The Item: Moscot Lemtosh Glasses

Moscots are right up there when it comes to my list of dream purchases. The brand's heritage speaks for itself. Known for their iconic retro specs which are handcrafted the same way since 1915, they have the distinction of being the go-to brand for such notables as Andy Warhol, Buddy Holly and Johnny Depp. Don't let the celebrity clientele sway you though, the products bring it. Just look at this tortoise-shell "Lemtosh" model I copped on sale. At just the right amount of cat-eye and touch of nerdiness, the quality and aesthetics more than deserve its own merit.

Here it is worn. My first full-frame thick glasses. Scratch that off the bucket list!

The Item: Thom Browne Eyewear

I don't own any Thom Browne pieces, but the man's influence on my current style state has been unparalleled to say the very least. After all, my pants haven't touched my ankles in years. That's why I was thrilled when I was able to catch some of his eyewear pieces on display at Surrender. Venturing out from the suits and shoes that are his signatures, Mr. Browne has created a lineup that defies description. They're classic but with a touch of utilitarianism, luxurious yet unfinished. Quite honestly and simply, he just defined where glasses end and spectacles begin.

Man, I should've taken more shots of the other models. Best glasses I've ever tried on.

The Store: The Specs Stall at Queensway

Queensway Shopping Center is the go-to place for cheap sporting goods here in Singapore. And with my Nike Frees recently giving up on me, I decided there was no better time to give the place a quick look. Little did I know though that the store that would make the most impact on me would actually be an eyewear shop. Yes, amidst all the sneakers, boards, and rackets was this little spectacle stall that had the most wonderful collection. Impressive pieces from Japan, Korea, and even classic Moscot frames from the States? Man, they know what they're doing. Honestly, it's not the bargain bin prices I was looking for (frames range from S$150 to S$250 with lenses), but what the hell, this whole getting fit thing can wait another year! (Yup, I said that last year too.)

Just like my shoes now, I like my specs chunky. Upper right, you'll be mine!

Tortoise shell glasses on bottom left: they're as classic as classic gets!

The Item: Ray-Ban Tortoiseshell Clubmasters

Summer's right around the corner, folks. Perfect time to get new shades to sport during the sizzling season. This year, though, why don't you forego those black plastic frames you always choose and add something different to your eyewear roster. If I may make a suggestion, you can't go wrong with tortoiseshell sunnies. It's as classic as classics get, with that tasty mix of browns and reds that will jive well with the hot hues of April and May. If you're still on the fence about wearing 'em, go for a half-frame number like this Ray-Ban Clubmaster to start. Worked well for your dad in the 80s, will surely work wonders for you too! (Seen first on Powersnet!)

Changed the lenses to prescription ones so I can maximize these babies

Oh, and I just love the case! Anything that's in caramel leather, count me in.

The Item: Topman Clubmaster Redux

You know those Topman Clubmasters I was endorsing some months back? Well, thanks to the generous Topman mid-year sale, they're now 50% off the original price at only P650! Of course, with this blessing, there's no way I was going to pass them up this time. So yeah, I nabbed 'em, put 'em on, and fell in love all over again. Just in time for the summer season in Hong Kong too! Now time to get some contacts so I can see clearly with the damn thing on.

Those dots are a fine deviation from the typical Clubs, infinitely cheaper too.

The Item: Topman Clubmasters

My cousin was just telling me about the dope pair of "Clubmasters" he bought in Landmark (for 250 bucks!) the other day when I remembered these shades I saw in Topman some weeks back. It was from right before our Boracay trip and I was debating then whether I should get them or not for our annual vacay. In hindsight, I believe I should've because I can't afford those authentic Ray-Bans now and I've grown tired of squinting in the sunlight already despite just being in the early part of April. Not bad for P1,300 I think, with those little stud details at the browline's corner. Ah, regrets. They may not be even there when I return, although I am hoping for the best!

A look-for-less piece which I won't be ashamed to have

The Item: Cheap Saizen Specs

Looking for some seriously cheap specs without skimping on style? Yup, you know where to go. Saizen surprised me yet again with these fine black plastic frames which feature that fading detail that's all the rage now. A bit on the small side when I tried 'em on, but it's nothing a trip to your local eyewear shop can't fix. They can melt that plastic up and contour it perfectly around your face. So yes, another Saizen steal at a you-just-lost-it-but-it's-okay P85!

These babies made me a believer. Great for optional reading glasses, if nothing else.

Also comes in handsome tortoise shell fade, if you're not feeling the black pair.

