Glasses, fashion, high visibility person

[Lucy]

I was in a couple of "retro" shops today for fun. One was named "Polly" & "Esther." I found glasses that were off the charts. I need RX in my specs, so I didn't buy any. I would, however, split for $10 or so and buy a pair of these for a costume party or such. Too bad I can't describe them. Oh, polyester everywhere. (If only I'd kept my clothes from.........) We know, Di, you were too young for the first go round.

[jenny2008]

Speaking of woman with glasses-what about news correspondent Ashleigh Banfield? She is so pretty and always wears thick glasses when on Showbiz Tonight on Headline News. Also, one of my favorite actresses -Diane Keaton wears glasses almost 100% of the time and I also noticed Bonnie Hunt has a new talk show in the mornings-she too wears glasses 100% of the time and looks great~! It is getting more mainstream!

[dianat]

There are, indeed, plenty of good looking women wearing glasses. Funny I didn't notice it five years ago, but...hey...I'm doing okay. No need to the negative tone.

One thing that would surely cheer me up would be if Ian would scan and post a pic or two of him in his 80s frames. I may even dig around and do the same!

D

[alisonW]

Add me to the list of those who are...

thrilled that Sarah Palin wears glasses and proves that women can look great in them! I frequently have people ask me why I don't wear contacts or get LASIK and it drives me nuts.

Lucy - we must live in the same vicinity - McCain and Palin were in my hometown yesterday.

Do you have any recs for good dry eye specialists in the area? I've been to 5different doctors over the past 4 years and none have been able to help me. TIA!

[Guest]

D

I'm not sure this is possible. I found a heap of specs in my old bedroom in the family home whilst my mum was moving back in January. Why I kept them is anyones guess.

Glasses must be a fetish with me, I have found at least 5 pairs in my own home whilst packing and unpacking during rennovations. They are all pretty funky frames. Why I ever CHOSE to have laser surgery is beyond me.

I can't believe that the glasses back at mum's were ever fashionable but I did have a new pair of specs every year and given that I have worn glasses since 15, there were loads to choose from. I did consider myself a bit of a trendsetter in the late 80's, looking back, trends must have been pretty bad if I were setting them.

I must find the photo in the grey immitation snake skin glasses - they were the worst and to top it off they were a designer frame I'll have you know.

Then there were the lovely tortise shell variety with tinted lenses - now that is a picture to behold.

I am heading back to Oz to visit my mum in the next week or two so will see if they survived the move and will see if I can fulfill the request. Could be good for a laugh.

I do remember a number of hideous photos of me as a teenager with huge specs so will see which of those survived and will scan and add to an album.

Not sure I like where this thread is going........

Cheers

Ian

[Lucy]

Oh, my, Ian you made me snicker. I have my last specs in the house at least. I also have some of my daughter's old frames that I told her I'd recycle and have not done so yet. She is as I was, -10.......so ours are really thick.

The hippest I was (remembering back) was hexagon (6 sides) with blue tint. They were small frames and the lens kept falling out of the irregular frames. That was a sight, me trying to find the fallen lens and put it back in the frame and screw the itty bitty screw in place while holding the frames tight. I wish it still was that easy.

[portrgirl]

I honestly thought about sending her a letter to tell her not to take anyone up on any offers to perform LASIK on her. Do we expect they are only for fashion or are they readers, too?

I looked into this when she was chosen as vp running mate. What can I say, seeing pretty, fashionable, accepted women wearing glasses helps with my glasses-self-confidence. Here's a recent video from CNN (I hope it's okay that I posted this). I also read a few articles that talked about how she wore contacts during her college and beauty pageant days, but switched to glasses a couple of years after in her mid-20s. I don't believe a reason was given, but she certainly needs them to see well. This article confirms that.

Lisa Loeb is another glasses-confidence-booster. I stumbled upon this interview with her. I found it so amusing (and frustrating) how the news people were being somewhat condescending about her glasses at the beginning of the interview.

And to round out my confession to an obsession with glasses-related stories, this is a boosting blog post by a female frames wearer about her view on women and glasses.

All of this is helping me (still) come to grips with the possibility of not ever being able to wear contacts (comfortably or healthily) again.

