A #VisionExpo #Selfie

I'm a regular contact lens wearer but in recent months, I've been experimenting more and more with eyewear. After all, glasses can be a killer way to freshen up your look, or to add interest and contrast to an outfit. And after a visit to Vision Expo, the annual eyewear trade and trends show held at the Javits Center in New York, I'm reminded that what I find most interesting is that the trends in eyewear aren't specific to sunglasses - these days, you can also find specs in memorable shapes and colors, and with truly incredible, statement-making details.

At Vision Expo, I was not only able to explore all of the latest trends in eyewear, I also caught up with style expert Jenn Falik, who was on the scene to chat trends and key takeaways. If you're planning to add eyewear or a new pair of sunnies (or two!) to your accessories wardrobe this season, here's what you'll want to look for:

• Unique details and slight embellishment, like the tiny baby pyramid studs seen here on the nose bridge of these Balmain

• Statement brow bars, a la the fur-trim Givenchy seen here, or the Valentino Rockstud sunnies seen above

• Printed frames or, in dramatic juxtaposition, clear ones - seen on both eyeglasses and shades. I particularly liked the fun and affordable Kensie version below.

Truth be told, there were too many pairs of eyewear to love at Vision Expo to recount in a single post, but I will say that a few brands REALLY stood out - among them, Balmain's statement-making eyewear and sunwear, the new (to me?) collection of frames from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Eté's exotic wood frame specs and the luxe French collection, Face à Face. I'll also be keeping my eyes peeled for frames by Selima for celebrity stylist, June Ambrose, who also has a great-looking collection of shoes launching at HSN this Spring.

If you have any favorite eyewear brands that I may have missed, leave a comment below, or tweet me @eye4style. And for updates on all things eyewear, visit the Eyecessorize blog, and follow my friends at @eyecessorize on Twitter!

While this post was produced in partnership with Vision Expo, all opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

There are a LOT of beauty products that I love for purely superficial reasons - they smell amazing, they're packaged beautifully, they're from an exotic and foreign land...you get the idea. I'm a shallow girl, what can I say (for more on those, follow my Get Glam board on Pinterest)? But on the other end of the spectrum (yes, there is another end of the spectrum), there are those products that I love but talk about rarely, and generally in hushed tones - the unglamorous ones, the ones who get some of the most important beauty business done.  Five of the essentials:

• Sally Hansen's line of nail care products are really, truly among the best out there - at any price point. The fact that they're affordable is just a bonus. The Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat ($5.99) is among my at-home mani essentials - in fact, I just layered it over the also inpenetrable French Lilac from JinSoon, and accordingly, I expect my manicure to last until the end of time.
• I really don't like to skimp on my body moisturizer, but some tubs are priced so extravantly, I feel as if I must. Not the case with the newly reformulated Smoothing Body Lotion with Cocoa and Shea Butters ($2.99) by Suave - this giant pump bottle really delivers on the moisturization, even through the miserably cold weather we've been having in New York, and it smells deliciously rich to boot.
• I was recently scolded by my waxer for not being dilgent enough about ingrown hair prevention. Thankfully, it was that week exactly that the new Medicated After Shave Spray ($7.99) by Bikini Zone crossed my desk.  This unique formula includes a topical analgesic that penetrates skin to stop irritation, pain and redness. Use after almost any kind of hair removal - shaving, waxing or depilatory - to avoid pesky and unsightly ingrowns. The spray is fast-drying and simple to use - just a spritz out of the shower and you're good to go.
• Facial wipes are an absolute ESSENTIAL in my book as I'm often too tired or (more accurately) too lazy to be as diligent as I should be in my evening skincare routine. Simple's are among the, well, simplest, and thereby best. At just $5.69 for a pack of 25, you can choose from a complete range - Classic, Radiance, Exfoliating or my pick, Oil Balancing, which boasts Glycerin and Zinc as well as anti-inflammatory natural lipid Phytosphingosine.
• Perhaps it's because Mercury is currently in retrograde, but these days, I'm experiencing a previously unfamiliar level of STRESS. Neat, right? The peeps at Secret came to the rescue, though, with their new Clinical Strength Stress Response ($7.99). Smelling delightfully of citrus, this solid anti-perspirant and deo helps protect you (and your neighbors!) from stress sweat-induced odor and wetness. You can use it at any time, but consider this to be a pre-date, pre-interview and pre-presentation essential.

What wholly unglam products do you rely on?

