Reading is the secret to great writing – that’s my belief and my approach as a journalist. So I read as much as I can.

This year alone, I’ve read dozens of mysteries, many of them great.

In no particular order, my favorites are:

-Richard Osman’s The Bullet That Missed (Viking). The characters are delightful, and it’s hard to put his books down. So I didn’t, readng deep into the night.

-Mark Pryor’s Die Around Sundown (Minotaur). The cover is gorgeous and the author fabulous, but I resist World War II plots. I’m glad I let the cover sway me. His great protagonist, his wit and a plot centered on art made this a winner for me.

– Fabian Nicieza’s Suburban Dicks (Putnam) had just the right amount of snark—tons—that I’ve already started the sequel, The Self–Made Widow. Film and TV scriptwriters like Nicieza, Osman and Matt Goldman, pace their plots so well. That is, fast and funny. They never disappoint.

– S.A. Cosby’s Razorblade Tears’ plot and characters were riveting, and the book had heart. It stays with me and I’m eager to read his latest. Like Minotaur, Flatiron Books never disappoints me.

– Howard Michael Gould’s Last Looks (Dutton) was snappy and snarky. Where’s Waldo? I hope Gould, another screenwriter and TV producer, keeps them coming.

– Daisy Waugh’s In the Crypt with a Candlestick (Pegasus) is a light, witty read. Fun!

– In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, I’ll add two fun novels with a regal sleuth: The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett (William Morrow). Loved it, though the sequel, All the Queen’s Men, didn’t measure up. (King Charles, please do!)

 

By MICHELE MEYER

We all have aromas that evoke joyous holiday memories—for me, cookies cooling on the baking rack, which isn’t shocking if you know me.

Such sublime scents in candles, potpourri, diffusers and even skin masks are delights in themselves.

ANECDOTE CANDLES

 

I’m lit up about these candles, which are hip, clever and delicious—coveted qualities I seek in my work and life.

Anecdote Candles have cool attitude plus quality ingredients. Distinctive and unexpected, they are as MicheleMode as can be.

My adoration may exceed my generosity, so I can’t guarantee the following will reach their intended destinations:

“Mistletoe: Smells Like a Silent Wingman,” a decadent black currant and amber; “2021: Smells Like Not Soon Enough,” a heady bergamot and oud; “Bottomless Mimosas: Smells Like Good Vibes and Fresh Gossip,” a bracing citrus and bergamot; “Flannel and Fedoras: Smells Like a Road Trip to Portland,” steeped in oakmoss and amber; and fig-laced “Adulting: Smells Like Early Nights and Steady Paychecks.”

Each candle is hand-poured coconut-soy wax of natural ingredients with no additives, dyes or preservatives.

DO TELL: Ultimate hip chick Zosia Mamet of Girls and Mad Men is mad about “Mistletoe.”

WISE BUYS: These scents have centsability, due to their high style and low price.

SHOP: 3.4 oz. 7.8 oz. or 9 oz., $14 to $34, anecdotecandles.com.

MALIN+GOETZ CANNABIS CANDLE

We’re stoked to whiff this cannabis: Malin+Goetz’s best-selling candles. Free of THC, the unforgettable fragrance is tempered with patchouli, muguet, bergamot, magnolia and black pepper.

This vegetable wax doobie has a cotton wick, and the 9 oz. candle lasts 60 hours.

WISE BUYS: You won’t get high, but this goodie is legal in every state.

Plus, you save $15 by buying Get Lit, with both votive and full-sized candle, for $60.

SHOP: $20 for 2.35 oz. votive, $55 for 9 oz. candles, malinandgoetz.com.

ORVEDA EYE CONTOUR GELS

 

 

When we mask up, our eyes tell all: our stress, insomnia and age. So during the pandemic, pamper yourself (or a privileged pal) with Orveda’s Eye Contour Botanical Gel or Biotic-Full Eyes Duo.

WISE BUYS: These eye openers are sold exclusively in the United States at Solaya Spa & Salon by The Houstonian. There, a 50-minute Orveda facial costs $175 and an 80-minute one $230.

