Prism glasses in Paris well ahead their time

This picture, taken by Trendycrew in Paris in 2009, is of a pair of Prism glasses, possibly the Rio in crystal grey? Prism goes from strength to strength after it pioneered selling high-end glasses purely as accessories and, two years on, it really was ahead of its time. It's since launched a strong sunglass collection and now, wait for it, a top-notch swimwear collection.

A Prism glasses story that broke my heart

I love Prism glasses. Mainly because they look terrific, but also because the company had the balls to go launching glasses without restricting themselves to opticians to sell them.

So I felt much saddened to hear the story of Susie Bubble, a fashion blogger (one of the best according to Mrs EWG) who can spot stylish frames from a mile-off - but, sadly, only when her sight is corrected. The things is folks if your prescription is high, or even just highish, larger frames may not accommodate the lenses you need to spot the cool glasses on the shelf.

I happened to be out with a few opticians on Saturday night - anyone suggest a solution? Susie, if you're reading, get scrolling downward to see if there's anything you like. What about some green translucent Cutler & Gross frames?

Here's Susie in her Prisms:

Prism London spectacles continue to get noticed

...this time by Because, a new online mag of cool. And here are a  couple more great pics of Prism eyewear recently...

Four fun frames from American Apparel

Continuing on from yesterday's Prism glasses as accessories we go down-market and mass-market to American Apparel, but stick with the accessory theme...

American Apparel don't make glasses (yet) but they say they've have been collecting vintage eyewear and dead stock from opticians in their area. There's a fair bit of choice both for glasses and sunglasses, men, women and kids. I'm not sure on the quality as the prices are shockingly low, but they're undoubtedly cool specs.

These were my favourite four styles, clockwise from top-left: Aristocrat, Forte, Ritz and Campus

Prism glasses - glasses as accessories

I'd heard good things about Prism glasses, from Anna Laub, but nothing quite prepared for me for the simplicity and quality of these frames.

I love the mixture of a relatively classic look with the modern prism logo on the temple, and the simply terrific acetates.

Opticians'll be confused not only because to them "prism glasses" relates the wearer's prescription, but also because Prism's the type of glasses being sold in shops, not opticians.

"Glasses as accessories" has been going on for a year or two now and it's generating a number of exciting new looks. At last people seem to be asking why, if bags, earrings, watches, and cufflinks for God's sake are accessories why are glasses so different?

Prism glasses are handmade and hand-finished in Italy... and they're the best things I've seen in bloody ages.

Check out Anna's Prism London website and blog for more... :)