The Happening: Jack Bauer's Dope Specs

Forgive me for exaggerating, but I do believe that 24 is the most awesome TV show of all time...of all time! It has been for 8 seasons now, with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) taking and dishing out all sorts of god-awful torture. Not only are the plots about government conspiracies and terrorism so riveting, but the show's innovative format of offering events as they happen "in real time" makes for such fast paced television (though it made me wonder at times why Bauer doesn't pee or even yawn).

Anyhow, this mention of the show on ze blog is not without merit. While I was watching the latest episode online, I just happened to notice the awesome glasses that Mr. Bauer wore while undercover (as if glasses would help, right?) Come to think of it, though, in this particular case, they do. The thick rounded specs are flat-out awesome and made even the toughest of SOBs look slightly intellectual. Of course, after having said that, he proceeded to pull out his gun and threaten a thug, but that's just how Jack Bauer is. Still, props to the wardrobe guy.

The best style choice Jack's ever made

Look at the intensity!

The Item: Oliver People's Riley

Remember clip-on shades? Yeah, I hated them back in the day too; too tacky and pa-cool for me. Like everything else from the past though, I have now reconsidered, thanks in large part to these Rileys from Oliver Peoples.

A fine tortoise shell frame enhanced by aviator-ish snap-ons, they'll definitely set you apart from the dudes who you used to wear them in the 90s. Same concept, but just better execution all around, I'd say. I mean, just look at how Elijah Wood wore 'em below.This halfling sure has come a long way from Mordor!

I'd have preferred a non-tortoise shell base...

...but my favorite hobbit convinced me otherwise

Photo courtesy of Acquire and Oliver Peoples

The Item: Ray Ban Tortoise Shells

Remember my Ninoy post just the other day where I namedropped Bam Aquino? I was raving about the tortoise shell Ray Bans he had on that day, and I think I just might know where he bought them. It was the same place my girlfriend got me my Ray Ban browlines, Almeda Optical at Glorietta 4.

The branch has the most impressive Ray Ban opticals line-up I've seen so far and the recent addition of these tortoise shells just proves that they should be your go-to as well. Tortoise shells are not for everyone, but for the select few like Bam who can wear them with confidence, hats off to ya. It's people like you who break the monotony and make the world look just a little bit better!

The toned down wayfarer shape makes these look more professor than poser

Almeda Optical
2/F Glorietta 4, Ayala Center
Makati City, Metro Manila

The Icon: Ninoy Aquino

I saw Bam Aquino the other day in Greenbelt 5 and I couldn't help but stare at his sweet tortoise shell glasses. I must say, I was quite impressed. Not everyone can pull those off, but he did and it was a thing of beauty. It must run in the family, I suppose. All the Aquino men - well, most of them anyways (*cough* Noynoy *cough*) - wear statement glasses perfectly. They can thank Ninoy for that. Not only was he the best president we never had. He also made thick plastic frames look oh so damn cool.

Even with a blurry television, you could see how awesome his glasses were

Even in his younger days, his specs were already spot on

While it can be argued that a lot of people wore bold glasses back then, I believe that no one pulled it off better than Ninoy. It must have been that swagger about him, that confidence he had that could have brought a dictatorship down to its knees (and almost did). It was the perfect marriage: A charismatic man whom you can't help but listen to and a pair of plastic frames which you can't take your eyes off.

Often times, tinted frames would look tacky. This is not one of those times.

Suited up or dressed down, Ninoy's glasses just worked

The weight may come and go, but the fine taste in eyewear clearly does not

Pictures of Ninoy in his trademark specs look as awesome today as it did back then. To this very day, I still think no one does it better. Whether it be through commercials or clothing, seeing those bold frames could still only mean one person. And with the election coming up in a few months, how I wish we had a way to bring him back. We could've used our own John F. Kennedy, a president we could be proud of in both style and substance.

Is that a Fred Perry Laurel peeking out? Oh, you continue to amaze, sir

Oh my, does Cory look like Kris here or what?

It's just not the same without the specs, is it? Oh, Cory mirrors Kris yet again!

Take a gander below to see my favorite Ninoy speech. It's about 10 minutes long, but be patient my young padawan, every second's well worth it.

The Guide: Getting the Perfect Frames

I've been wearing glasses practically my whole life. My mom said it was because I always stayed too close to the TV as a child and was glued for hours on end (Damn you, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!). Well, looking at all the models I've had these years, I can say it's been quite a ride.

You name it, I've had 'em all: Thick gold-rimmed D.O.M. models, thin black-rimmed librarian types, ill-advised rimless numbers, and an athletic piece from Nike. I've spent years looking for that one frame that will be "the one" I will grow old with, and coincidentally, it was my girlfriend who gave me the perfect pair I believe I'll be wearing till I probably can't see no more.

The Pair I Love: Rayban Browline Glasses (my girlfriend's perfect gift!)