SHOP: The Eye Contour Botanical Gel, $170 and Biotic-Full Eyes Duo, $89, solayahouston.com.

THE SCENT OF ORVEDA

 

If you want to get on Mother Earth’s best side, you’ve come to the right gift.

These are easily the most planet-friendly candles made (by hand, naturally). Not only is the botanical wax 100 percent biodegradable, but so is the cellophane wrapping. Once the trio of candles tragically burn out after a total of 170 hours, you can use their shells as planters.

Orveda candles truly are guilt-free. No paraffin, mineral oils bee’s wax or plastic went into them.

And the aroma is heavenly, evoking Orveda spa treatments. Think sweet yet tart, with a hint of wood from green cardamom and pettigrain. Or take the selfish way out and book a facial at Solaya Spa & Salon to experience the serene smell.

We won’t judge, unless you book the time we want.

Hand-poured, with unbleached, cotton wicks, we can thank fragrance master Fabrice Pellegrin of Firmenich.

And we do.

WISE BUYS: These are sold exclusively online.

SHOP: 29 oz. combined for small, medium and large candles, $295, orveda.com.

DIPTYQUE

We need fantasy right now, so we’re grateful Parisian artist Ugo Gattoni takes dreamers on a magical journey with surreal cityscapes adorning a trio of limited-edition Diptyque candles.

The fragrances are equally enchanting. Floral Majesty spices up roses with clove, nutmeg and cinnamon; Amber Feather calms with amber tempered via orange, cinnamon and ginger; and Moonlit Fir invigorates pine with eucalyptus and peppermint.

Full-size candles have a 60-hour burn time.

DO TELL: Diptyque’s disciples include Meghan Markle, Beyonce, designer Victoria Beckham, baller LeBron James, and actresses Kerry Washington and Kate Hudson.

WISE BUYS: Like you need one?!

SHOP: Votives, $40 for 70 grams, and standard, $78 for 190 grams, diptyqueparis.com.

REVIVE SKINCARE ART BOX

 

We believe skin care is something you should buy for yourself. Unless . . .

Unless you can find the perfect blend of beauty and art. This is it, thanks to artist Anya Kielar, whose sculptural work tops this five-piece gift set.

Your lucky recipient gets Foaming Cleanser Hydrating Wash, which nourishes skin rather than strip it while cleansing, 4.2 oz.; Moisturizing Renewal Cream Nightly Retexturizer, which buffs and renews with glycolic acid, 1.7 oz.; Moisturizing Renewal Eye Cream Ultra Retexturizing Hydrator, which plumps up and thus minimizes lines around the eyes, 0.5 oz.; Eye Renewal Serum Firming Booster, which tightens and brightens the eye area, 0.05 oz.; and Fermitif Neck Renewal Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen, which firms while protecting, 2.5 oz.

WISE BUYS: The set is a savings of $160, versus buying its pieces individually.

SHOP: $575 for a $735 value, ReViveSkincare.com, saksfifthavenue.com.

BYREDO

We’re wedded to this cult—er, brand. The merger of spectacular aromas and understated chic packaging makes the ultimate union.

Altar is warm and refreshing, with top notes of clove, a heart of ylang and carnation and a base of papyrus and Haiti vetiver.

DO TELL: The ultimate fashionista Kate Bosworth, Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift are fans.

WISE BUYS: Buy as many as you can as quickly as you can—or risk being stranded at the holiday gift altar next year.

SHOP: $85, byredo.com.

LAFCO

 

LAFCO tops our give-and-get shopping list most years.

This year’s Spiced Pomander, White Maple Bourbon and Winter Currant are swell smells.

Even better, the cinnamon, orange and clove Spiced Pomander comes in caramel-colored hand-blown glass, and the chic heliotrope- and mandarin-laced Winter Currant arrives in cherry glass. The birch, cedar-tinged Frosted Pine debuts in a dazzling gold-electroplated vase. And let’s be honest: The White Maple Bourbon captures the holiday meal I wish my mom could muster.

DO TELL: Turns out rocker chick Courtney Love and I have something in common. Who knew?

WISE BUYS: Votive trio of Frosted Pine, Winter Currant and Spiced Pomander, $48, a $3 savings. On Nov. 30 only, 25 percent off with code CYBER2020.

