Sometimes you don't want to turn the world down. You just want to listen to something while staying connected to what's happening around you.

Earbuds have become part of everyday life. We use them for music, podcasts, phone calls, workouts, commuting and everything in between.

And they can be brilliant.

But there are also moments when completely blocking or reducing the sounds around you isn't what you want.

Maybe you're walking alone. Maybe you're running outdoors. Maybe you're trying to listen to a podcast during school drop-off while still hearing your children. Or perhaps you're travelling through a busy airport and don't want to miss an announcement.

That's where open-ear audio offers a different approach.

Instead of placing a speaker inside your ear canal, open-ear audio delivers sound while leaving your ears uncovered, allowing you to hear more of the surrounding environment.

Her Audio Style takes that concept and builds it into something you can wear as sunglasses.

Here are six everyday situations where that difference can matter.

1. Walking

Walking is one of the simplest times to enjoy a podcast or playlist.

But if you're walking outdoors, you may also want to hear what is happening around you.

Traffic. Cyclists. People. Conversations. Your surroundings.

Traditional in-ear headphones can reduce the amount of environmental sound you hear, while open-ear designs allow more of those sounds to remain audible. Australian consumer organisation CHOICE describes this as one of the key differences between traditional earbuds and open-ear headphones.

That doesn't mean open-ear audio makes you "safe" or eliminates the need to pay attention.

It simply means you're choosing an audio format that doesn't deliberately seal your ears away from the environment.

For a walk through your neighbourhood, that can be a meaningful difference.

2. School drop-off

Parents are experts at multitasking.

You might want to take a call or listen to music while walking to school, but you're also listening for:

"Mum!"

The child who suddenly needs something.

A conversation.

A bike coming past.

Whatever is happening around you.

This is where the difference between listening and isolating yourself becomes relevant.

With open-ear audio, you don't have earbuds sitting inside your ears.

Her Audio Style combines open-ear speakers with sunglasses, giving you a way to enjoy your audio while keeping your ears uncovered.

It's not about escaping your surroundings.

It's about making room for your own audio without completely disconnecting from the moment you're already in.

3. Running

Music can be a huge part of the running experience.

It can help create rhythm, motivation and momentum.

But outdoor running also means sharing space with other people, cyclists, vehicles and changing surroundings.

Open-ear audio offers an alternative to conventional in-ear listening by keeping the ears uncovered.

That can make it easier to remain aware of environmental sounds while listening.

However, it's important not to treat any headphone or audio technology as a substitute for paying attention.

Volume, traffic, road conditions and your surroundings still matter.

The goal isn't to promise that open-ear audio makes running risk-free.

The goal is simply to give runners another way to listen.

4. Cycling

Cycling is another situation where your relationship with the environment matters.

You need to pay attention to traffic, other cyclists, pedestrians, road conditions and what's happening around you.

That makes audio choice particularly personal.

Some cyclists prefer no audio at all.

Others use open-ear or bone-conduction products specifically because they don't want traditional earbuds blocking their ears.

Research into headphone use and environmental awareness has found that simply being able to detect environmental sounds does not necessarily guarantee perfect situational awareness; the audio you're listening to can still compete for attention.

So open-ear doesn't mean "ignore everything else."

It means choosing a format that leaves your ears uncovered.

And when you're cycling, that should always sit alongside normal attention to the road, traffic and local cycling rules.

5. Travelling

Here's where noise-cancelling headphones still have a very important role.

On an aircraft, train or noisy airport, you may actively want to reduce the surrounding noise.

Noise-cancelling headphones are designed for exactly that.

CHOICE notes that noise cancellation can be useful for travel and other situations where reducing environmental noise is the priority.

But there are other moments when you don't want complete isolation.

Walking through the airport.

Waiting at the gate.

Listening for announcements.

Moving through a busy terminal.

That's where open-ear audio can make sense.

You can listen to your podcast or music without putting earbuds into your ears.

So Her Audio Style isn't trying to replace your noise-cancelling headphones on a flight.

It's solving a different problem.

Noise cancellation is useful when you want less of the world.

Open-ear audio is useful when you want your audio without completely shutting the world out.

6. Parenting

Perhaps the most relatable example is the one many parents have already invented themselves.

One earbud in.

One earbud out.

Because you want to listen to something, but you still need to hear the kids.

It's a small workaround for a bigger problem:

How do I enjoy my own audio without becoming unavailable to everyone around me?

Open-ear audio removes the need to put an earbud inside your ear in the first place.

With Her Audio Style, the speakers are built into the sunglasses.

So you can listen to music, podcasts and calls while keeping your ears uncovered.

For busy parents, that can make more sense than constantly taking one earbud out and putting it back in.

What about safety?

This is an important distinction.

We created Her Audio Style around the idea that you shouldn't always have to choose between enjoying your audio and hearing the world around you.

But open-ear audio should not be marketed as a safety device.

Being able to hear surrounding sounds does not mean you are automatically safe.

You still need to pay attention to traffic, people, road conditions and your surroundings. Audio itself can also be distracting, particularly when the volume is high.

Open-ear audio vs noise-cancelling headphones

There isn't one "better" type of audio for every situation.

It depends on what you actually want.

If you're boarding a long-haul flight and want to reduce the sound of the aircraft, noise-cancelling headphones may be exactly what you're looking for.

If you're walking outdoors and want to listen while remaining able to hear more of your surroundings, open-ear audio may be a better fit.

If you're working in a noisy environment and need concentration, isolation may be useful.

If you're walking the school run and still need to hear the children, you may prefer your ears uncovered.

The point isn't that one technology replaces the other.

The point is choosing the right listening experience for the moment.

Why sunglasses?

Her Audio Style takes open-ear audio one step further by combining it with something you're already likely to wear outdoors: sunglasses.

Instead of adding another device to your ears, the audio is integrated into the frames.

So you get:

• Sunglasses
• Open-ear audio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Music and podcast listening
• Hands-free calls
• Your ears uncovered

All in one wearable.

It's a different approach to everyday technology.

The bigger idea

We don't think women need more technology that demands their attention.

We think technology can be designed to fit into the life that's already happening.

Sometimes you want to focus.

Sometimes you want to escape the noise.

And sometimes you simply want to listen to something while still being part of the world around you.

That's the space Her Audio Style was created for.

Tune into your world without tuning out your life.

FAQ:

What is open-ear audio?

Open-ear audio is a listening format that delivers sound without placing an earbud inside the ear canal. This allows the wearer to hear more of the surrounding environment compared with traditional in-ear listening.

Are Her Audio Style sunglasses noise cancelling?

No. Her Audio Style uses open-ear audio rather than noise-cancelling technology. They are designed for listening while keeping your ears uncovered.

Can I use Her Audio Style for running and walking?

They can be used for everyday outdoor activities such as walking and running. However, audio devices should never replace attention to your surroundings, traffic or other hazards.

Are they a replacement for noise-cancelling headphones?

No. Noise-cancelling headphones are designed for situations where reducing external noise is desirable. Her Audio Style is designed for a different use case: listening without placing earbuds inside your ears.

Can I use them while cycling?

Open-ear audio can be used while cycling, but cyclists should always follow local laws and prioritise attention to traffic, road conditions and their surroundings.

Why choose audio sunglasses instead of earbuds?

The key difference is that the audio is built into the sunglasses rather than placed inside your ears. This means you can enjoy your audio while keeping your ears uncovered.

Can I take phone calls?

Her Audio Style frames include Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in microphone for calls, subject to your phone's compatibility and the specific model.