, Designer Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses, Fashion, Fashion Eyewear, Jeanne Lanvin, Lanvin, Lanvin Couture Eyewear, Lanvin Eyeglasses, Lanvin Eyewear, Lanvin Sunglasses, Lanvin-Paris, Lanvin-Paris Eyewear, Urban Optiks, Urban Optiques