In This Month’s VSP EnVision Newsletter We Tackle Whether Lash Growth Serums Equal the End of Mascara as We Know It (And Will You Feel Fine?)

This month’s topic in my monthly “Ask The Eye Doctor” column in the VSP EnVision Newsletter might at first seem like a purely cosmetic one:

“Are new lash-growth serums the end of mascara as we know it?”

But if you dig a little deeper, this question goes more than skin-deep.

So ladies, before you throw out that tube of Chanel Inimitable to test drive one of the many eyelash growth products on the market, be sure to read this month’s column to understand how and why they work, as well as the potential risks.

Tags: Ask the Eye Doctor, bimatoprost, Eyelash Growth, Eyelash Growth Products, Eyelash Serums, FDA Approved Eyelash Growth Products, FDA Approved Lash Serum, Lash Serums, Latisse, Lumigan, Style, VSP, VSP EnVision

What’s Hot? Detroit’s Truly Independent Trendsetters Dish On What’s “In Store” For Fall Style

Last month Candace Dickow at 944 Detroit approached us with a very cool opportunity: 944 was looking for 10 of Metro-Detroit’s leading Independent  Trendsetters to participate in a special two-page feature in 944’s September Fashion Issue on what we thought would be hot this season in terms of fashion, style and accessories.

What we especially loved about the concept was that unlike many of the other major local, upscale lifestyle magazines in Metro-Detroit, 944 chose to focus on smaller, independent businesses, versus simply falling back on the big, upscale department stores that seem to be featured over-and-over again in other local magazines’ fashion spreads and pictorials.

At Urban Optiques, we’ve always scratched our heads when we see the local glossies turn to the giant department stores for product and insight on style trends.

We have scores of fantastic, smaller, independent boutiques and retailers right here in Metro-Detroit that have deep expertise in their industries and are blazing fashion and style trails at a pace that the more conservative department store buyers simply aren’t willing to commit to.  And many of these featured businesses are offering deeper, more unique and exclusive collections than the corporate giants at Somerset Mall. In fact, in the case of Urban Optiques, most of our eyeglasses and sunglass brands simply can’t be purchased

Last month Urban Optiques sponsored the 2nd Annual “Buy Michigan First Festival” in Northville, and based on attendance and response, there is a tremendous amount of demand in Metro-Detroit for supporting the types of businesses featured in the “Independent Trendsetters” spread in 944.  These smaller businesses create jobs, keep a large portion of their profits in the local economy, tend to reinvest into the community and are quickly putting Detroit back on the map as as an up-and-coming center of creativity, entrepreneurship — and yes — style.

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Tags: 944 Detroit, 944 Magazine, Adam and Eve, Amanda Kalasho, Anita Sabri, Bethany Shorb, Chantall Bacall, Cyberoptix, Designer Eyewear Trends, Detroit Boutiques, Detroit Female Entrepreneurs, Detroit Independent Trendsetters, Detroit Trendsetters, Dr. Michelle Calder Cardwell, Eyewear Trends, Fall 2010 Fashion Trends, Fall 2010 Style Trends, Fall 2010 Trends, Fashion, Fashion Eyewear Trends, Fashion in Detroit, Fashion Trends, Jovan Jane, Jovan Kassab, Kiss and Tell, Leslie Binno, Metro Detroit Female Run Businesses, Natasha Robin, Nicole Nona, Nikalet, Pink Pump, Royal Dutchess, Rubys Balm, Sahrob Jabero, Sandi Dabish, Sheryl Freedland, Style, Sway, Tawny Theiu, Urban Optiques

After a Long Wait, the Maria Sherapova Sunglasses from Tag Heuer Have Arrived!

In April we teased all of you with a promise that the “Maria Sherapova” Sunglasses from Tag Heuer were about to arrive at Urban Optiques.

Okay, it took a little longer than expected, but we just received the first Maria Sherapova signature sunglass in from Tag Heuer and it’s amazing:

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Tags: Designer Sunglasses, Luxury Sunglasses, Maria Sherapova, Maria Sherapova Sunglass, Maria Sherapova Sunglasses, Maria Sherapova TAG Heuer, Sporty Sunglasses, Style, TAG Heuer Eyewear, TAG Heuer Maria Sherapova Sunglasses, TAG Heuer Sunglasses

Looking for More Inspiration On How To Accessorize Your Loree Rodkin Hunters? Today’s Look from Urban Optiques Dresses The Hunters Up.

Accessorizing eyewear with other pieces in your wardrobe is often less about the eyewear, and more about the rest of the outfit.

Today’s look, which again features the Loree Rodkin Hunter Special  Edition sunglasses, is the perfect example.

The first words that usually come out of people’s mouths when they see the Loree Rodkin Eyewear Collection is “edgy” or “gothic.”  And it’s true:  Loree’s distinct style of jewelry and eyewear design is rife with daggers, skulls, serpentine embellishments and crosses.

So you might be tempted to think the only way to wear her jewelry or eyewear is with a pair of leather pants and stilettos.

But as many of Loree Rodkin’s devotees will attest, her designs are combined with formal wear all of the time.  Watch the red carpet at any Hollywood or major fashion event, and you’ll likely see at least one luminary wearing Loree’s jewelry alongside their couture dress.  A quick glance at Loree Rodkin’s press book will settle any lingering doubts you might have.

