Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Looking good, four eyes

I got my first pair of glasses when I was six. The frames were pink, and I loved them - right up until some girl in my class told me that I couldn't wear pink because it clashed with my hair (kids are assholes, man). I am, to use a technical term, blind as a fucking bat, so glasses have been a necessity in my life for 20+ years. I got contacts a few years ago, and while I love the makeup options that they open up for me, not the mention the sunglasses, I still feel like glasses complete my face.
Of course, I didn't always like my glasses. I was super gawky when I was a kid - I was a pale, freckled ginger who lived in a trailer park, wore second-hand clothes, aced spelling tests, and was honestly just weird. There was no way I wasn't also going to get called four-eyes, and that sort of stuff is just stupidly hurtful when you're 10.
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I didn't actually have head gear. Also, I'm not Katy Perry. Although that would be cool, because boobs. Also money.
It didn't help matters that I would usually pick out these tiny frames that did nothing for my face shape. It wasn't until the whole nerd glasses thing took off when I was in college that I started wearing glasses that actually looked good on me, and one of the great things about getting into vintage is realizing how awesome I look in cat eye frames.
I've had the same glasses for going on five years now, and while I still like them, it's definitely time for some new ones. Even with insurance, my glasses still tend to be rather expensive for me (see above, re: blind), so I'm leaning towards a pair of Warby Parkers. I'm also considering picking up some vintage frames and having new lenses put in, since they're cheaper and have more character than most frames these days.
warbyparker
Kind of digging these guys.
Honestly, though, I never really understood the old chestnut about how "guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses." What's unattractive about glasses? They're like face jewelry, especially once they started adding rhinestones and stuff like that. 
professor-anastasia
Maybe it has something to do with reproductive fitness or whatever. Like people decided that if you wear glasses, you're admitting that you can't see, and who wants to pass on poor vision to future generations? It's, like, survival of the fittest, bro.
marilynmonroe10
Who would want to reproduce with this uggo?
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Hideous.
Of course, I don't know that anyone ever really thought that, at least not once they got out of high school. Attractive people are generally recognized as being attractive, no matter what bits of plastic they've got on their faces.
Ladies-for-Cats-Eye-Brand
Glasses are also the bees knees when it comes to covering up any dark circles that you might have. One of my friends actually has a pair of emergency glasses that she wears to work when she's partied a little too hard the night before.
Of course, there are good glasses and bad ones. Knowing what kind of glasses flatter your face shape is a huge part of looking good in them. Since I've got a long, oval face, I feel like I look best in slightly larger styles that are wider than they are tall. Cat eyes are particularly good on me, since the width at the temples visually broadens my face. 
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You know what else visually broadens my face? A moustache.
There are a lot of articles about which glasses look best on which faces, but what it usually boils down to is that opposites attract. But rules are for suckers, and if you like something, go with it. Confidence is the most important part of looking good.

9 comments:

  1. I've worn glasses since I was nine, so can totally relate. After a few years of thinking about it, I finally took the plunge and bought a pair of vintage frames and had lenses fitted for them. I am legally blind without my glasses and have a stigmatism, so I also get the expensive and troublesome nature of buying new glasses, too. I did have to wait a while, but it was worth it and they are the best glasses I've ever owned. I blogged the whole experience on my blog Betsy's Baby and you can read about it here.
    http://betsysbaby.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-new-old-glasses.html?showComment=1404835115388&m=1
    Sarah

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  2. Glasses are for winners! Especially catseye glasses - they're the miracle workers of the frame world, I've never met a woman who looks bad in them. I really should wear them more for my blog photos.

    I'm actually convinced I wished my now incredibly poor eyesight on myself when I was about 11 and I suddenly wished I could wear glasses like my friend did. Literally overnight my eyes deteriorated from perfect to shortsighted-as-hell vision. Be careful what you wish for, children. That wishing star is evil. I pretty much wear contacts daily, but I like the option of glasses for days I don't want to wear makeup, or my ponytail needs a grown-up accessory ;)

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    1. I remember also really wishing for glasses, maybe thinking about them too much chokes off your optic nerve or something. *lol*

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  3. Glasses cover up dark circles? Time for me to get glasses!

    I'm still working out what kinds of sunglasses suit my face, and it always seems harder than those articles about face shape suggest, but they are definitely fun to play around with. I love trying them on. But I am a bit sad that the cat eye shape doesn't seem to work for me. Oh well!

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    1. I think it's a matter of trying a bunch on and figuring out all of the dimensions, but also just getting used to wearing them. It's like a new lipstick or haircut - they always look a little weird until you've had them for a a while.

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  4. I love love love glasses so Im with you on this post. I luckily never got made fun of for wearing glasses, which Ive had since the 2nd grade. I feel like since the trend of glasses has happened its made buying cute glasses easier for those who actually need them. I currently own 6 pairs of glasses, 4 new and 2 vintage. I love them all although lately Ive been stuck on the my one pair of tortoise vintage inspired cat eye shaped ones. I have another pair of actual vintage cat eye ones. Im seriously always looking to get more too! Like I have my eye on about 4 pairs right now. Also I totally think I look weird without them now, I used to wear contacts for like 2 or 3 years straight, I didnt even own glasses and now I can't imagine that.

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    1. If I've been wearing glasses full time for a while and switch back over to contacts, suddenly my face looks so strange to me. It's funny how fully they integrate into your personal perception, isn't it? And I wish that I had more than one pair of glasses, that's so awesome that you own six.

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  5. I couldn't agree more with your last line, my fellow bespectacled gal. I adore my glasses and wrote an ode to them/being a glasses wearer back in January 2013. I could go the contact route, but I've never wanted to. I adore my specs and feel like they've become a key element of my daily look - an extra, albeit medically necessary, accessory that gets to go with me no matter what outfit I'm sporting. How can I not adore that? :)

    ♥ Jessica

    *PS* Thank you very much for the seriously lovely comment on today's post. Your characterization of what kind of person I am is spot on. I have actually, on numerous occasions, done precisely that (re: bring new neighbours homemade food).

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    1. I'll have to back and look for that post, that sounds like an interesting read.

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