I finally succumbed to my tension headaches and bit the bullet. You’re looking at a glasses wearer now. I could have made it another couple years if I wasn’t so addicted to my phone, but here we are.
I recently went on a journey to find my glasses shape (which probably won’t be helpful to you, since all faces are different) but in the process I asked many opticians and friends what is popular these days (slightly more helpful?) And as we are in high summer, waiting for the new arrivals to really hit before we start talking about fall, I decided to take you on my quest this week.
I started with Oliver Peoples, because…go with what you know. And I’ve always loved their frames. I went in extremely confident that I would want a club master style – with an acetate frame on top and wire/titanium around the bottom. I’ve always loved the look of that style – creating a brow-line without needing to learn how to fill in my actual brows. 🙂 So no one was more shocked then me when I had an AHA moment with these humungous silver wire frames. It made me realize my requirement is three-fold:
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The look has to be IT. Which, you just have to feel in your bones when you try on.
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Lightweight is a non-negotiable for me, since these do actually have to be functional for me to bring you this letter each week.
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A huge frame is actually a perfect “baby’s first glasses frame” in that the viewing area is so big I’m not all that aware of the glasses once they are on.
The optician at OP was funny. Definitely knowledgable, but used to a more midtown customer. He was shocked to hear me say aviators were everywhere (very different from the response I got downtown.) And he did not like my selection (the Welston) on me, too big for my face, he said. But I knew they were the ones and trusted my gut and appreciated his honesty!!
He told me their most popular right now is a champagne colored acetate. I didn’t quite understand until I tried on actual clear frames and looked like I was going into chemistry class. Fun, but no.
I think I’m so smitten by the Welston because it is specifically NOT an aviator while retaining the aviator qualities of wire frame, oversized, slightly 70s. I love the idea of an aviator frame – but for me, it is all of a sudden looking a bit too fashion girl (no shade, there is a reason why they are popular, I am just extremely sensitive to trends, given my line of work!) That said, I asked two Friends of 5 Things who makes their optical aviators on this journey and you know what they both said? WARBY PARKER!!
So I took myself to Warby Parker to see for myself. The aviators were cute! And the price can’t be beat, but I was still on the fence about committing to the style.
Two other friends (not to be confused with my aviators or bust friends) in one day mentioned to me that they do not like to have a glasses signature style, preferring to keep multiple pair in the rotation – to not feel pigeonholed by their choice. So since I already had my wire pair locked in from Oliver Peoples, I decided my more affordable alternates should be totally different.
While I couldn’t commit myself to the aviators that all my friends seem to already have, I did walk away with the “Brimmer” in black walnut (far left). It is aviator adjacent so still gives me that retro look I’m feeling, is shockingly lightweight and sits high enough on my bridge that the top frame isn’t in my eyeline – something I realized in this process is a struggle for me with glasses.
I also went for the Leuda in cola tortoise which fits my face exceptionally well. It was the only pair that didn’t need adjustments in this whole grand experiment. It’s Harry Potter-ish but not to an extreme. Just academic enough. 🙂
My last and maybe least successful experiment at Warby P. was turning sunglasses into optical frames. I love a “Wayfarer shape” for sun so thought I’d love the Harris as optical. It’s fun, but is it too much? You tell me. Maybe I exchange for those translucent club masters, the Baird pictured earlier in this letter? Still Buddy Holly coded, but less intense.
Speaking of sunglasses though, OMG have you guys been to the Jacques Marie Mage store in Soho? Quite possibly the sexiest store I’ve ever been to. I can see how someone would want to make one of these opticals their signature frame. I mean, the price point means you’re likely not going to test drive three pair ala Warby. But also they are SO unique. Every pair I tried was strange but fierce and made me sit up a little straighter.
It was here that I found the club master style that felt wild and and wonderful and worth working into the mix. After about an hour of deliberation with the most patient “concierge” on the planet we decided to go for the Satre with tinted lenses – something halfway between the two below so I can wear as sunglasses if writing in the park or Zooming on my roof deck but not so dark that they will look weird if I happened to keep them on inside at some point.
I may have been in a tizzy because all of the people working there had tinted lenses and looked so impossibly cool in their Husbands suits surrounded by black lacquer and mirrored cabinets and zebra print but I was SOLD. Will report back when they arrive. I’m excited!!!
Since I was in Soho that day for my JMM appointment, I popped down the block to check out Cutler and Gross, a longtime favorite brand of mine (and James Bond types) to see what was buzzing. The associates told me that the acetate style aviators (like my Warbys above) are their most popular frames at the moment.
I walked away empty handed but was definitely put in my place with my judgement of aviators. They looked great. Subtle. Unique. Lightweight. All the things, and came in a two-toned metal colorway. Keeping them on the back burner.
Over the last couple weeks I stopped in at Selima Optique and Silver Lining – two fan favorite optical stores in NYC. I also called in the new Jacquemus x Linda Farrow frames to test drive, which are quite fun.
I’m sure this is all just a gateway drug for optical hunting at flea markets. It’s surreal to need help to see. But you know me, I can turn any life conundrum into a personal style project. And I’m having a great time doing it.
Back to the fashions next week. Hope you enjoyed this brief shopping respite to go on this journey with me.
Yours TRULY,
Becky