SHOP: Votive, 1.9 oz., $17; 6.5 oz., $42; 15 oz., $65; three-wick candles, 30 oz., $98; and reed diffuser, 6 oz., $48, lafco.com

LELAND FRANCIS

 You glow girl.

If your skin is as tired as ours, you’ll be impressed by how a little kindness can go a long way. Leland Francis’ The Rich Cream serves up suppleness and creates the perfect canvas for creator and makeup artist Dillon Peña’s trademark natural look.

The secret to lit-from-within skin is powerhouse, nourishing and natural ingredients, including avocado, tamanu seed oil and fatty acids. Ceramides lock in the hydration.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR: The cream is vegan, clean and non-toxic.

DO TELL: Peña’s clients include model Nina Agdal, Beyoncé, Nick Jonas, singers Bebe Rexha and Chloe x Halle and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg.

SHOP: 2.3 oz., $89, lelandfrancis.com.

THE WHITE COMPANY

We’re in heaven, having found The White Company’s deliciously scented, beautifully packaged and reasonably priced potpourri, diffusers and candles.

Winter, a yummy blend of nine essential oils, cinnamon, clove and orange, puts us in the holiday mood—far more than the season itself.

WISE BUYS: 25 percent off through #CyberMonday with code MAGICAL25.

SHOP: Potpourri, $24, 25.5 oz.; votive, 2.6 oz and 18 hours burn time, $14; and diffuser, 5.1 fl. oz., $39. thewhitecompany.com.

KORRES PASSPORT TO GREECE SKINCARE SET

Travel seems so distant during the pandemic, but look ahead. Your skin will thank you, via Korres Passport to Greece Skincare Set. You or your would-be jet-setter can sample minis of the botanical brand’s greatest hits that soothe, balance and brighten your skin.

Made in Greece of ethically sourced, organic plant actives, the kit includes deeply nourishing Probiotic Gel Cream (20 ml), vitamin C-rich Sleeping Facial, redness-calming Foaming Cream Cleanser (75 ml) and Pomegranate Resurfacing Mask (20 ml)  for that post-vacation glow,

WISE BUYS: Korres’ Black Friday deal knocks 40 percent off prices for its gifts. Use the code GIFTSFROMGREECE at checkout. Otherwise, you get a $62 value for $54 at Korres.com and may be able to pay even less at Anthropologie.com.

SHOP: Korres.com.

FLAMINGO ESTATE CANDLES

 

Tuscany may be off-limits this year, but Flamingo Estate’s Richard Christiansen captures its aromas via candles created from the fruits of his herbal garden and orchards above the hills of Los Angeles. Choose between Climbing Tuscan Rosemary, Heirloom Roma Tomato and Adriatic Muscatel Sage candles of vegetable wax with 60-hour burn times.

DO TELL: Martha Stewart, influencer Chrissy Teigen and interior designer Kelly Wearstler are said to flock to this brand.

WISE BUYS: Given their potency, you can permeate the room with a taste of Tuscany in less time than it takes to boot up your laptop.

SHOP: Candles, $45 each, $110 for set of three, flamingoestate.la.

LAKE & SKYE

 

 

 

 

Consider the musky fragrance of Lake & Skye’s 11 11 candles and body oil a win-win. The subtle scent appeals to men and women alike.

The body oil also nourishes with apricot kernel and sweet almond oils enriched with anti-inflammatory vitamin E.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR: All products are vegan and free of parabens, sulfates, phtalates and palm oil. Candle wicks are undyed cotton and the wax is soy-based. Feeling lucky? Numerology inspired the name.

DO TELL: Fans include influencer Leandra Medine Cohen and “Game of Thrones” priestess Carice van Houten.

WISE BUYS: Lake & Skye’s sole sale of the year–20 percent off–runs #CyberMonday through #GivingTuesday. And all year, one tree is planted for each order.

SHOP: Candle with 50-hour burn, 8 oz., $48; body oil, 3.4 oz., $48, lakeandskye.com, anthropologie.com, birchbox.com, ulta.com and amazon.com.

