The Spectacle Guide to Tinted Lenses

Did you know that the colour of your lenses can affect the performance of your daily activities?  It's best to inform yourself on which lenses are well suited for your needs prior to purchasing eyewear.  Don't worry - Spectacle is here to help with our guide to tinted lenses.

Green lenses have numerous benefits.  They help to transmit all colours evenly, dim glare, and brighten shadows. They are perfect lenses for all outdoor activity - rain or shine - and are the original choice of pilots and aviation enthusiasts.

Amber / brown lenses help to improve contrast, even on cloudy days.  They are best for golf, tennis, high-altitude sports, boating, or any other activity where distance needs to be judged.

Blue, purple, and double gradient lenses are also a fashionable option.  They help to reduce glare, enhance contours, and improve colour perception.  These lenses are best for indoor and outdoor arenas and are especially helpful in misty, foggy, and snowy conditions.

Pink and red lenses are very popular this season for both men and women.  They are great at enhancing visual depth, reducing eye strain, and providing clearer road visibility.  They are excellent for snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding and are also perfect for summer activities like cycling.

Whichever lens colour you choose, Spectacle is sure to have the perfect pair of shades for your lifestyle needs - no matter the season.

Persol Presents "Atelier Persol", The Upcoming Ad Campaign

Persol's new ad campaign, Atelier Persol, is a unique idea created among eight pioneers from different fields of art.  According to Persol, "A 15th century manor was rented in the Tuscan hills of Florence where a creative theme was assigned to eight suites which artists were invited to let themselves loose in... the pioneers have been called to cope with a new artistic challenge: to reinterpret a value from the creative process of a pair of Persol according to their style, sensitivity, and beliefs."  You can view the trailer below.

Atelier Persol :: Trailer from Persol on Vimeo.

Check out our current Persol collection carried at all Spectacle boutiques!

Eyewear Inspired by the Film Argo!

Eyewear in the film Argo

Congratulations to Argo for winning Best Picture at last night's Academy Awards!  There's some awesome vintage inspired eyeglasses and shades used in the movie, so we picked out some styles from our current Queen St. West collections to showcase.

Barton Perreira Squints

The Barton Perreira Squints eyeglasses are a similar shape to those worn by Clea Duvall in Argo.  They are a squared lens with a slight cat-eye shape that suit many face types.

Persol 649

The Persol 649 sunglasses are the same as those worn by Alan Arkin in the film.  Persol shades are classics and Steve McQueen was often photographed in the 649 model shown as well!

REIZ ERLE

The REIZ ERLE is a double bridge model in a tortoise colour and are similar in appearance to the glasses worn by Rory Cochrane.  REIZ eyewear is handmade in Germany and their pieces feature both classic and unique shapes in a range of colour patterns.

Paul Smith Wordsworth

The Paul Smith Wordsworth is a similar shape and colour as the eyeglasses worn by Scoot McNairy.  They are a larger model and come in a classic brown shade.

If you haven't seen Argo yet, be sure to check it out!  Then, come by Spectacle and pick out some eyewear inspired by the film.

The World's Top 10 Architecture Projects of 2012

Azure Magazine recently compiled an article on the top 10 architectural designs of 2012 and two designs are located in Canada.  Top honours went to the CCTV tower in Beijing which was created by OMA.

The CCTV tower ranked first among the top 10 architectural designs

The Peace Bridge located in Calgary was ranked third and is Canada's top mention in the list.  The Peace Bridge was created to run across the Bow River and allow residents to cross into the downtown core using dedicated bike lanes and a walking path.

Calgary's Peace Bridge

Architecture and fashion are linked through the design process in that both are three dimensional, structured, related to the fine arts, and visual.  Inspiration for design of any kind can come from a variety of sources and outlets.  For instance, Persol's Capri edition eyewear is based on Italy's Casa Malaparte.

Persol's Capri edition sunglass

The sunglasses offer several nods to the Casa Malaparte including the silver-arrow hinges redesigned to mimic the house's silhouette and etching on the temples to reference its iconic stairs.

Casa Malaparte

To read the entire Azure article, you can check it out on the magazine's website.  Spectacle will continue to bring you the most uniquely designed and inspired eyewear from around the world!

Happy Birthday 7/11! Spectacle Loves You

Today, July 11th, is 7/11's birthday!  In celebration, they are giving away free Slurpees and our Queen St. shop stopped by to pick some up.

The Slurpees at the shop

Happy Birthday 7/11!

Slurpees and sunglasses, the best Summer combination

Don't forget to get your own free Slurpee and come by Spectacle while you're at it!

Capri Edition

In a brilliant mix of nature and architecture, Casa Malaparte, the masterpiece of Italian modernist architecture, plays muse to the latest Persol design.  Casa Malaparte remains one of the best examples of Italian modern architecture. 

Look for a redesigned Arrow hinge which recalls the Casa's perimeter shape, or the temple tip etchings which are taken from the Casa's distinctive trapezoidal staircase.

From inspiration to reality, a delightful introduction to the new Capri Edition.  The entire line is based off the gorgeous Casa Malaparte architecture and is well suited for everyday wear.

"Suprema" from the new "Capri Edition" collection available in a wide range of colours