Disclosure: while DITTO sent me a pair of complimentary glasses to familiarize myself with the brand, I am certain this is a website you want to know about! Read on for a chance to win a pair for yourself, too!
I will never forget the first time I put on a pair of prescription glasses. My vision had deteriorated so gradually that I didn’t realize just how bad it had gotten until that day. Looking through the lenses was like seeing the world in HD; people’s faces were no longer blurry, and trees had leaves again!
Out With the Old, In With the New
Having my vision back was not the only thing I was grateful for, though. For the first 24 years of my life I had been without a need for one of fashion’s biggest statement pieces: eyewear. And there I was sporting these amazing specs that I had spent hours picking out. Let’s face it: it’s hard to see how you look in a pair of glasses when you can’t see to begin with!
Until recently, I still wore that very same pair, but something in me said it was time to branch out. So a few Saturdays ago I dragged Mark and Jane to an optics shop to look around. Have you done this yet? Taken a two year old to a store that contains only things (expensive things) that they can break? My anxiety levels were at an all time high the entire time we searched for the perfect pair of glasses. There was just no way I could focus enough to make such an important decision, so I left empty handed.
DITTO: Shop for Glasses From the Comfort of Your Couch
As fate would have it, a few days later I was introduced to the online optics shop DITTO. I have to say that initially, I had my doubts about upping my internet shopping game to include eyewear, but the more I explored the site, the more I became convinced that it could be the best way for me to find my new look. DITTO uses your computer’s webcam to capture a video of your face from all angles. Once you’ve stored your 180 degree “selfie,” you can create “DITTOs,” or virtual images, of yourself with every pair of shades or specs they carry! And you can do so without your toddler attempting to try them on herself!
What I thought would be a quick online shopping trip turned into a full on digital fashion show! I thought I wanted to stick with the same small rectangular shape that I had but maybe just a different brand or in a different shade. For every brand DITTO carries, they offered the chance to try on each style in all of its available color choices. I searched their “vintage inspired” looks and was able to see if I preferred black or tortoise or even a wild turquoise pair.
The Original Wayfarer?!?!
I decided to mix up my search a bit and try on some Ray Bans since I really loved the look of the New Wayfarers Santa left under our tree for me. I liked them so much that I sent the DITTO to a friend to check out so she could give me her honest feedback. And, she liked them too, but she asked if I had considered “trying on” the Original Wayfarers. I wasn’t sure I could pull off the iconic look with their wide rims and angled frames, but, I thought, “what’s the harm in trying?” So, I added one final DITTO to my profile, and it was love at first sight (optics pun intended!). They were funky and cool and added a little spice to my style.
The Verdict? Solid Customer Service and a Variety of Price Points
I received my Original Wayfarers just this week and absolutely love them. That said, one selling point for me was that had I not liked them once they arrived, DITTO would allow me to return them within 90 days for free! I so appreciate when a company stands behind its customer service. I also love when they present you with a wide array of choices at different price points. They carry some of the pricier brands like Chloe, Alexander Wang and Elizabeth and James, and I’m sure there will be a time in my life when I am ready to invest again in more expensive eyewear. For now, with a two year old who just loves to try on Mommy’s glasses, I appreciate that they also carry stylish lines like Ray Ban that are a bit budget friendlier.
So as winter turns to spring and you begin thinking about a new pair of shades, may I recommend heading over and creating some DITTOs of your own. You never know, you could be a cat eye kind of gal and not know it yet! What will your DITTO say about you? Mine said Buddy Holly isn’t the only one who can pull off the Original Wayfarer!
The Highlights of DITTO
- The ability to try on glasses virtually from the comfort of your own couch
- Free shipping
- Free 90 day returns if you are not satisfied with your purchase
- Both prescription glasses and sunglasses are available, as well as styles for men and women
- The price points vary, but there are budget-friendly options in stock if you don’t want to splurge
It has been awhile. I think I bought them at Target.
I don’t remember when I bought my sunglasses but I just got new glasses and hate them 🙁