Edit: I just wanted to add a rant of mine. Women, glasses and formal wear. Why is it that people are so against it? I listened to some popular local radio morning show hosts (the woman of the group the most vocal about it) bash women who do this. They couldn't get why women wouldn't use contacts at least for a formal event or go with Lasik. I wrote them an email explaining the many reasons. Sometimes, we just don't have a choice if we want to SEE. This article touches on it a bit... but unfortunately agrees with those who say formal wear, glasses and women don't go together. Men can get away with it frequently without a comment (or comments on how handsome or dapper they look). A look at the Emmy crowd the other night is an excellent example of this. I saw one woman wearing glasses. One must think that more than that need a rx to see and that not all of them can wear contacts, right? *sigh*

[Lucy]

You are right Portgirl, and I would imagine there were people in the audience who would not wear glasses and who can't wear contacts who just went without and couldn't see. I think this happens often in high society. Not everyone can wear contacts as you said. Most everyone can wear glasses. I've always looked better in glasses and didn't realize it until after lasik. Lucy

[portrgirl]

I've always looked better in glasses and didn't realize it until after lasik. Lucy

That's fantastic! Well, not that you didn't realize it until after Lasik, but that you feel that way now, because I think I remember reading that you still need them.

[calli66]

My problem with the "fashion glasses wearer" like the VP candidate is that the prescription in the glasses is so very light that it looks just like No Prescription. Really, when you get into the -8.00 to -10.00 range, your eyes appear ridiculously tiny in glasses, no matter how "fashionable." And the same is true for "plus" prescriptions---the eyes look hugely magified, like an alien.

I had the same opinion growing up, when Sophia Loren was one of the top eyeglasses models---what looked fashionable on her---put a 1/4 inch thick lens in those frames, and it's a joke.

The best thing I learned was that, odd as it may sound, some people are attracted to girls with thick glasses. The reason is a BS fetish---something about looking mysterious and vulnerable, etc. But it made me realize that others nearly always view us differently than we view ourselves, and sometimes it's POSITIVE.

My intuition about Palin's glasses----yes, she probably needs them for reading. But it's a known fact that glasses-wearers are perceived as being more intelligent, academic, educated, than those without. I've read that she has more than a dozen (expensive) pairs, too, so yes---it's a fashion statement which enhances her pretty eyes while at the same time making her look more serious.

C

[portrgirl]

calli66: I think you're absolutely right that Palin's frames choices are for fashion/aesthetics, but don't all of us who need glasses for function also choose frames for aesthetic reasons? Some present more funky and fun while others are more serious and less obvious -- it's all how you want to present yourself. I've been considering this a lot as it looks more and more like contacts won't be an option for me again. Some days I want a more subtle pair and others I want something with more pop. I can see why some people have multiple pairs! (Bonnie Hunt's, for instance, would work well with formal wear IMO.)

The best thing I learned was that, odd as it may sound, some people are attracted to girls with thick glasses. The reason is a BS fetish---something about looking mysterious and vulnerable, etc. But it made me realize that others nearly always view us differently than we view ourselves, and sometimes it's POSITIVE.

Thanks for that reminder. I think we all often forget that almost EVERYONE else views us in a much less harsh and more positive light than we shine on ourselves. I bet most people don't even give glasses on someone a second thought.

[mary kenny badami]

I was just flipping channels (on USA television) . . .

. . . holy cow! QVC is one of several merchandising channels on American TV. Joan Rivers is a comedian/TV personality/entrepreneur. Today she was promoting her jewelry line, honestly, jewelry, her "classics collection." Among which was -- dah dum, dah dum, wait for it, wait for it -- "It Girl Oversized Sunglasses"! Both Joan Rivers and the QVC host put on those huge round glasses (cost was about $40.00 US, plus shipping and handling) and talked about them as a "fashion accessory."

I am in no way suggesting anyone should buy them (although you are certainly free to do so). I was just amused and amazed, in light of the theme of this thread, that enormous dark sunglasses were being defined as a fashion accessory, on the same level as women's watches, earrings, and bracelets.

[Guest]

Mary

The Big sunglasses thing for both Males and Females was a huge trend here in Europe for the past summer season.

Let's hope the sunglasses go down the same path as the season, gone for another year.

I'm off to Australia for some sunshine and family time tomorrow, we had a really bad summer in the UK so need some Vitamin D. Given the complete lack of sun my skin is white as white - pitty my eyes aren't.

Cheers

Ian
In holiday mode

[Guest]

I'll see if I can hunt down some old frames or at least some old pictures to add to the gallery whilst I'm at my mum's.

Somehow I think I will live to regret the day I thought this was a good idea and mentioned it.

Ian

[Lucy]

We're counting on you to do this, Ian. You go first. Lucy