F A S H I O N
A N D
S T Y L E

Spectacular Specs
39dollarglasses.com Pick up a pair of funky readers at your favorite local book or specialty store, or a pair of vintage frames on ebay, and send them to 39dollarglasses.com to swap out the lenses with your prescription. The process takes a little longer than heading straight to your local optical bar, but you can literally save yourself hundreds of dollars per pair, and have a look all your own. What better way to visually state your case as the intellectual fashion elite?!

kHyal with readers purchased locally for $22 and refitted with prescription lenses at 39dollarglasses.com

Shopping Tip: The frames on reading glasses are typically as sturdy as prescription ones but usually cost between $12-$25 instead of in the hundreds, and the variety and colors are never ending. (You can find these on ebay too.) While most readers are not deep enough for multi-focal lenses, they're perfect for any regular prescription, and inexpensive enough to have multiple pairs.

Buyer Beware: When purchasing vintage frames, it's best to obtain ones that have never been worn, it's hard to detect defects from photos online and the plastic frames of the 50's often warp and discolor when exposed to wear. Metal details may be scratched or dented, inlays such as rhinestone chips may be missing or damaged.

Clark's Wallabies, purchased from zappos.com for $20.

Shoe In
Zappos.com By now, many of you may already be addicted to zappos.com. My personal obsession began a couple of years back and I infected everyone I worked with. With free shipping and free return shipping for up to 365 days, you can order dozens of pairs at a time, it's like having your own personal shoe store at home! Even better, for the first two years I ordered from Zappos, they upgraded my shipping from 4-5 business days to 2 business days free of charge. They drop off and pick up at your door, and you can easily process returns online and print your own shipping label. And the customer service rocks, since I'm up all hours of the night, I've called at 3AM on a weekend and been cheerfully greeted by a knowledgable friendly staff member, who I could actually understand. Last I inquired, Zappos employs only American citizens in it's service operations which is available 24/7 via a toll-free telephone number.

I became a bit disenchanted in the past six months or so, as the prices had gone up, and those killer deals seem to have totally disappeared. Thank goodness for bargain and aesthetic perseverance! -- I went online New Year's Eve (priorities, people!), and found some fab finds for under twenty bucks, including pink patent leather Clark's Wallabies, a remake of the 1965 original design, at 75% less than retail, and PINK!

Shopping Tip: Inventory for great deals is often extremely limited, act fast and check back often. (Remember you can always return for free so impulsive clicks to fill up your shopping cart are not, necessarily, damaging to your wallet.) Also, prices fluctuate without warning, something priced super low one day, could jump back up the following day.

Buyer Beware: Zappos does not always have the lowest price available. I recently found a pair of Charles David boots listed on Zappos for $323, at $159 through an amazon.com affiliate, though no free shipping or return policy, 50% off is a compelling reason to shop around. Remember, people, google is your friend, do your research!

C T . C O U T U R E

Each new episode of kHyal Kouture will feature CT top picks for fashion and style. Starting below with two of my home town favorites ...

Vexing Vintage
Moxie Vintage Shana Uthgenannt has an eye for the unusual, her Middletown store, Moxie Vintage, caters to the fashion conscious who want a one of kind vintage look, but who lack the time or resources to do the searching. With well-stocked racks and a wonderful variety, fashion finds are at your finger tips. She also carries a line of new premium denim, the perfect accompaniment to a vintage shirt, sweater or jacket.

Moxie Vintage
466 Main St Middletown, CT 05457
(860) 638-0030
www.moxievintage.com

Happening Habitats
Irreplaceable Artifacts Looking for that unique touch for your home? Try Irreplaceable Artifacts in Middletown. It's flagship Manhattan store has been a shopping institution for decades, and a staple for designers and architects, but open to the public. You'll find dozens of ideas to transform your nest from ordinary to opulent. From claw foot tubs to New York City subway signs, period lighting fixtures to antique fireplace mantels, IA will fulfill your desire to be different, while a visit to the store itself is like a museum field trip without the long lines or cost of admission.

Irreplaceable Artifacts
428 Main St, Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 344-8576
www.irreplaceableartifacts.com

Do you have a favorite source of CT art, fashion or style? e-mail me HERE for future consideration.

. . .

kHyal is an artist, writer and designer. She lives in Middletown, CT with her almost 17 year old son, Tyler, and their two orange striped cats, Tiger and Poptart.

See more about kHyal at:
www.kHyal.com
www.KhyalBraun.com