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This Substack post by Lynette Nylander unlocked something in my fashion brain. According to the Executive Digital Director of Harper’s BAZAAR: “The thing that really makes an (read: my) outfit successful, are the extras. The toppings.” Not, it’s worth noting, her clothes (“I dress boring, I only have good accessories” is the title).
Aha. As I step into my thirties, I am shopping with more intention. And, sometimes, making the wise wardrobe decision feels boring. The idea of leaning into toppings for je ne sais quoi? Huge.
Naturally, I’ve now been thinking about my extras. I knew a great pair of sunglasses could pull a lot of weight in a wardrobe – and after years of contacts-wearing, I wanted to invest in a pair of prescription lenses that could do the same. I turned to Annie Goodman, one of TQE’s most reliable sources, for a recco. She was all in on Caddis. I’ve landed my first pair, and now I understand why.
The TL;DR on Caddis
Caddis has one of those I-couldn’t-find-what-I-was-looking-for-so-I-made-it founding stories. On The Story of a Brand podcast, Caddis CEO Tim Parr shares that while touring in a bluegrass brand, he realized that reading glasses were “the bastard child of all eyewear.” When looking for a pair, he was either met with a designer, $800 option, or a “pink and green and purple and foldable and magnetic” pair. An affordable and stylish version he’d have to make himself.
Today, the brand sells all sorts of stylish, and affordably priced, eyewear. In addition to classic readers (which the ‘anti anti-aging brand’ has made feel aspirational and chic): prescription glasses, progressive readers, and sunglasses.
I have always found shopping for glasses online to be a bit of a gamble. While there are many platforms to shop them, the quality, fit, and reliability are difficult to assess. That’s one of the first ways Caddis stood out to me: the brand has built a strong reputation and has thousands of fans who can’t get enough (scan the reviews and you’ll find tons of people who have two, three, or four pairs).
How to Shop for Your Caddis Glasses
I planned to order my frames online and had my eye on a few options. Then I realized that Caddis actually has a store in Los Angeles. I popped by for a visit and to re-affirm my inklings (their aviator style had stuck out to me online) and was surprised by how much I loved the funkiness of an amber tint. Sold. My sales associate snapped my photo, took my prescription, and I was off. It was that easy – and my new frames showed up on my doorstep about a week later.
Most people will shop for their Caddis frames online only; thankfully, the site makes it simple. Once you choose which type of glasses you’re looking for, you can customize their prescription, frame color, lens material, and lens tint (blue-light filtering, light-responsive gray or bronze). Prices range from $90ish for readers to $310ish for prescription glasses. They sit right at the intersection of quality and affordability (sure, there are plenty of much cheaper options, but cheap glasses look, and feel, like cheap glasses).
Each pair is made with a premium hard coating to protect the lenses and minimize scratches; a high-performance water, dirt, and grease-repellent coating for easy maintenance and superior optics; and premium, bio-based acetate frame with 5-barrel industrial hinges.
Choosing Your Style
Caddis’s unisex options are wide-ranging, from classic shapes to funkier silhouettes. My advice, especially if you’re shopping for readers, is to go for it. Glasses have a unique ability to show off your personality and add dimension to your look. Plus, if you order 2 frames from Caddis, you can save 25%. Order 3 and you’ll save 30%. Grab one in-your-comfort-zone pair and exit your comfort zone with another.
As I mentioned, I have always preferred contacts over glasses – and before this pair from Caddis, I had very rarely (if ever) worn glasses in public all day. When my aviator frames arrived, I wore them to my co-working space and was shocked by the number of compliments I received. I was told I looked like a chic fashion photographer and ‘so cool.’ I don’t wear them everyday but I do wear them (huge for me!) – and feel really confident when I do.
The Anti Anti-Aging Brand
Caddis has real style as a brand – even beyond their product. They’re a self-described ‘cult’ of people looking to live well, and happily. While readers have historically had the connotation of uncool and for-the-aging, Caddis turns that whole notion on its head. By the time you reach need-readers age, you’ve likely experienced a lot of life, and have an evolved perspective. Caddis taps into it to encourage shoppers to loosen up and get a little funky.
Sure, Caddis is a brand, but it’s also a reminder that little extras can add a lot of confidence to your day-to-day. I certainly feel that way. I also already feel myself itching for another pair.
Grab yours here.