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Tags: 18K Gold Lenses, 18K Gold Sunglasses, 944 Detroit, 944 Detroit Swag, Accessories, Derek Lam, Derek Lam Wool Crepe Dress, Designer Eyewear, Designer Sunglasses, Detroit Swag, Donald J Pilner Adela Chain Satchel, Eyewear Lookbooks, Fashion, Lookbooks, Loree Rodkin, Loree Rodkin Eyewear, Loree Rodkin Hunter, Loree Rodkin Hunter Sunglasses, Loree Rodkin Sunglasses, Luxury Eyewear, Luxury Sunglasses, Report Signature Vandalia Bootie, Style

Urban Optiques and Sama Eyewear Featured Together in Women’s Wear Daily Accessory Edition Discussing the Trend Toward 24-karat Gold Sunglasses

We were just perusing the July 19th Edition of  Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) and were delighted to find that an interview we gave to fashion reporter Lauren Benet Stephenson at WWD a few weeks ago helped shape a full-page piece on 24-karat gold lensed eyewear in this week’s July WWD Accessories Issue.

While we’re a pretty modest group around Urban Optiques (aside from all of our flashy sunglasses), this is one of those times when it feels okay to brag a bit. After all, it’s not every day that a small, independent eyewear boutique like Urban Optiques receives this kind of exposure in the fashion industry’s premier global daily. We were also excited to see sunglasses from both Sama and Badgley Mischka featured not only in the article, but on the cover.  We love it when we can help our best partners get more exposure.

If the New York Times is where you go for world events, and the Wall Street Journal for financial news, WWD is the first place every fashion designer, retailer and industry mover-and-shaker goes to see what’s hot in the industry.  So serving as the primary, trusted retail source for this article (we’re actually the only consumer facing source in the article — everyone else quoted represents the brands and eyewear manufacturers)  is kind of a big deal for us.

We’re also particularly proud of the job that our Practice Manager, Lindsey Champine,  did working with the writer on this story. Lindsey’s quotes are golden (no pun intended), especially her response to the reporter’s question about why she believed ultra-lux eyewear products like 24-karat gold lenses continue to sell so well, even in a struggling economy.

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Tags: 24 k Gold Sunglasses, 24 karat Gold Lenses, Angelina Jolie Sunglasses, Badgley Mischka Gold Sunglasses, Badgley Mischka Perry, Badgley Mischka Sunglasses, Eyewear Trends, Lindsey Champine, Press, Sama Eyewear, Sama Gold Eyewear, Style, Urban Optiques, Womens Wear Daily, WWD

Be One of Only 35 People in the World To Own the New, Limited-Edition Sama Heart of Gold Regal Sunglass.

A few weeks ago, Brian Glascow at Sama Eyewear swore us to secrecy when he shared a new Heart of Gold sunglass variation that Sheila Vance and the Sama Team had been hard at work on for months.

This was going to be a very special sunglass, Brian explained, with an extremely limited run: Sama was producing only 35 of these sunglasses, and just 10 of them were going to be available to the public through Sama’s small, exclusive network of independent optical boutiques.  The remainder would be available for purchase only at the Destination: Sama Beverly Hills, Rome, St. Louis and West Hollywood Boutiques and to a small, inner circle of Sama loyalists.

That’s right: There are only 35 of these sunglasses in the world.

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Tags: 18K Gold Sunglasses, Betty Ford Center, Couture Eyewear, Fashion, Limited Edition Sunglasses, Luxury Eyewear, Luxury Sunglasses, Sam Vance, Sam Vance Foundation, Sama, Sama Eyewear, Sama Heart of Gold, Sama Heart of Gold Regal, Sama Heart of Gold Sunglasses, Sama Limited Editional Sunglasses, Sama Sunglasses, Sheila Vance, Style, Sunglasses with Crystals, Swarovski Crystal Sunglasses, Urban Optiques

Experience First Hand The Sama Eyewear Runway Show at the Angiolucci Lunettes Boutique in Catania, Italy.  Featuring Sunglasses from the Sama, Badgley Mischka and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture Collections.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, we adore Sama Eyewear around Urban Optiques.

Why?

Well,  Sama is simply producing some of the most amazing, contemporary couture eyewear on the planet.  Forget about Chanel, D&G, Dior, Burberry and Coach.  Anyone can buy that at Sunglass Shack or Lenscrafters.  If you want something truly unique, you’ll want Sama.

If you don’t believe us, check out this great video filmed at the Angiolucci Lunettes Boutique in Catania, Italy. Not only does it feature some of Sama’s hottest sunglasses, but it also includes some great clips from Sama founder and lead designer Sheila Vance.

It speaks for itself.

The footage includes sunglasses from Sama, Badgley Mischka Eyewear and Loree Rodkin eyeCouture.

Enjoy and Grazie! to Angiolucci for sharing this with us all:

Tags: Angiolucci Lunettes Boutique, Badgley Mischka Eyewear, Badgley Mischka Sunglasses, Couture Sunglasses, Designer Sunglasses, Fashion, Loree Rodkin eyeCouture, Loree Rodkin Eyewear, Loree Rodkin Sunglasses, Sama, Sama Couture Eyewear, Sama Couture Sunglasses, Sama Eyewear, Sama Fashion Show, Sama Fashion Show Italy, Sama Sunglasses, Sheila Vance, Style, Sunglass Shack, Urban Optiques