NEST NEW YORK

 

 We’re thankful for these fragrance delectables that are so beautifully packaged we can skip gift wrapping. Noteworthy tantalizers of the season include: Holiday, with mandarin, pomegranate, cloves and a hint of vanilla and amber; Birchwood Pine, with pine, fir balsam steeped in musk and amber; and Blue Cypress and Snow, a crisp, woody cypress, juniper berry and smoked vanilla bean.

DO TELL: Another shocker. I’d never guess I’d be fighting Real Housewives of New York City’s Carole Radziwill over the last three-wick candle. (Psst. They sell out fast.)

WISE BUYS: Beauty buffs will be impressed by boxed sets with an 8.1 oz. candle and 5.9 fl. oz. diffuser, cost $75 for a $90 value. Diffusers last 90 days; votives burn 15-20 hours; classic candles at 8.1 oz., 50-60 hours; and 21.2 oz three-wick candles, 80-100 hours.

SHOP: Votive candles, 2 oz., $16; classic, 8.1 oz., $42; three-wick candles, 21.2 oz., $68; and reed diffusers, 5.9 fl. oz., $48. NestNewYork.com, SaksFifthAvenue.com, Sephora.com.

THE FEELIST

 

We’re feeling gratitude – and perhaps a contact high — from The Feelist Radiant Face Oil, infused with 500 mg. Broad Spectrum CBD. It’s a luxe, plant-powered way to start the day, with the super combo of soothing jojoba seed oil, moisturizing Marula oil, rejuvenating rosehip oil and smoothing and redness-fighting evening primrose oil. End the day by rubbing away swelling and soreness of those super gorgeous Christian Louboutin stilettos with Do Not Disturb Extra Strength Body Cream. It calms with lavender and vanilla essential oils, while battling bloat with mineral-rich Himalayan Pink Salt and Epsom Salt.

DO TELL: This brand new line has buzz, and not just due to the CBD.

WISE BUYS: Nov. 27-30 all products are 30 percent off.

SHOP: Most Wanted Radiant Face Oil, 1 oz., $98; Do Not Disturb Extra Strength Body Cream, 2.5 fl. oz., $78, feelist.com

ERIC BUTERBAUGH

This celebrity florist isn’t subtle. Nor are his candles. They’re as bold as his floral arrangements and personal style. And we love it.

DO TELL: Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Courtney Cox and Rachel Zoe find these candles noteworthy.

SHOP: 8.8 oz., $85, saksfifthavenue.com

AROMATIQUE

 

 

Aromatique’s limited-edition candles and diffusers sold out as soon as they were launched.

Let that be a lesson to you. Scoop up the irresistible vanilla- and marshmallow-infused Gingerbread Brûlée, Bourbon Bergamot, Pumpkin Spice and Smell of Christmas potpourris, diffusers and candles while you can.

WISE BUYS: The vessels are gorgeous: slanted brass for votives and a choice of ceramic or cube, textured or metallic glass.

SHOP: $15-$45, aromatique.com.

KIEHL’S

Who doesn’t want to look their best for 2021? Kiehl’s Merry Masking trio of masks targets pores, dryness and dull skin: Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing mask, Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask and Tumeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Mask.

DO TELL: Naomi Watts and January Jones purportedly jones for Kiehl’s.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR: Kiehl’s uses recycled paper and glass to encase its goodies.

WISE BUYS: Your generosity extends beyond your gift list. A dollar from each sale benefits Feeding America, the nation’s biggest hunger-relief charity.

SHOP: You get a $61 value for $40, Kiehls.com.

NATURA

 

Rich in essential fatty acids, Natura’s Maracujá oil soothes and softens skin. A tempting trio is packaged as a gift set: body lotion, hand cream and Triple Phase Shower Oil. All are lightweight yet lasting, and delicately scented with passion fruit. Joyful art by William Santiago adorns the recyclable box.

FEEL GOOD FACTOR: This Brazilian beauty brand’s wares are 100 percent vegan and packaged in 100% green plastic made from sustainably sourced sugarcane.

