NO MATTER WHAT AGE you are when you first need glasses, trying to figure out which kind of glasses don’t make you look like Harry Potter or Crocodile Rock-era Elton John can be a daunting task.
And whether you’re in your early fifties trying to find your first pair or you’re in your twenties and have already lived through a few too many questionable glasses trends, a little expert guidance goes a long way.
That’s why we asked stylist Sinéad O’Reilly for her expertise when it comes to living your best bespectacled life.
“It can be daunting when you go in to get new glasses, especially if they’re your first pair”, says O’Reilly. She suggests getting comfortable, having a look around yourself at first and not to “feel pressured to try on a pair that you’re not into”. O’Reilly admits that in her own quest for the perfect pair, “it was all about patience”.
Similarly, don’t feel compelled to echo what you’ve seen on social media or in magazines: “There are a lot of glasses trends you tend to see on celebrities or Instagram and they can seem ridiculous on but that doesn’t mean there’s not a pair out there for you.”
For O’Reilly, your face shape definitely has a role to play: “There are certain shapes that suit certain styles – it’s the same with clothing, and you can’t deny that they are more flattering.” Though don’t panic if you don’t feel immediately able to identify yours: “Nobody is the exact shape, just go as close as possible.” (Here’s a handy guide).
It’s important too that you choose glasses that will fit in with your needs and working wardrobe, says O’Reilly: “Be wary of glasses that won’t always fit in with your life – if they are for work, you might not want a brash pair for example.”
Though the glasses industry may now be more reactive to trends than ever before, O’Reilly warns to choose wisely: “Can you see yourself being able to wear them? If they are flashy are you still going to love them in a year’s time? It must be a long-term relationship, not a fling. It’s so easy to get caught up in trends.”
Leave time-sensitive trends to your sunglasses, advises O’Reilly, who states “glasses need more longevity”‘. So, what never goes out of style then? “I’d go for a nice cat-eye shape, which can be very quirky with a thick frame. If not, pale frames look very cool – no matter what you wear, your clothes will reflect off them.”
If you’re a little more reserved in style, O’Reilly has advice for a classic frame: “I would go for a standard black or brownish frame – black can be too harsh and overtake your face. If you do feel that’s the case, look for a tan colour so you don’t feel the glasses are wearing you.”
And shape-wise? “The frame that I find suits most is what I’d call a rounded square – more rounded than a wayfarer and in a medium size. These will fit in with any style – if you’re a bit quirkier it will suit that and they will work with a more serious look too.”
How can you tell when your glasses are due an update? “I think it really depends on how much you’re investing. If you’re buying a really good pair for a long time, I would say every two to three years.” For a lower quality pair, O’Reilly suggests a yearly update.
With glasses, choice is everything – “as an alternative, it’s nice to to have two pairs – a pair for the weekend and a pair for work that are something a little more fun.” It’s very much worth the investment, says O’Reilly: “At the end of the day, you need to see – you need to invest in it if it’s something you’ve been prescribed.”
There’s one trendsetter whose glasses style has always captivated O’Reilly: “Darren Kennedy really changed the way we think about glasses. For him it was always a defining feature of his style and he worked with it.”
“With a really great pair of glasses, you can base your looks around them as opposed to looking at them just as an add-on. They can become a signature part of your style.”
No matter what your taste, Specsavers will have the right glasses for you – you can even get 2 for 1 glasses from €89. You can now use their Frame Styler service to get a personalised consultation and find yourself the perfect pair – making your style suddenly easier to see. Have a look through their extensive range at Specsavers.ie.
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