Jewelry is a grand love of mine (perhaps the longest lasting love of my life, in fact) but at today's NXNE brunch, I learned that not all of my friends can relate - and one in particular asked for some guidance on how to best create a capsule wardrobe of "essentials". Now the tricky thing about jewelry and the idea of essentials is that, essentially, there's no such thing. I mean, I can sing the praises of classics like a monogram pendant, hoop earrings, diamond studs or a tank watch - but the reality is that those items, classic as they may be, really don't speak to every woman's style - in fact, I only own two of the four and wear those rarely.  

A hippie at heart, my friend Lisa needs jewelry that she can wear both for to work and to play - and silver is her preferred metal.  Above, my picks for a capsule wardrobe of jewelry to get her started (top left, clockwise):

• BaubleBar sets a new gold standard for affordable jewelry and with their mix of designers and styles, anyone is sure to find a cart full of baubles to love. For Lisa, I liked the Silver Fringe Bib Necklace ($32) - it's simple enough to not overwhelm her small frame, but also bold enough to make a statement.
• It's entirely possible that I'm projecting here (I loooove an evil eye!), but I also think that the Voodoo Hindsight Duo ($26) could be perfect for Lisa's mildly Stevie Nicks meets Janis Joplin vibe. These beaded bracelets are inexpensive, and can be worn solo or layered with a stack of contrasting bangles.
• As the child of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, Zoe Kravitz is rock royalty - and though she's young, we could all learn a little something from her effortlessly bohemian vibe (seriously, I was wowed by her inherent chicness when we met years ago). This Spring, she's collaborated with Swarovski Crystallized on a capsule collection of jewelry. It's all Native American-inspired - think silver and turquoise (of course) - and thereby perfect for the free spirit. There's a lot to love here, but the Sierra Light Necklace ($116) is seasonless and will work easily as well layered or solo.
• While I love delicate jewelry, I do think it's important to make a statement at times. The Ainsley Bracelet from Stella & Dot is perf for such occasions - this wide, glittering bracelet (it stretches to fit anyone) boasts 500 crystals. For $98, it's a steal. 
• It's hard to identify just one style of earring that every woman MUST own. In my book, quirky studs are a go-to daily, though I'd CERTAINLY never want to live without a sleek hoop or a glittering chandelier. The Cosima Earrings from Lia Sophia are a nice compromise - they're exotic-looking (you could tell people that you picked them up in Bali without a doubt) and cut from a chic, antique-finish silver.

After years of the discreet Apple earbud, BIG headphones are making what feels like a BIG, high-style comeback. And regardless of your personal style - girly, playful, minimalist or bold - there's a pair to suit. Above, a few of my favorites:

Molami's insanely chic collection of headphones are in a class all their own - the end. Minimalist across the board  - the three styles are available in just stark black or white, with varying hardware - the most unique style is also the newest. The Twine ($200) does double duty as a silk chiffon headband, wrapping around your head and providing all-encompassing sound.

The SOL REPUBLIC and tokidoki Tracks HD headphones ($149.99) offer FUN (all caps required), along with amazing sound, and a virtually indestructible design. As a bonus, the headbands are interchangeable (see here), so if you tire of the quirky signature tokidoki animation, you can swap out for a color of your choice and have what feels like a new pair of headphones.
 
The Taylor headphones by Frends ($199) have become almost ubiquitous in the fashion industry - in fact, I can think of at least five women in my office who're rocking them currently, and with VERY good reason. The jewelry-inspired, pyramid-stud-on steroids design make these the perfect supplemental accessory, though it's the luxe materials and solid sound that keep them in my current rotation as a favorite.

Urbanears does one thing very, very well and that's CLEARLY color. Their classic, almost-modular styles - seen above is the Plattan ($59.90) - come in a BOUNTY of colors (13, to be exact) for men and women, though I'm loving the perfectly-on-trend-for-spring coral seen above most.

As soon as Pantone announced EMERALD as the 2013 Color of the Year, I knew 2013 would be MY YEAR after all. Green is one of my color obsessions, after all, in particular Emerald, a real power color, said to invoke possibility (two things I believe in wholeheartedly). And while I'd love to integrate more emerald into my wardrobe, the easiest way to play is defintely with the new Emerald Collection from Sephora and Pantone Universe. 

Available exclusively at Sephora, online and in-store, this second-annual Color of the Year collection includes every imaginable product in green, glorious green, including my faves: the Color Code Prismatic Shadow, Color Cube Lid Liner Stain, Lightspeed Glitter Dust and the Graphic Lift Liquid Liner. These hues look bold on anyone, but in particular, I love the high contrast of emerald to brown eyes.

Explore the Color of the Year collection at Sephora - prices range from $10-$68.