Not only is it all-natural but the brand is generous. For each purchase made in November, the brand will make a $3 donation to two charities that support diverse women: Outdoor Afro and Black Women’s Wealth Alliance. The former connects Blacks with outdoor experiences and conservation, and the latter gives grants to lower income Black women to buy homes and start or grow their businesses.

WISE BUYS: This won’t be the prettiest of presents. But you’d spend $61 to buy the items separately, with the lotion and shower gels costing $25 each and the hand lotion $11.

SHOP: Hand cream, 40 g.; body lotion, 400 ml. and shower oil, 200 ml; $48, naturabrasil.com.

INSIDERS‘ TIP: Many of these brands offer #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday deals — available now! Happy shopping!

All art courtesy of beauty brands

 

By MICHELE MEYER

Tired of sweatpants? Get used to them.

Fashion had trotted out some fresh trends—nipped waists, leggings, winged tops and latex—on 2020 runways. But, thanks to coronavirus cocooning, most have been jettisoned.

Yes, we’re back to the athleisure era of recent years: comfort-driven but often style-challenged T-shirts, sweatpants and roomy jumpsuits. Their ease should suit our sheltering-at-home lifestyle.

But fortunately, not all runway has fallen victim to the virus.

While sheltering at home, the outdoors has become our great escape–and for many designers, a colorful creativity spark.

Indeed, Crayola colors can be spotted in nature, not just on fall’s runways.

And we’re grateful. In challenging times, they lift our spirits. So let’s play in fashion’s sandbox of style. As you can see, what grows also glows, beautifully:

Much gratitude to the gifted photographer Peter Meyer for inspiring me.

 

 

 

OVERDRESSED

The Bride Wore White Again and Again

 

By MICHELE MEYER

Instagram has ruined love.

 

In the good old days you wore your mother’s wedding dress, got married and managed to dance through the night in that same sentimental gown.

Now nuptials seem to be about more and more clothes and images of contrived “moments.”

I blame celebs and Influencers who started styling everything, demanding all guests wear certain colors at the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception. See GOT’s Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas, who got married twice. For their second wedding, they went all out, wearing red to their “rehearsal” dinner, while requiring all guests wear white.

Even before their drone-captured proposals, famous brides including Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland choose their rings themselves.

Brides-to-be now don ivory starting with their staged proposals to their bridal showers, rehearsal, wedding, honeymoon and on and on. (See actress/singer Lea Michele, who married retail exec Zandy Reich.)

But Vogue Magazine just featured nuptials that truly take the wedding cake.

In the span of about five hours of one night, the bride wore FIVE gowns, three of them haute couture.

The editors crowed about her “effortlessly elegant wedding.”

I, on the other hand, see this as the ultimate narcissism. Imagine all the time she wasted getting changed, while the groom and guests were on their own, waiting.

It started with the haute couture dress in which she said her vows. (Even then she was so late to the altar that her groom texted her, worrying he’d been jilted).

At this point I would have lost patience, but not the groom. He indulges her, starting with a proposal in a suite at Georges V in Paris, which he’d filled with white roses, and I mean filled to the brim. (Fellas, you’ve gotta live up to that standard now!)

How can you fit five costumes into less than five hours? Here’s how: After saying her vows in a couture lace gown and veil, the bride took a moment or ten to herself. (The groom, … oh, who cares!)

For the cocktail hour, she donned a “dramatic feathered” and “voluminous modern playful” Giambattista Valli couture gown. For the First Dance, she switched to a frothy “whimsical” designer dress. Of course, she changed into another Giambattista Vali pale pink, romantic and sheer haute couture gown for dinner.

Finally, after the meal, she changed into yet another pearl-adorned Monique LHuillier designer gown.

Of course, Vogue was there — though not always the groom. Who cares about him and the guests, who wore the same dictated outfits from beginning to bitter end?

For me, the final photo caption sums it up: “The end to a magical night! Emma insisted I do photos on the stairs, and now I’m glad she did!”

Yeah, right. The photographer Emma insisted. Where was the groom while the newlywed flaunted her gown? He’d probably long given up and gone to bed in a suite stuffed with roses.

 

Images, courtesy of: Theia (top row); bottom row, left to right: Giambattista Valli haute couture; Galia Lahav; and Justin Alexander Signature (final two).

