“Fatherhood has taught me patience in all aspects of life and unconditional love.” – Iman, Texas
“Fatherhood is a blessing to me because through love, it has caused me to examine myself as a man and made me a better person.” – Cornelius, Michigan
The change is unmistakably different, a distant departure from routine covers of scantily clad models, the September issue of Maxim intends to appeal the masculine tastes of a polished gentlemanly audience. Not by entreating the senses with lust-inducing imagery, no, instead Maxim breaks historical protocol and features the epitome of what many consider of brooding sophistication – Idris Elba. And yes, he is the first male to ever grace the cover of Maxim, as the magazine redirects its focus to more refined, cultured material and less on the gratuitous showcase of the female anatomy, which served as pleasing eye-candy, but did not do much in terms of educating the audience regarding style and culture. So, congratulations Mr. Elba for being chosen as representation of Maxim’s reinvention and redirection. Smooth. Stylish. Self-assured.
Sure, on a superficial level, Samuel L. Jackson gracing the cover of Rake Magazine may appear as business per usual to the general public. However, from the perspective of an African-American male, namely my own, this cover represents something more powerful than its elementary purpose. Due to its dearth in the mainstream media, the illustration of the black male, regaled in style and distinction, is always a welcome sight. That being stated, I wanted to list a few personal thoughts on contemporary style choices that stand in contrast to the illustration above. Caveat: These are just one elder gentleman’s opinion that has to dress in the business world. So if these statements don’t apply, then let it fly. Nevertheless, some gentlemen are out here doing too much.
Let’s be honest, of the myriad of health concerns an individual may possess, eye health is probably towards the bottom of the list. Unless one is born with refractive errors, like astigmatism, which makes vision blurry, healthy eyes are generally taken for granted. As long as one’s vision is reasonably well, regular check-ups with an eye doctor are often ignored. And even when a person’s vision slowly declines, much-needed medical intervention is delayed still. Unfortunately, by the time someone finally decides to have an eye exam, there may be issues that could have been prevented, or at the very least suitably managed. Check out these statistics courtesy of the Centers of Disease Control & Prevention:
Understanding just how important eye health is, Rickey Smiley has joined with America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses to not only increase eye health awareness, but also offer 12 stylish eyeglasses at an affordable cost. The new Rickey Smiley frames are eligible for America’s Best’s two-for-$104.95 deal which includes single vision plastic lenses and an eye exam. The Gentlemen’s Standard had the distinct honor to discuss the new Rickey Smiley eyeglass line and eye awareness campaign with Mr. Smiley himself. Check out our conversation below.
The Gentlemen’s Standard: What was driving catalyst that prompted you to collaborate with America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses to initiate this campaign for eye health awareness?
Rickey Smiley: I’ve worn glasses since third grade and it quickly became a huge part of my personal style and who I am. I already had an established partnership with America’s Best, so it was a natural evolution for us to campaign together on this very important cause.
TGS: What are some of the projects you will be involved in to help spread awareness?
RS: I’ll be telling my story, talking up my new frames and spreading awareness on the importance of eye health through news and radio programming and my social media pages (@Rickey Smiley on Twitter and Rickey Smiley Official Fan Page on Facebook). I’m also excited to be hitting the streets with #FramedWithSmiley events in various cities. We’re having a great time meeting some of my fans and introducing them to my eyewear and talking about their eye health.
TGS: Will this campaign involve any community outreach in major cities?
RS: We’re trying to reach people of all ages because eye health is important at any age. The Rickey Smiley Eyewear line is designed for men, aged 25-54 — but they can also be worn by women. Basically, I’m hoping to reach anyone who is looking for a cool style, but doesn’t want to break the bank.
TGS: What are some of the goals you hope to accomplish with this campaign?
RS: Yes! I believe people shouldn’t have to sacrifice style or seeing to save a buck and that everyone should have the opportunity to see well and look good, too. Partnering with America’s Best makes complete sense for me because their business is also committed to giving people quality eye wear and eye care at an affordable price.
TGS: Are there any plans to expand the Rickey Smiley eyeglass line?
RS: Well, the line is still brand new, but I can tell you that the frames have been doing very well so far. It’s been great to hear how much people love them. I know that the America’s Best team is always thinking about the future, but they aren’t ready to share any specific plans about the line just yet.
Tips for Healthy Eyes
For more information on Rickey Smiley’s new eyeglass lines, please visit HERE for more details.
Rickey Smiley Asks People About Eye Health & Style from MultiVu Video on Vimeo.
