Eyeglasses: To See and Be Seen

Question:
What does your choice in glasses say about you? Can glasses change how people perceive you? For those of us that have to wear them, and for someone that has been thinking about shaking up my look (always very conservative)… it is an important quandary!
-submitted by A.T.


Thanks for your question, A.T.

I’m a big believer in accessories and their ability to convey your mood or affect the way you look. Glasses, although they are a necessity for you, are the ultimate ‘accessory’ because you wear them every day and with everything.

So, what do glasses say about the wearer?

According to a survey by eyewear maker Essilor of America, 40 percent of those surveyed said that people who wear glasses are perceived as being “smarter.” Thirty-nine percent said people look “more sophisticated” wearing glasses.

Okay. Smart is good. Sophisticated is great. But do glasses diminish the wearer’s attractiveness?

According to the survey, 73 percent of the respondents said glasses have little to no impact on the wearer’s attractiveness. Sixty percent of men and 62 percent of women disagree with the adage of "boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses?"

Singer Britney Spears topped the list of sexiest eyeglass-wearing celebrity among male voters (44 percent). Actor Richard Gere took the top celebrity spot among female voters, with 35 percent.

Although Britney’s and Richard’s spectacles say sexy, glasses say different things, largely depending on the wearer. When it comes to famous people in glasses, here’s how I see it…

“Smart” glasses: inventor Benjamin Franklin, billionaire Bill Gates, writer/actress Tina Fey.

“Cool” glasses: entertainer Whoopi Goldberg, singer-activist Bono, actors Johnny Depp and James Dean, activist Malcolm X.

“Creative” glasses: singer Elton John, architect IM Pei, fashion designers Yves St. Laurent and Christian Siriano.

A number of politicians, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, are synonymous with their eyewear. And how would we ever recognize characters such as Harry Potter, Clark Kent and Charlie Brown's Marcie without their trademark eyeglasses?

So, how do you find eyeglasses that are right for you? A few tips…

1) Do not rush. You will be wearing your glasses every day, so take your time to find the right pair. If your optometrist does not have anything you like, take your prescription and shop around.

2) Combine function with beautiful form. The options are plentiful, so look for glasses that not only help you to see, but help others see you in a new light.

3) Consider the shape of your face. As a general rule, the shape of your glasses should contrast with the shape of your face. For example, if you have a round face, do not get round glasses; try glasses that are more rectangular in shape. If your face is angular, do not get glasses with sharp angles; try round or oval ones.

4) You can have more than one pair. Perhaps a ‘serious’ pair for work and a ‘fun’ pair (or two) for evenings and weekends.

5) Get the opinion of someone you trust. A friend of mine, who is in her 50s, says she always seeks the advice of someone younger so that her glasses look current and not like little-old-lady glasses.

6) Repeat these steps every two or three years. Eyeglasses go out of style, just like everything else. You cannot look 'current' if you've been wearing the same glasses for 10 years.

Now that you have some guidelines, which style of eyeglass frames ranked sexiest according to the survey? Rimless eyeglasses took the top spot by 49 percent of both wearers of eyeglasses and those who do not wear glasses. Metal frames came in second with 38 percent. And almost half (46 percent) of those surveyed would consider wearing eyeglasses as a fashion accessory – even if they didn’t need glasses.

Note to self: Schedule eye appointment; ask about rimless frames. Pronto!

Best of luck to you, A.T.!