The 5th Annual Fashion 2.0 Awards

A couple weeks ago I had the fortune to attend the Fashion 2.0 awards. Since the launch 5 years ago, social media has changed drastically from something that brands never talked about to an integral part of marketing strategy and customer relations.

The Fashion 2.0 awards founded by the beautiful Yuli Ziv, the founder of Style Coalition and Fashion 2.0, are the first industry recognized distinction honoring fashion brands for outstanding achievements and communication strategies across a variety of digital media channels. When the awards first launched, DKNY's DKNY PR girl aka Aliza Litch was one of the only attendees and Foursquare was honored as the best start-up. Could we have dreamed then how much times would have changed? Today over 400 industry insiders helped celebrate the event at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. 

The awards were hosted once more by the ever charming Robert Verdi with legendary designer Zac Posen invited to give a keynote speech. After he ended his speech he attempted to take an audience wide "selfie" but ended up leaving himself out of the picture. Host Robert Verdi later corrected the error in good fun and soon the entire room was standing to be a part of it!

As for some of the winners, Marc Jacobs won big, sweeping awards for best Instagram and Twitter. Nordstrom won for the Best Pinterest. DKNY won for best online campaign with DKNY Draft. The campaign featuring both models and football players for the Super Bowl taught us in the words of pioneer Aliza Litch that "Models can't throw for shit". Acustom Apparel won for best start-up

Eva Chen was honored by Fashion GPS with the online Navigator award and rushed in a little late after being caught in a heated ping pong match with the Warby Parker boys. The Fashion Navigator Award took into consideration the fact that ambitious women are not just bossy, ambitious women can become the boss. Eva Chen exemplifies this modern attitude.

Fashion expert Jeannie Mai presented the Visionary award to the Warby Parker boys, while telling a touching story about how the brand changed the life of one woman who had a life altering ordeal in which she no longer had the confidence to go shop in public. The award celebrates not only what fashion can do, but what fashion can do for others.

The beautiful and charming Coco Rocha presented the evenings top honor for Top Innovator to ASOS as she shared how this year both the internet and herself turned 25. "For decades, industry standards dictated that models be seen and not heard. This model is one with an opinion, not seen but heard. If you have a loud voice, have something to say. Social media has given me a voice to be someone beyond just a face".

After the awards ceremony let out, everyone hit the cocktail reception for some in-person socializing. It was a grand night with red carpet glamor and beautiful people celebrating the digital world. I wonder how the awards will change and change again in the next 5 years!

Special thanks to photographer Ken Arcara for the bottom three images.

Eyewear Favorites: Moscot, Warby Parker & SEE

I've had glasses ever since my early teens, and it wasn't until recently that I finally found a pair of glasses that I really liked. Before it didn't really matter because I wore contacts all the time, but over the last couple of years, my eyes have become more sensitive. And it doesn't help that I spend so much time staring at a computer screen (for work, blogging, even Djing).

Glasses have always been a difficult purchase for me because I don't have much of a nose bridge, so it really cuts down on my options. I really love the way plastic frames look, but most of them sit too low on my face or too close to my face - so close my eyelashes will touch the lenses!

2007-2009, Alain Milki framesI wore these metal lime green tinted frames for a couple years. And while I really loved them, they were sometimes problematic once I started wearing them everyday because didn't match everything in my wardrobe. So I decided I wanted something more classic and basic like black, brown or even gray.


Now, Moscot framesI bought my latest pair from the Moscot shop at 14th St & 6th Ave. They're the Rikki frames and sell for $225. I would have never picked out these frames if it hadn't been for the sales associate since I've always been told that I looked better with squarish frames. And these frames as-is wouldn't work with my super Asian nose. But...! Moscot has a vendor that can add custom nose pads to any frames for $50.

I love the selection of frames at Moscot - great styles and variety of colors. They also carry other brands that aren't widely available elsewhere. And the staff is super helpful when it comes to picking out the right frames for your face shape and complexion.

It can be a bit pricey to get glasses from Moscot, but they do accept VSP. After insurance, I still paid almost $300 out of pocket, but that's because I needed thinner lenses and the custom nose pads. If you order your glasses with VSP, it will take a few weeks for your glasses to be ready.

I don't want to say anything negative about Moscot because I really love their product and how knowledgable their staff is, but I will say that my order took five weeks instead of "2-3 weeks" and there was a bit of confusion over my balance. On big purchases, always save your receipt, so you can be prepared if questions come up!

SEE Eyewear
The other shop I checked out in my epic search for frames was SEE Eyewear on Bleecker in West Village. They also had a pretty extensive section of frames with a variety colors in each style. Their prices, which start as low as $169, include single vision lenses, so they can be quite the deal - though I should mention that my favorites were all $250+.
I like shopping for glasses at SEE because everything is available in the open for you to try on, so you don't have to wait every time you see something you like.

I tried on almost very pair in the store, and I found two options that worked for me. While frames and basic lens deal is quite affordable, with all the extra things I needed (thinner lenses for heavy prescription and anti-glare), they would have cost me over $300. They don't accept VSP, but they do offer a courtesy 10% off to VSP customers.

Warby Parker
It's no secret that I love Warby Parker They're a newer line of eyewear, and they're great! All of their styles are super fresh, and they have a great business model. They sell frames and lenses for only $95 (only extra $30 for high-index lenses), and they offer free at-home try on. And somehow, they manage to give a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair purchased.

The only reason why I don't own a pair myself is because none of them could sit on my face. A few of my friends have Warby Parkers and they love them, but they have commented that the frames slide down a bit.

The collection is available mainly online at warbyparker.com, but you can also try on and shop at their Union Square showroom or the Steven Alan in Brooklyn.

Try On Now: Warby Parker

Awhile back I wrote about Warby Parker eyeglasses, but I never actually got to try them on in real life because demand for their at-home try-on was so high! Over the past few months, Warby Parker has been opening showrooms around the US, including their home office in Union Square. While convenient in location, the hours at the NY showroom are still limited 9-5PM.

I feel like someone heard my prayers because they're now available at Steven Alan in Brooklyn, which is open a little later during the week and on weekends. Warby Parker eyeglasses are just the look I want, and they're super affordable at only $95 a pair including prescription lenses! I'm planning to check them out this coming weekend. Fingers crossed, I really hope they fit my super flat Asian nose.

Steven Alan Brooklyn
349 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Mon-Sat 11:30-7pm
Sun 12-6pm
718.852.3257

For more information on Warby Parker, visit warbyparker.com or call 888-492-7297.

iWant Warby Parker $95 Glasses

Warby Parker is a new line of eye wear, and they're revolutionary because for $95 you get a fresh pair of boutique-like eyeglasses and lenses. By selling directly to consumers through their website and avoiding traditional channels (the man), they're able to keep prices low.

And as if that wasn't enough reason to love then, Warby and Parker parters with non-profits like RestoringVision.org to deliver a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair that they sell. So amazing!

The glasses are available exclusively online, and you can order up to five pairs to try-on at home with free shipping. I've been wanting to try this for myself, but it looks like they're out of stock due to overwhelming demand. I'm not surprised since they were recently featured in Daily Candy, NY Mag's The Cut and GQ. I've played with their virtual try-on and am in love, so I anxiously await the arrival of new inventory!