Gone are the days when glasses were seen as a necessity or even an eyesore. Once upon a time, eyewear was thought to be a little bit nerdy or unsexy; take for example the old quote by Dorothy Parker, “Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses”. Nowadays though, prescriptions glasses are one of the hottest accessories around. Countless celebrities, models and fashionistas rock their specs with pride and even people who have perfect 20/20 vision are wearing them.
There’s never been a better time to be a glasses wearer. Not only are your specs seen as a style staple, but there’s an almost unlimited choice when it comes to shapes and colours, from designer glasses to budget-friendly frames.
So, what happened to glasses to elevate their style credentials? Here are six reasons why glasses are cooler today than they ever have been.
1. They Add a Vintage Vibe
Once, vintage fashion was a bit of a niche reserved only for those who wore poodle skirts and victory rolls, but now, it’s become a part of mainstream fashion. Whether you shop actual vintage or just love retro-inspired fashion, glasses are an easy and cool way to add that vintage vibe to an outfit without changing your whole look. From cat eye frames to Audrey Hepburn-inspired over-sized glasses such as the Antares 5011, there’s vintage style frames to suit every era.
2. They Come Straight from the Catwalk
From the #GucciSS16 show, a red silk duchesse dress decorated with silver embroidery and a blue-red-blue Web knitted waistband by #AlessandroMichele.
Miu Miu, Gucci, Burberry, Celine, Dior, Christian LaCroix…the list of designers who have launched their own range of glasses goes on forever. This year, spectacles were seen all over the autumn/winter catwalk while brand’s such as Chanel have launched huge eyewear campaigns featuring famous faces such as Kristen Stewart. The influence of fashion brands has had a huge impact on the way that glasses are seen, giving them the cool nod of approval.
3. Geek Chic is So On-Trend
Looking like a nerd was once avoided but now, the geek chic look means that its cool to not look cool. A great pair of prescription glasses are essential for geek chic style – preferably thick rimmed, wayfarer style glasses such as the Savannah 2444, but browline and cat eye frames work too for that sexy but sweet appeal. Geek glasses are the ultimate way to look stylish and smart.
4. They’re a Hipster Must-Have
No one knows cool quite like hipsters, and you won’t see many without a pair of glasses on their face (along with a beard). These quirky individuals love anything that looks a bit different and a little retro-inspired such as round framed glasses, but thick black spectacles are a hipster essential too. Whatever the style, the hipster generation is ensuring that glasses stay firmly in the cool category.
5. Celebrities Love Them
A photo posted by Kendall Jenner (@kendalljenner) on Oct 13, 2015 at 2:04pm PDT
Celebrity fashion has always dictated what’s cool, and we often look to the stars to seek out the latest trends. While a few years ago, many short-sighted celebs would opt for contact lenses, now, everyone in Hollywood is donning a pair of specs whether they need them or not. Celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez are regularly spotted wearing glasses while Anne Hathaway and Rashida Jones even wear them on the red carpet. Lupita Nyong’o’s glasses are so popular that they have their own Twitter handle!
6. They’re a Fabulous Fashion Accessory
No matter how much thought you put into an outfit, nothing completes an ensemble quite like an accessory. Just like a cute handbag or a stylish scarf, glasses are a great way to add a perfect finishing touch that turns your look from drab to fab. Whether you want to make a statement or add a subtle edge, prescription glasses are available in a huge range of colours and styles such as the amazing Dolce & Gabbana DG3218 glasses with coloured cat eye frames that will jazz up even the plainest outfit.
As you can see, glasses don’t just offer practical benefits by helping you to see better. Whether you love vintage styles or fashion-forward frames, wearing a pair of glasses will give you that instant cool factor like nothing else can. Do you rock your prescription glasses with pride or perhaps you wear clear-framed glasses because you love the look? Let us know in the comments below!
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