From Four-Eyes to Fashion Forward
March 23, 2013 | Soheli | Comments (4)
It started innocently enough: a fuzzy blackboard or two, a road sign that went unread, a friend I didn't recognize until I crossed the street. Later, I got headaches from squinting too hard and I found myself frustrated with trying to read that blurry print at the front of the classroom.
My first pair of eyeglasses were thrust upon me in the fifth grade, much to my dismay.
I mean, yes, they were pink, and had glitter at the corners,
but I had the Harry Potter look down before Harry Potter even existed.
Years later, I've come to terms with my limited vision. I've flirted briefly with contact lenses and anxiously researched laser eye surgery, but I always came back around to the humble and dependable specs.
So, imagine my surprise when I realized (a little late, I guess) that glasses are cool now. And they have been for a while. I think this only really dawned on me when I noticed someone wearing glasses without any actual lenses - as in, oversized plastic frames that I could poke my finger right through, into her eyeballs. I was flabbergasted: could it be true? Was this a 'thing' now? And more importantly: could I be quick enough to actually poke her in the eye as she walked by?I thought back to my childhood when I was only one of the few kids in my class with glasses. It wasn't exactly a traumatic experience, but wearing glasses made you different, and it could easily serve as fuel for teasing.
I know Arthur feels me on this, while Heidi Heckelbeck figures glasses could and should totally be a fashion statement.
Turns out, being forced to wear glasses might not be the worst thing in the world. The British Pyschological Society has an article on kids' assumptions of people who wear glasses. Not surprisingly, most kids associate glasses with 'smart people', like scientists and doctors, although this is also paired with glasses-wearers as being less attractive. A 2008 Ohio State University study seems to mostly echo these thoughts, although they also add 'looks more honest' to kids' perceptions of their bespectacled peers. A lot of these assumptions follow us into adulthood. Even popular news outlets have reported that wearing a pair of glasses to a job interview could raise your chances of landing the position!
Smarts aside, I found this little blurb on an accessories shop's website, describing a pair of 'fashion frames' for the tween crowd: "You bring the attitude to this old school design. These retro glasses are super comfortable to wear and give you geek-chic style." I guess I shouldn't be too surprised: glasses have a pretty long history in the world of fashion.
Funky frames and eccentric eyewear have been popping up on runways for Spring 2013, ranging from the mostly wearable to the outright outrageous. Below are some frames from Miu Miu and Prada's Spring print campaign:
Now, with so many different shapes, styles and colours to choose from, picking the perfect pair can be a tricky feat, especially if you're getting glasses for the first time. There are lots of ways to play around with choosing the best frames for your face. You won't really know until you go in and actually try on a few pairs (or twenty...) but keeping a few guidelines in mind could help make sure you choose something functional, fitting, and even a little fabulous. For fun, you could even create a little cartoon version of yourself, complete with a selection of frames, using the I Made Face app on your Android or iOs device, like the one I made to the left.
Helping a little one with their first pair? Try some of these kids' books about the eyeglass experience:
Whether you actually need them, or simply want to play up your style, glasses can be a fun part of your look -- whatever that look is!
