I have been considering getting new glasses for quite some time, and a daughter’s friend works at a place where she can give me 50% off for the next couple of weeks, so it seems like the right time.
I like smallish, frameless glasses, and people seem to agree they look good on me. BUT, my last two pairs of glasses were frameless, and I’m thinking they may be out of style?
I see a lot of tortoise shell, but I may only notice them because I kind of like them.
I usually on.y have one pair, and I wear them most every day, so I don’t want anything too trendy, and they need to be pretty neutral. If it matters, I can have very thin lenses.
Thanks
I highly recommend Warby Parker. They are all about what’s on trend.
At their web site, do a search for frames that are available for Try-On at Home.
WP will send you five frames to try on. If nothing is right, send those back and order five more.
I get terrible decision anxiety about frames. WP saved the day! I finally found a pair of stylish frames that are flattering for the shape of my face.
I thought the prices were very good. And you can compare to the discount you would get through your daughter’s friend.
Even though I usually wear contacts, I like to have the option of wearing glasses (and I usually wear them first thing in the morning). I ordered a pair of sunglasses from WP that are progressives, with no correction on top (wearing my contacts), but have readers in the bottom. LOVE.
I like titanium frames because they are so light and flexible and strong. I like neutral and can’t wear frameless, though I think they look nice. Your D’s friend may know what’s stylish. I have 3 pairs of regular and 2-3 of Rx sunglasses. I only bought multiple pairs recently but figured why not, since it’s something I wear everyday and sometimes I misplace a pair for awhile. It has reduced my stress level to have more than 1 pair.
No, tortoise shell and thick, dark and bold frames are very trendy now. I’ve also noticed that clear frames are popular.
I’m pretty sure that frameless and horizontally narrow are kind of out of style, but you’ve got to go with what looks good on you and fits your face shape.
I think you can just look at the frames where your daughter’s friend works and see what is popular. When I get new glasses, I always notice a section of “old men’s” glasses for older men who like a certain type of frame and are determined to stick with it, but the women’s section usually reflects what’s in style.
Here’s a link showing current popular styles. Like I said, most of them are pretty bold, but there are a few that are less so and look attractive IMO.
Stylish frames mostly look like 1950s/1960s era frames. I particularly like the cat-eyes style frames for women. But you have to be practical too. The most durable frames are the ones that bend and flex, where the frame covers the entire perimeter of the lens. They are usually made of spring steel. Drilling a hole in the lens creates extra stress. If you play sports or are around small children, or are generally a klutz, or even fling your glasses here and there those are the way to go. I have never broken one despite taking multiple high speed tumbles, getting hit by just about every kind of ball, or being pommeled by the kids when they were small. The plastic framed glasses all broke.
Thanks everyone. @LeastComplicated, that link is especially helpful.
The problem with the big, thick glasses is that they get heavy if you have to wear them all the time. I’ve got a pair of tortoise shell Ray-Bans but the arms bend and flex so it’s the best of both worlds.
Just got back from spending time in Europe and if what they say is true about Europeans being fashion forward compared to the USA, then, yes, bold frames are definitely in, regardless of age. Tortoise shell, black, white, clear, and teal blue was especially hot.
The good thing with places like Warby Parker and its online competitors is that eyeglasses are much more affordable allowing you to swap out more frequently.
Try on some pairs. I was amazed at how much lighter the titanium ultra-light frames were. It really makes a difference when you wear them all your waking hours. I really prefer lighter, especially since they’re strong and don’t break (though they are not handled very carefully).
I love glasses. Got my first pair before kindergarten. I have about 15 pairs - all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Was never able to get a prescription for contacts although I’ve tried off and on for decades. My advice is to start by trying on to find the shape that works with your head and face. Glasses (for me) are super expensive, but fortunately my eyes stopped changing right after my last pregnancy so I invest in a new pair when the mood strikes and my wallet is full. I like having multiple pairs because it rests my eyes to switch them out regularly and because some are heavier and lighter and it saves wear and tear on the bridge of my nose. Warby Park is fun and they will send you pairs to try on. Hot pink is my favorite LOL…my avatar is not too far off.