Sentimentality aside, I for one feel very fortunate to wear specs on a regular basis. It gives me that much needed air of intellectualism, even when I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. Another major plus is the added style statement they make. I mean, can you imagine Woody Allen, David Hockney, and Andy Warhol without their signature frames? If done right, your glasses can be your trademark, and yeah, you don't even have to be as talented as the people above to pull it off!

Now where would Woody Allen be without his glasses?

The first thing you have to look at when choosing glasses is the shape of your face. A general guideline is to get glasses that are the opposite of your face shape. For example, if you have a round face, go for square frames that'll give you the edges you need. If you have a square face, try oval or circular frames to soften your corners.

Whatever shape your face is, though, I'd advise you to go for thick, bold frames. You're gonna spend on 'em anyway, so might as well go for it all and get that statement piece you didn't think you could pull off. Confidence, bruh, confidence!

Super Indeed: These tortoise shell glasses from Super are what I'm talking about!

Now just in case I haven't given you enough to work with (shame on me), watch as the folks from GQ give their take on how to get that perfect pair. Some of my favorite eyeglass models make cameo appearances, so keep your eyes open, however blurry that vision of yours may be!



Photo courtesy of Boston.com; video courtesy of GQ

The Item: Ray-Ban Colorized Clubmasters

I've been seeing those "Colorize" Ray-Ban ads in Edsa for some months now, but it was only today that I got to see the dazzling colored Clubmasters up close and personal. Coming in silver, gold, red, and blue versions with a pearlish sheen, you'll definitely need some courage to pull these off. A fat wallet too, let's not forget, but if you have both, god bless you and have fun!

The blue one's the safest to get, just in case you will (P7,995)

The Item: Selima Optique "The Andy" Frames

I don't usually want to write succeeding posts with almost the same topic, you know, to give you guys some variety. But when I saw these frames from the influential designer Selima Salaun of Selima Optique, I just had to share it, as in now, pronto.

Inspired by none other than the great pop artist and style-icon-in-himself Andy Warhol, these frames are bound to give you a most eclectic look that your ordinary square frames can't. They just look fresh and new, which is saying something despite already being made famous by a legend. All in all, an interesting contradiction, really, that you'd definitely want to wrap your head around, or vice versa.

Not really for everyday use, but what the hell? It's purdy...

Finally, a model that did not originate from Ray Ban!

Clear plastic frames are kinda big now, but is there ever a bad time to get these?

The Inspiration: Mr. Warhol himself

Photos courtesy of Hypebeast

The Brand: Oliver Goldsmith Bespoke Glasses

I've been wearing glasses since I was 6, and one problem I've always had is that all the pairs I've tried on don't seem to fit me. For some reason, there's always something wrong (too tight, too big, slanting to the right, wounding my ears, the nosepiece leaves a mark, trust me, I've gone through all of them in 15 years).

Despite everything, though, I still opt for specs as opposed to 'tacts because it gives me that nerdy intellectual air that's always been one of my trademarks. Not to mention, it also adds yet another piece to stylize. So for all of us who insist to get our nerd on in a way that's truly ours, Oliver Goldsmith glasses are worth checking out.

Just off the heels of my bespoke adventure in Kamuning, I present to you the most recognizable brand in the world that makes...wait for it...bespoke glasses! Boasting years of experience in the custom made game, they are the only company that still makes glasses completely by hand, so precise about it that it they only produce hundreds of pairs a year, so passionate that they'll take their damn time finishing yours.

With a process that includes your choosing of the material, shape, and fit of the glasses, you have total control of the finished product. After you've told them what you want, it's up to their seasoned craftsmen to put together your frames, using nothing "but a skilled eye and a steady hand to scuplt them to perfection."

While the owner herself admits that it is difficult to see the difference with a machine-made and hand-made number, she insists there is. To all of us who've been forced by destiny to sport them and have for decades, you bet there is. In this day and age of machine-based imperfection, I say theirs is a process that is bespoke at its best.

The great Michael Caine wore OGs with flair

A more modern interpretation from some stylish Japanese fellow

A stunning example of the masterpieces you can create

Old Skool: Now this is how you make glasses!

The Item: Ray-Ban Clubmaster

In search for a new pair of sunglasses this summer which are NOT called Wayfarers? Try the remastered Clubmasters (oh, the wordplay!) from Ray-Ban. They have that same classic throwback look, just without the mass distribution (and cheap replicas). So go ahead and bask in the sun. With these babies on, you know that you'll look cooler than everybody else on the beach. That's a damn promise.

A Classic Reborn: The Ray-Ban Clubmaster

So cool that Paul Smith even made his own versions...

Never mind the Ed Westwick gayface, the glasses look awesome!

I believe Mr. Twilight did it better though...