GIVING THANKS: Two Greats Should’ve Been on More Fashion Radars

I wish you’d known them and their work and understood why I’m mourning their loss — while giving thanks for their designs.

2010’s Blood and Opulence couture; Thimister confection in Vogue 1999

By MICHELE MEYER

Surely you know of Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld – the brilliant, prolific designer/artist/photographer who died at 85 in February.

But who are two other greats we lost this year?

Josephus Thimister was a Dutch master behind the curtains of Balenciaga, Patou, Pucci and Karl Lagerfeld, among others since the early ‘90s.

Hillevi Saperstein was the Los Angeles-based designer of Malibu 1028.

I wish you’d known them and their work and understood why I’m mourning their loss — while giving thanks for their designs.

Thimister reminds me of Alexander McQueen. His talent burned brightly but was undercut by depression and darkness.

Like McQueen’s, his shows were dazzling, evocative and sometimes controversial. His wares, including 2010’s “Blood and Opulence” couture collection, were bold yet delicate. Both Thimister and McQueen died of suicide, Thimister this month at 57 and McQueen in 2010 at 40.

My friend Hillevi Saperstein was only 45, in her prime and living joyously and fully when she died suddenly of cardiac arrest last January. Her fashion style captured her personality: daring, cool with a sprinkling of fairy dust and a fabulous collision of elegance and sportiness.

When I wear her ultra-chic take on a military jacket, I feel powerful, sexy, lucky and beautiful. I wish I always felt that way.

Recently, I was fortunate to be able to go through her warehouse treasure trove. I was impressed how classic and covetable her high-end Malibu 1028 jackets, dresses, tops, skirts and slacks remain. And her secondary Malibu 1028 fitness/swim line is sexy Los Angeles incarnate.

At some point soon, her designer capsule collection will be shared with Houston fashionistas. I hope you’re able to enjoy the magic she brought to my life (and closet).

Like Lagerfeld and Thimister, I’ll never forget her.

 

Eyeglasses addict tells all:

Fashionista Fesses Up

 

Before we plummet down the spiral of my addiction, please remember it’s legal in every state — and in Paris, France.

Glasses — they’re an obsession I can trace to my twin sister sitting on my specs when we were 8. I’m still scarred by the loss.

I’d like to think my next pair scored me my first kiss, from Charlie on the school steps during recess, proving pundit Dorothy Parker wrong: Boys do make passes at girls who wear glasses.

Years later, someone broke into my new Toyota and stole my mother’s original vintage Ray-Bans I’d stupidly left on the dashboard. I bemoaned the gone glasses more than the smashed window and cracked car door.

An eyeglasses obsession begins

In 1995, my world was upended — in a good way.

I learned about the just-launched Parisian brand Face à Face at their first trunk show in the U.S. Such bold shapes and colors, flattering to so many. Gawd, I couldn’t choose. So, I didn’t. I bought them all.

From that point on, I followed Face à Face like a groupie. Each time they returned, I was first in line to buy (and buy I did).

That year, I even trekked to their sole store in Paris, in what was then considered a seedy area on the outskirts of town.

At first, co-owner Nadine Roth and her daughter were perplexed at why an overly excited American had shown up — at that point, they were virtually unknown. Three pairs later, they understood.

I’ve returned since to the now über-hip neighborhood. In fact, their website is my version of porn.

Satisfying my glasses craving closer to home

I later graduated to an exclusive local glasses boutique — and believe me, the manager’s eyes lit up each time I entered.

But I had needs beyond my addiction. My oversized Jackie O-inspired Armani shades literally fell apart with overuse. And my Sama tortoise-shell sunglasses broke clean when I tripped while speed-walking.

They had to be replaced. See? I don’t have a problem.

Yet I knew I was in big trouble on a flight to Manhattan when my seat happened to be next to my dealer of choice, the manager of my spectacle store. Lee — of course we were on a first-name basis — was on his way to the annual Vision Expo, a mecca for eyeglasses pros and the No. 1 event on my bucket list. Two and a half hours later, we both were dreaming about the new eyewear I’d buy.

