On Trend: The eyes have it

We’re all really busy. Whether you’re juggling kids’ schedules or an 8-to-5 job and a variety of extracurriculars (or most likely, all of the above), cramming an additional appointment into an already hectic day never seems ideal—even when it’s for a necessity, like new glasses.

I’ve been rocking glasses since elementary school, so the excitement of getting a new pair wore off a long time ago. The hassle of going to the eye doctor, plus the pressure of finding just the right pair that’s a mix of stylish and functional, all while you’re in a rush … it’s just too much.

Luckily, I stumbled upon Warby Parker a couple years ago, and have been a loyal fan ever since. I’ve even convinced a few friends to join in on the fun—as long as we don’t order the same specs. What’s so great about them, you ask? Here’s the skinny:

You pop over to their site and select five frames from their variety of seasonal inventory. Once you’ve chosen the five you’re interested in, they ship your selections to you with five days to test them out. Having a variety of options to try on, along with the ability to get feedback from friends and family, is a pretty fantastic selling point. And it’s certainly easier than trying to convince your trusted advisers to schlep up to the eye doctor with you for a second opinion. Don’t trust your friends and family to give you good advice? Warby Parker’s customer service is stellar. They’re more than happy to point you in the right direction if you send them a couple selfies. They’re especially great on Twitter, and respond almost instantly to my questions. (Bonus: If you’re in NYC, the Soho shop has a photo booth, which I love and cannot ever pass up.)

I have found a couple cons, but if these are the only negatives, you’re still doing pretty good.
• Once they’re out, they’re out. They only have a limited run on each style, so don’t expect that one pair you’ve obsessed over to come back in stock.
• The bulk of their styles are plastic frames. If you’re devoted to wire rims, this might not be your cup of tea. However, there are new styles coming out regularly, so who knows if that will change. In the meantime, it might not hurt for you to try on something new just to see if it works for you.

Once you’ve made your selection, prices range from $95 (for frames with basic polycarbonate lenses—this also includes us astigmatism folks) to $295 (the starting price for frames with progressive lenses) depending on your optical needs. That’s a steal compared to what I’ve paid for glasses in the past. Not happy with your selected try-ons? Ship them back and pick five more until you’ve found the right pair for you—all while adapting to your busy schedule. If only everything was this easy.