Thursday, May 14, 2009

THE INTERNETS HAVE FINALLY BLINDED ME...

Well, that is perhaps a slight exaggeration. I had an eye test yesterday; my first in er, cough, oh look over there, um, never. Wow. I'd never needed one before because of my perfect 20/20 vision you see. That was the misapprehension I had been labouring under anyway. But since all I ever do is stare at a computer screen, scroll, type and read I thought I'd better get it checked out. They put me in front of a mirror and projected some letters onto the wall so I could see them in the mirror.

Optician: Can you read the first line for me?

Me (straining): Are the letters back to front?

Yes. So I need glasses, but only for reading and being at the computer. Oh and I have a muscle weakness that, had it been discovered when I was a child at one of the eye tests I didn't have, (dropped the ball there parents) could have been corrected. I can't focus for long or do that thing where you focus on a pencil and bring it closer and closer. No, I am completely unable to perform that task so crucial to everyday life.

Secretly I'm chuffed that a whole new world of accessories has been opened up to me, after years of people making me accompany them as an unpaid spec stylist when they need new frames. I do realise from personal experience that someone blathering on about which glasses they should get is a fast route to being bored witless. But humour me would you, it's my first time.

Should I go the Louise route and put prescription lenses in my Wayfarers, which I know suit me? But I don't want to look like one of those people that wears fake glasses though (Not that she does.)

Of the 387 or so frames I quickly tried on at the opticians, the more out there ones looked better on me than the more normal, trying to blend in ones for some reason. And since I won't have to wear them all the time I can perhaps afford to get something a little different, no? I mean frame wise, not huge glaring logos or anything. Should I buy some vintage glasses and get my prescription lenses put in? Who makes good glasses? Chanel? Lafont? (Ooh look! Good morning Miss Moneypenny.)

Actually I like all the Lafont Re edition glasses:



Maybe I should wait until next month and get some glasses in Paris seeing as French people always complain about how hard it is to find good glasses in London. Oh, all the possibilities. I mean these things are going to be on my face every day so I'm looking for some pretty spectacular specs - and I plan not to lose them very often.

So HELP ME glasses wearers - I'm relying on you. Tell me your secrets.

15 comments:

miss milki said...

That is so weird - I was just at the opticians yesterday choosing new glasses. I'm not sure I liked what I picked but there was hardly any choice (in Specsavers!) To be honest I don't think glasses suit me at all actually and I have to wear mine all the time - except when I make the effort to put in contacts which is rarely! I saw an ad for this company http://www.fabrislane.co.uk/ and the photos are gorgeous I wish I could afford glasses like that and look just like that model does wearing glasses ... oh well! Anyway I vote that you get something a little unusual since you don't have to wear yours all the time. And yeah if you can wait and buy them in France I'm sure they will be tres chic... but maybe thats just a romanticised idea I have! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

oh..i had to get glasses as well for reading...

yes i like louise's idea the wavefarers' as real glasses..especially if they suit you. what is most important is that you find something that is comfortable...aesthetic-wise and (obviously)! wearing them wise.

i went the classic route of "i'm a librarian but i have some taste" i wanted the burberry's and the armani'...but got the no names, in brown...like the lafont's you have pictured below..

and i don't know the glasses situation in london....(i am sure there are fab glasses to be had!) but...and my heart sinks everytime...BUT if you can go to paris...pourquoi pas?! ;))

...bottom line....i like the classic ones....but then again...i would have to see how these glasses look on you...
nancy

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Sorry , I can't help . I look horrendous in them all . Though that might actually just be because , with my glasses on , I can see myself properly !

Claire said...

Miss M: I love the new Fabris Lane campaign too - so good! But I seem to remember I had Fabris Lane sunglasses once and they were from Boots or somewhere and not expensive.

Nancy: "I'm a librarian but I have some taste" - exactly what I'm going for! Actually I went into a local place today and they had a really good selection. I can't imagine anywhere in Paris would have better.

S&S: Annoyingly, they all suit me! Which makes it harder to choose. But yes, probably with the right lenses in I'll be able to see myself and will go into shock! Further posts will be on light diffusing foundations...

Claire said...

p.s. Blogger is being an arse. I think a comment might have got zapped instead of moderated - I can't really remember though so sorry if it was you...

Dream Sequins said...

Pick ones you love no matter the general "trend." I just recently bought a pair of black oversized specs and okay I don't care if others think I'm jumping the geeky oversized specs wagon, because they look fresh and modern to me, on my face. Think about how long you'll be using your glasses, too. If you're like me, you will change up your frames and lenses every two years or so... I like my glasses to have a bit of a classic look to them because I'm often in contact lenses...

siobhan said...

Delurking to offer the following advice: another brand to consider is Face a Face (sorry, not sure how to put the accent in on this computer). I wear glasses all the time - and have numerous pairs - and the Face a Face glasses, like Lafont, wear beautifully and come in fantastic colours (mine are two-toned red and violet).

Bombay Beauty said...

Someone suggested this to me:

http://www.faceaface-paris.com/

Didn't have a chance to try them, but they seemed promising...

BB

Anonymous said...

oooo, i can relate. i was always the accompanying friend when others needed new frames. now that i need them, i can appreciate how hard it is to choose. i bought a pair when i was in SF (opticalunderground.com if you ever find yourself over there) just to keep me in focus while i search for the perrrrrrrrfect pair. thankfully ny is loaded with great eyeglass stores - i'll be hunting all this month.

Claire said...

Hey Siobhan and BB! great minds... they had some face a face ones at the opticians I tried today that were really nice - the prices are high though cos of the euro shmandangle at the mo...

famapa said...

I have a pair of lafonts that's I've had for a couple of years... I rate them, they're nice and a bit different but truth be told I'm bored with them already. I've reverted back to contacts after trying save money by wearing glasses ALL the time for six months. you won't have this problem as you won't need to wear them all the time, but the way glasses always need cleaning was driving me mad, and the fact that glasses have become so incredibly trendy makes me not want to wear them. if I were you I'd get a cheaper pair as you'll inevitably tire of them soon and then there's always the risk that you might sit on them! :0)

good luck with your hunt!

Claire said...

You're so right Famapa, and I'm sure the novelty will wear off fairly soon! It's hard to imagine something I'll want to wear every day for years. Going to get them today thank god as I'm now so aware of my eyes unfocusing all the time I can't stand to read anything...

Anonymous said...

I've always like the Selima Optique Rivingtons - quite a bit like the ones you posted, actually. They're readily available all over the US now since J. Crew started to carry them, but not sure if they are as easy to find in London? Btw, I also had a similar muscle weakness that WAS discovered in very early childhood, and yet never got corrected because I refused to wear the corrective glasses and eye patches prescribed ... now I enjoy saying that I see with one eye whenever we play the little-known-facts game.

Anonymous said...

Oh well. I have two pieces of adivce:
First: disregard labels completely, the one and only way to know if you'll like glasses is to try them on.
Two: don't spend too much, eventually you'll lose them. Guaranteed.
xxx
Mia

Gem said...

Oohh, the moneypenny style ones are divine!
I wish I wore glasses. I have many pairs of clear framed ones so I can just make believe.