I’m a sucker for gadgets and novelty items: folding hairbrushes you can stick in your purse, pens that allow you to write upside down, and that new brownie pan that cooks 18 perfectly sized, individually baked brownies. Yummmm.

Today’s New Merch Monday glasses are just the type of thing that would appeal to me: reading glasses that fold up to the size of a credit card. I didn’t believe it either, but yes, here they are, complete with their convenient plastic carrying case:

Crazy, huh? What’s nice about these, though, is that unlike the Perfect Brownie Pan (as much as I hate to admit it), this novelty item is actually incredibly useful in lots of situations. The back of the package features an adorably cute picture of the couple that invented the Wallet Readers, Terry and Bob, who emphasize that these “emergency reading glasses” can easily be carried in your wallet or purse, even though they unfold to the size of normal reading glasses. Talk about a life-saver! No longer will you be trapped, unable to read a restaurant menu or to make out the directions on a map. No longer will you dial the wrong number or hit the wrong buttons on your cell phone because you can’t see, and you left your reading glasses at home. Plus, the folding and unfolding of these glasses is easy to figure out, and the frame and materials ensure that the glasses will be durable; they won’t break the second you toss them in  your purse.

Okay…so they’re amazingly convenient, but how do they look? The Wallet Readers come in black or tortoise shell, both great colors to wear with any outfit (check out last week’s post for my ode to tortoise shell). The earpieces are metal encased in black plastic with some small detailing to add interest – a swoop to the end of the earpiece, circular cut-outs along the side. While meant for emergency use and therefore not as stylish as our other glasses, the Wallet Readers are definitely nothing to be embarrassed about…and who knows? They might just get you out of a jam!  Check them out for yourself!

Popularity: 12% [?]

Welcome to Reading Glasses Shopper’s first New Merch Monday! Every week we’ll be fillin’ you in on the latest and greatest here at RGS – make sure you drop us a comment and let us know what you think!

Today’s topic: the new Quinton II Bifocal readers.

Now, there are few accessories that have the power to change your appearance as quickly and as drastically as glasses, whether you’re going for chic, nerdy, or quirky. Me, I like to mix it up depending on my mood for the day (and my outfit), but sometimes you need a pair that stays out of the spotlight and lets you have center stage.

If you’re looking for eyewear that adds class without taking over your face, the Quinton II readers are the way to go. The secret lies in the rimless frame. I’m sure that you’re no stranger to the power of rimless glasses – we see them everywhere, whether it’s Sarah Palin’s famous use of both the round and the square varieties, or Stephen Colbert’s pairing of the style with his cocky, debonair charm. These public figures know – going rimless creates an intelligent and sophisticated look without being bold or obvious, ensuring that when people look at you, they see your face, not your glasses.

I pulled the gold version of the Quinton II to get a closer look (they also come in dark bronze). The first thing I noticed was the deep brown tortoise shell earpieces, which contrast beautifully with the gold of the frame. I like the gentle “swoop” to the bridge across the nose, and the spring hinges that mean your glasses won’t be bent or broken when a child tries to pull them off your face. One of the greatest benefits to these glasses is that as bifocals they have large enough lenses that you can wear them for both distance and close vision – you won’t find yourself pushing them down your nose to peer over the top. No “Granny-vision” here!

And at their current sale price of $12.71, these glasses are a steal. Sophistication for under $15! What more can you ask?

What do you guys think?

Popularity: unranked [?]