The One Where I Praise Warby Parker

Growing up I was glasses-dependent. My vision is terrible and I was consistently relying on glasses. Part of me was fearful of the whole concept of touching my eye....eye horror is a real squeamish fear of mine. But somewhere along the line, last year, I came to the decision I needed contacts.

2015, 2014, 2013 - Ray Ban Faithful

Let me tell you, it was a journey. For the first few weeks of wearing contacts, I still would go and try to adjust my "phantom" glasses that weren't on my face, my average "install" time was 5 minutes per eye, and I had have had a terrible habit of sleeping in them. There was the time I rubbed my eye and the contact folded towards the back of my eye so I awkwardly drove to the optometrist and had them remove it, or that time I had a fleck of glitter stuck to my eye and begin to embed it'self there....and even now I still can't deal with eye horror despite my own experience with it.

A few weeks ago I was a bit annoyed when, after getting out of the shower, I realized I didn't want to deal with the hassle of putting on contacts for 2 hours before taking them out to go to bed. Sitting down I realized that I needed glasses again.

Now,  I have been aware of Warby Parker for a few years, but the time had finally come for me to make the decision and do the home try-on and subsequent purchase.

Photo by Me/Logo via Warby Parker

If you haven't heard of Warby Parker, they're a designer glasses brand that is almost entirely online/mail dependent. They have some flagship stores around the country, but for the most part, they're online. The process goes, you go online, look at their trendy selection, after signing up for a free account, you choose 5 pairs for an at-home try-on, which is completely free. You'll be sent a box with the frames that have a basic clear lens (no prescription yet), and then you get to try them on for a couple days and figure out which pair or pairs work best with your face shape, style...etc.
You send 'em back in the same box, which comes with a return label, and the gist is, if you liked them, you go online, choose the pair, if prescription lenses are needed, upload a prescription from your optometrist, do a few more measurements with your selfie cam (they instruct you), and you're good to go.

The selling point, single vision (non-progressive) lenses with frames and shipping are $95 usd. No hidden fees, no processing, no tax...nothing. Just a flat $95 charge and you have designer frames with your prescription ready to go.

See these frames aren't "cheapy" frames. They don't bend or break or feel lightweight or fragile like they could fall apart with the accidental slip or wrong drop into the purse.

Okay so before I get too wordy again, I'm going to begin the breakdown of my Warby Parker experience.

My At Home Try On

So I initially went looking for glasses trying to find a similar look to the original Ray Ban Clubmasters. I had a pair of my dad's old Clubmaster frames that I loved and missed them so much. It's what inspired my pick of the Ames and Everson. The "Ames" is more obvious as to why in comparison to the Clubmasters, but I chose the "Everson", in Eastern Bluebird Fade, for the reason that the lower half of the frames have the light contrast.

As I scrolled through, I picked up a pair of "Barnett" in Sharkskin and Pearl Horn, black square-ish frames, Some rounded cateye frames named "Chelsea" in a marbled Violet Magnolia coloring, and an Oak Barrel colored round pair of "Laurel" frames.

Within days of ordering they were here! 

I promise this isn't a literary version of an unboxing video. I'll just tell you, the sleek and sharp style of Warby Parker's site, is reflected completely in the packaging and presentation.

I'll tell you this, the second I put on the "Laurel" frames I fell in love. I actually logged onto the site and ordered them right then and there with my prescription. 

Home Try-On Set Up

I tried on the "Chelsea" frames but they didn't have as much of a quirky hint of violet as I expected. I wasn't feeling the smaller rounded cateye as much as I was the Laurel's. Trust me, I tried to love them. And they just weren't for me, but I think they'll be beautiful on another face and style. 

The Accidental Yet Beautiful Way I Ended Up With 2 Pairs of Glasses

I made the silly mistake of favoriting a pair on Pinterest that weren't available for home try-on and my mom ordered the newly released "Edgar" frames in Matte Jet Black for me. But I completely forgot about my Laurel pair...seriously, I thought I just had them in my cart and didn't press purchase, but apparently, I did.

Before they even came in I was adamant I'd send one of the pairs back. I couldn't justify two pairs of glasses when I ordered them of the intent of being backups for when contacts were too much of a hassle.

Then they came in.

Again, the most beautiful presentation and boxes and packaging. I knew right then and there I wasn't going to be able to send a pair back. I'd just drag my feet for a while....and I still am.

How could I not keep these?

Both are gorgeous and elegant and unique. Sharp and stunning all black "Edgar" frames. Sleek and smooth yet fun and feminine "Laurel" frames. I can't choose and frankly, I don't want too.

I'm in love, this doesn't do them justice

Will I go back to being glasses dependent?

Who knows. With the cost of my contacts (I spent like $75 on two boxes of contacts...each contact lasts 2 weeks with proper care and cleaning) and the continued hassle of putting them in, I might have to keep the glasses and be more dependent on them than planned!