My first crazy pair I bought in Denmark in the late seventies. Crazy big red frames when everyone was wearing Lennon specs or minimal wire frames. I came back to the US and bingo Sally Jesse Raphael was sporting a similar pair.
I have a crazy pair or two that I don’t wear to work much and “save” for weekends. I think if you are a bold person, bold glasses are tons of fun. But I also have friends who like glasses to just disappear into their face and I have one pair that is just a thin wire that holds the glasses together. My newest pair is a pretty heavy black cat eye frame. I was worried it would be too big and heavy because I have a very narrow head and the typical Scandinavian close together eyes, but I get lots of compliments on them. Think of them like shoes…you probably don’t wear the same shoes every day and you probably buy shoes that you like and you feel comfortable in and they probably don’t all have the same heel height.
Frameless are out now and aging. However, I still have mine because they are so comfortable. I like the nose piece. I still wear them I’m at home. When I go out and have to wear glasses, I wear my current, trendy style. Dark tortoise shell. You have to find the right style fir your face, then they will look fine. 20 years ago, I would have laughed if you told me I’d be wearing these. I do find them heavy on my nose after a day of wearing.
I’d really like the glasses style with nose pieces to come back in fashion. I currently mostly wear a pair that is dark purple on top fading to a lighter purple and have a pair of somewhat cats eyes shape olive/almost tortiseshell ones that I also sometimes wear. I think they both look good on me, but they drive me crazy because they get loose and fall off my face - usually when I’m cooking.
I’d love to have a million pairs, but also like getting progressive lenses which aren’t cheap…
I adored my many years wearing Sillouttes, which are feather light and flexible. However they felt very aging at a point, and am enjoying my bright blue metallic and larger frames. They don’t feel bad on my face, as they have flexible arms. I get many compliments and feel younger looking. As things sag, covering half the face has some benefit!
Warby’s are great and very on trend. We actually have a Warby Parker store at the mall near our house. All of us have multiple pairs.
Pay more attention to how the glasses enhance your face. Just because a pair is trendy does not mean it looks good. I personally despise those glasses where you do not notice the person behind the too obvious and often obnoxious frames. I am glad bigger lenses are back because I need the territory for my progressive lenses to go from the big E to fine print. It is discouraging when fashion trumps the medical good sense for best vision.
Those of you with multiple pairs must not need the expensive lens prescriptions or want the best optics and lens features. Think over $500 for just the lenses. Progressive, Crizal, antiglare, NOT transitions, scratch resistant, good optical quality… Spring hinges are great, as are silicone nose pads. Lightweight.
So many fashionable glasses are so ugly.
I buy my glasses at Costco and their prices are very reasonable. The lenses have the features I and my docs want for me and the glasses are about $150/pair or so with the coupon discount for buying 2 pairs with same Rx.
They adjust and repair and teplace nose pads at no charge. If the glasses break within a year of purchase, they replace at no charge as well.
@HImom, is that $150 price for progressive lenses? I’ve been wanting to update my progressive sunglasses, but just can’t make myself pay nearly $500 at the optometrist.
@LeastComplicated, your “old man section” comment made me chuckle. My dad was one of those guys. The army issued him a pair of glasses back in the 50’s, and he never deviated from that style - lol.
Every decade or so, they would be almost in style and therefore more expensive. That used to make him mad.
I don’t have nor need progressive lenses (my near vision is still fine). I’m sure you can call and get a quote from Costco. I’d be shocked if the quote is anywhere near $500.
All 4 of us (me, H and our 2 kids), have used Costco optical for glasses regularly since the opened their store 3 miles from our house 2 decades ago.
Here’s an article with some prices:
https://www.consumerreports.org/eyeglass-stores/how-to-get-the-best-eyeglass-lenses/
According to the 2016 article, HD progressive lenses with anti reflective coating were $130 at Costco, about 1/2 the $255 WalMart price.