A Colorful Update

*covers face while admitting* It’s been about two years since I’ve gone to see the eye doctor. And as a creative whose livelihood depends on how well I can see detail, read correct measurements, and combine colors, making sure my vision is at its best is a priority! I don’t know what happened during the first year - like why I just skipped going for an eye exam altogether - but the second year, which was 2020 . . . well, we all know why going places wasn’t at the top of the list.

But now that things are opening back up a bit and healthcare in every sense is very much a priority, I finally felt comfortable enough to make my appointment with my optometrist. And it was needed!

During the last year, I began developing headaches and dry eyes due to, you guessed, Zoom fatigue. Teaching virtual fitness classes and really having to focus in on how certain movements were executed by attendees - for safety - was taking a toll on my visionary globes (just wanted to creatively rename eyeballs . . . we’ll see if it sticks😅). Too, with my interior design workload increasing during the pandemic, staring at the computer for hours on end definitely contributed to those vision-induced headaches.

So off to Eclectic Eye - my eye care boutique - I went!

Source: EclecticEye.com

Other than needing to update my prescription, with it now being summer, I wanted to incorporate more colorful pieces into my wardrobe - including my eyewear. So I knew I’d be picking out some new frames during this trip!

My Signature

Photography: Kim Thomas

By now, we all know that these frames by maker, Masahiro Maruyama, are my signature frames. Like, if I ever get an action figure made of me, I need one of my accessories to be these frames! I was drawn to this brand, and style, due to its use of mixed metals and celebration of asymmetry. Since the latter is a concept I champion when designing my jewelry, I wanted to incorporate elements of asymmetrical design in my personal image. And let’s be honest, if I was going to wear glasses, I needed them to be a statement piece!

But now, it was time to spice things up with a little bit more color!

The New Signature . . .

Masahiro Maruyama will forever be my jam, I knew that one of the frames I chose would have to be from this maker! Since my last visit to Eclectic Eye though, they’ve brought in some new styles and colors from Masahiro . . . and ‘twas love at first sight - sang in Kylie Minogue - when I saw these peach and gold-colored frames!

I originally hoped I’d find a yellow pair of glasses as my new signature. I mean, that’s pretty much the color that dominates my wardrobe atm. But the eyewear brand doesn’t offer that colorway - yet . . .*coughs in hopeful collaboration*. However, these new peach-toned frames can serve as a pop of color or a neutral, depending on the outfit, and will be my day-to-day, signature specs.

My Wildcard!

Y’all . . . I love these! For the second pair, I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and go for a bold color statement. So I chose these frames that are the result of a beautiful collaboration between eyewear designer Anne & Valentin and artist, Pierre-Louis Mascia.

I needed a lightweight pair of glasses for when I’m teaching classes or biking. And because I’m very picky about my sunglasses, and still need to be able to see well when wearing them, I decided to add transition lenses these frames.

Another reason why I loved these frames so much is their name and reason for being made. They’re the Je Suis Comme Je Suis, or “I am what I am” frames, a playful nod to the song by French singer, Juliette Grecco. With individuality and being truly YOU as something I encourage on the daily, these glasses would be my little reminder to always remain unshakeably true to who I am!

Eclectic Eye

The team over at Eclectic Eye, led by owners Dr. Mike and Robbie Weinberg, are some of my favorite people in the world. From the moment you walk in, you’ll always be greeted as if you were a longtime friend. Each person on the team plays a key role in making sure your experience is as informative as it is fun!

And this time around, I got a chance to visit with Dr. Fonseca, who’s new to the EE family. She really worked with me in determining the true source of the problems I had with my vision - I’m seriously farsighted - and with my new - and slightly more intensified - prescription, I can see without straining . . . which was ultimately the cause of my newly occurring headaches.

Other than their celebration of life and welcoming of all, the Eclectic Eye family really supports the local arts community by doubling as a gallery for curated art collections, as well as allowing artists from all over the city to collaborate with them in creative ways. And because health safety is very much a concern of mine even though things around us are opening back up rapidly, I appreciate that the team adheres to the safest measures while we’re inching closer to the hopeful end of the pandemic.

And the vibe of the boutique itself? Check out the video below to see the experience you’ll get each and every visit!

It’s safe to say that I’ve found my eye-care home with the EE family!

Reel by Kim Thomas

Please don’t be surprised if you see me around town, or on the interwebs, even more now that I have my new glasses . . . let me have my moment with them! 😅

How do you go about choosing your frames and truly having them reflect your personality, if glasses are a necessity? Let me know in the comments below!