When Lee died I went into mourning, and I didn’t buy any frames for more than a year.

But that break was no fix for my addiction.

My new glasses connection

My husband must rue the day I entered the new eye boutique next to our lunch haunt. But enter I did, and I was introduced to Tina — my current “dealer” — and her gorgeous wares.

Since then, I sneak in when my hubby is otherwise occupied. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt me, right?

Like any addict, I gather with others of my ilk. My dermatologist admits to owning nine pairs from Tina. I confess to eight (wink wink). We show off our haul to each other. His nurse just rolls her eyes.

At least my brother gets me. When our parents died, he sent me a pair of glasses from each of them, no questions asked.

Sharing my glasses addiction

Now I’m turning others on to my passion.

My most recent low was flaunting to a 15-month-old neighbor my Face à Face Bocca sunglasses, which have Louboutin-soled feet at the ends of the arms (or should I say legs?). What stems!

She was unimpressed. Indeed, her expression was, “Who is this insane lady, daddy?” Maybe someday she’ll understand.I admit to eight pairs because I’m ashamed to confess how many I truly own. Aluminum, titanium, acrylic. Burgundy, crimson, cobalt, forest green, red-tipped black.I’ve got them all.My stable still veers to French. Face à Face, Anne et Valentin.Right now, I’m drooling over Face à Face’s aptly named Pulse specs, which hike my pulse to lethal levels. I. Must. Have. Those. Glasses. With double temples, in black and crimson, and black and grape, I must have them. This won’t end well.Perhaps I need to enter spec rehab.I suspect if I did, I’d be sitting next to rocker Lenny Kravitz in group therapy. He begged fans on Twitter in late September to return his vintage silver square-shaped frames, no questions asked. Kravitz even created an email address for tips (kravitzglasses@gmail.com ). “They’re incredibly sentimental to me. They are vintage and belonged to a family member.”Sure, that’s all it is. Sentiment. Right. An addict knows another addict.

 

 

EYEGLASSES

Father’s day eyewear gift ideas

By Michele Meyer, for AllAboutVision.com

Get real. Your dad may not even wear ties, and how many golf balls can he pretend to adore?

If your dad wears eyeglasses or sunglasses, we’ve got ideas for Father’s Day gifts for every price range so you won’t have to ask your dad to raise your allowance (again!).

To properly thank the guy who taught you how to ride a bike, catch a trout and shout at sports on TV, become daddy’s dearest with an out-of-sight vision present.

FOR: ROCKET MEN

THANKS FOR: Showing us how to reach for the stars.

WHAT: OK, we doubt your childhood hero secretly covets Dolce & Gabbana’s rhinestone-dripping cat-eyes for fall 2019 – though likely Elton John does.

But if your father figure is obsessed with aeronautics or efficiency, he’ll find Peeps eyeglass cleaners out of this world.

Peeps eyeglass cleaners

The sole NASA-endorsed eyeglass cleaners used on the International Space Station, Peeps look like compact but chunky ear pieces ― and they work. (After all, we can’t have astronauts landing on the wrong planet!)

And hey, if you’ve got any left over funds, treat your dad to the latest pop-star biopic, “Rocketman,” which opened May 30.

DETAILS: Good for 500 uses, $19.99, 888-615-2155, Peeps eyeglass cleaners 

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FOR: HARDCORE KLUTZES

THANKS FOR: Teaching us it’s OK to fumble occasionally in the game of life.

WHAT: Not only do these virtually indestructible eyewear cases with hard sides and secure hinges safeguard medium-sized shades, but they make magic.Dad can keep rolling the sides till, boom, the color combo shifts from black/blue to black/silver. (Alas, you might have to issue an IOU. They sell out fast).

DETAILS: $16.95, 888-808-4438, Reversible Rollover Eyeglass Case 

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FOR: ONE OF A KIND

THANKS FOR: Encouraging us to try new things – just as you do.

WHAT: Your exceptional pop deserves the ultimate DIY Father’s Day gift. Specsy offers a winning formula: Dad + 3D printer = custom fit, custom style, custom color spectacles made of durable, lightweight nylon.

Specsy 3-D printed glasses

Styles are limited only by dad’s boundless imagination.

If your father is a tech lover, he may gravitate toward existing style The Hopper (AKA 51), a bold square frame inspired by the inventor.

If dad is artistic, he may love The Duchamp (53), a striking unisex cat-eye frame inspired by the daring Dada and Cubist painter, sculptor and chess player, formally known as Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp.

DETAILS: Pricing may vary, 855-463-6793. Go to Specsy  to order online or find a local dealer.

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FOR: NATURE LOVERS

THANKS FOR: Sharing his love of the great outdoors.

Proof sustainable eyeglasses

WHAT: Proof’s sustainable wood frames start as a seed before growing into a plant or tree lovingly handcrafted by skilled artisans.

You’ll also appeal to pop’s good side: Part of Proof’s profits is funneled into planting trees and providing glasses, eye health screenings and cataract and other surgeries for those in need worldwide.

DETAILS: $90-$114, 208-629-8099. Here’s more Proof  .

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FOR: LOSERS ― OF GLASSES THAT IS

THANKS FOR: Teaching us to accept that we’re not perfect.

WHAT: If dad always is losing his shades, give him a hard-to-forget, whimsical eyeglass stand, such as Art Akimbo’s The Nose, which touts a handlebar mustache to hold his keys, too.Runners-up include Duck Bill (for hunters) and Nietzsche Nose eyeglass stands (for armchair philosophers).

DETAILS: $40-$45, eyeglass stands at ArtAkimbo .

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FOR: THE GREAT OUTDOORSMAN

THANKS FOR: Taking us fishing and camping.

Costa’s OCEARCH Collection

WHAT: Make a splash with Costa’s OCEARCH Cat Cay shades. They protect anglers from UVA/UVB rays and glare, with multi-focal, reflective, polarized light-weight lenses in sturdy, oversized tiger shark-printed frames.

Even better, each pair helps protect sharks by funding OCEARCH research expeditions.

Or maybe you want something else specs-tacular for your dad? Check out Costa’s Father’s Day Gift Guide .

DETAILS: $229, 844-642-6782, Costa’s OCEARCH collection 

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FOR: BOLD DAD, MEET CHEAP KID

THANKS FOR: Showing us the beauty of a bargain that lasts.

WHAT: You don’t have to spend a fortune on sharp specs. Get flash without loads of cash. Kio Yamato’s titanium or custom acetate O&X New York frames are lightweight and tough, a steal under $200.DETAILS: $137-$198, 800-700-3079, O&X New York frames 

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FOR: THE COLLECTOR

THANKS FOR: Teaching us to appreciate the finest wine ― and glasses.

OYOBox eyeglass holder (mini)

WHAT: Make your patriarch proud by protecting his pricey pairs in super stylish handmade OYOBox glass holders with seven layers of lacquer, stainless steel ball hinges, shatterproof windows and soft velvet underside.Minis (for four pairs) and Maxis (for eight) come in black, zebra gray or ebony teak styles.

DETAILS: $155-$375, 855-696-2695, OYOBox glass holders 

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FOR: THE TYCOON

THANKS FOR: Your go-big-or-go-home approach to everything.

WHAT: Dazzle Dad with a down-payment on eyeglass insurance ― yes, it exists ― for his most spectacular specs, such as French-made Cartier sunnies, $6,600, or Gold and Wood’s surprisingly discrete, rimless diamond-studded Prestige 253 glasses, a whopping $55,000.

South Africa’s KingPrice covers spectacles damaged, lost or stolen. (Alas, borrowing from Dear Old Dad is not covered.) Not only will your big spender be impressed, but he just may let you inherit his enviable eyewear.

DETAILS:  KingPrice eyeglasses coverage’s cost depends on the value of what’s insured, KingPrice spectacle insurance 

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About the writer: Fashion writer Michele Meyer admits to owning eight pairs of glasses, though her ardor for face-jewelry began long before her mother failed to coerce her into contacts. She pays for her habit writing for All About Vision, Palm Beach Illustrated, Modern Luxury, Four Seasons, CMO.com, INVISION and VCPN, among others.