Girls who wear glasses

 
  Originally uploaded by dynamist.

I have a really hard time with the way I look in glasses.

Objectively, I can say, "Hey, you look how you look. It's fine." But I always feel downright homely. (I wear contact lenses 98 per cent of the time, but my eyes could use more time off from that.)

Maybe it's tied to the fact that I had to start wearing specs when I was eight years old, and wasn't really allowed to pick out the ones I wanted, so never felt quite right. And by "never felt quite right" I mean "always felt quite ugly".

I dunno. Am I the only one who has struggled with this?

Comments

[Andrea]

Oh no, you are not the only one out there! Since May 2007 I have been struggling with this "nice nose decoration" of mine, and simply can,t get over it. Although I wore soft and hydro-sensitive (blah, blah) lenses my doctor highly recommended glasses after wearing for over 15 years contacts. But what shall I do? Keep a stiff upper lip and somehow manage makeup melt-down and looking like Ugly Betty *sigh* Isn,t it a shame that you never see ads or models in magazines wearing glasses? Or special tipps, tricks and hints in Glamour & Co.?
Anyway, as an avid reader I like to congratulate you to your nice blog - it always makes my day! :-)

[Lily]

You're totally not the only one out there but I have to say you look good with glasses- that's a nice pic :)

Lily
BeautyMaverick.com

[Beth in Atlanta]

I think you look good in those glasses! You have pretty eyes.

But, I know how you feel. I can never find a good pair of glasses to fit my face. I want a cool tortoise shell pair of poindexter style glasses. Like John Dean wore during the Watergate years... or a feminine version of whatever Johhny Depp's sportin' around these days. Somethind different and fun, that's what I want.

I love your blog. It's always fresh and interesting, thanks for entertaining all of us lurkers out there!

[cokeinapepsicup]

I've been wearing glasses since I was four years old, and I've been wearing them ever since. Kindergarten was a nightmare, because my classmates would always snatch them from my face and run far far away, and I never get to chase them.

I like your picture. I've been thinking of trading in my frames for the kind you have :)

[Toya]

I've worn glasses since the age of four. I got contacts at 13 and wore them regularly until I graduated high school and then decided I didn't want to anymore and then went exclusively with glasses for more than 10 years. Now that I'm back to wearing contacts regularly again, I realize that I'm happy I gave myself that long break with just glasses. It helped me get past the feeling that I wasn't as pretty when I wore the specs. Now I know that my face is my face and glasses can be an accessory.

[ams]

I used to have the exact same feelings as you! I got the "free" glasses the government provide when I was in school and I always felt so ugly with them on so that when I got older I would just take out my glasses to see the number on the bus or when Id get inside the cinema. The rest of the time id go round in a blurry haze!

I finally got a pair of funky glasses I really liked and got so many compliments from people that it changed the way i felt about myself while wearing them.

I can only wear contacts for short periods of time so thank god for this! My advice would be to go to a site like zennioptical.com and pick out some different frames (they're all really cheap and they have some great ones) and see what works on you.

Btw I think you look lovely in that pic!

[Harriet]

I had a lot of these issues -- and never wore my glasses if I could help it -- until I discovered Paul Smith frames. They're made by Oliver Peoples, and really, how much could Paul Smith have to do with their design? None, very likely.

But I fell in love with the first pair -- subtle grey tortoise frames, that were acid green on the inside and couldn't stop wearing them. I have a more traditional brown/caramel tortoise pair now, but they're blush pink on the inside surface.

If I could swing it, I'd get two more pairs. And even though I'm not a fan of the Oliver Peoples' line, and would never wear, say, Armani or Chanel frames, there's something about the wit and line of the Paul Smith frames that speaks to me.

It probably doesn't hurt that my local eyeglass shop is run by a auteur-ish optometrist who tends to take clients in hand, trying frame after frame until he's satisfied. And although he scares the crap out of me, he does have a great eye for matching faces with frames. (Visual Effects in Chicago, if you're wondering.)

[City Girl]

Haha, I feel the same way exactly! Last summer I had 3 cuts across the surface of my left eye and couldn't wear contacts for a month; it was nearly torturous! That is, until I heard from a friend that I was known as "the hot one" in our summer program...haha!

Since then I only wear contacts when I'm going out at night, going to the gym, or NEED to wear sunglasses (a major factor!)

[Jacq]

I know exactly what you mean - it took me ages to find a pair of glasses that I would be happy to wear to work without feeling like a mousy librarian. Mine are from the DKNY range, and I've had them for about two years. I still don't wear them as often as I should (because I can't stand glasses when it's sunny or rainy, or when I'm exercising, so that rules out most days), but at least I don't feel too hideous when I do wear them!

[Elana]

Although I love my Calvin Klein Emo-looking specs (I get compliments all the time), I'm tired of being so dependent on these second pair of eyes. I'm scared to wear contacts, and at 26 years old, I'm not ready to invest in LASIK eye surgery....so I definitely feel ya! What used to feel like an accessory of sorts has become such a necessity. I figure that at least until I get corrective surgery or jump on the contact lens train, then at least I can feel cuter having to wear goggles!

[Jacq]

Elana, switch to daily disposable contacts! They are weird to begin with (it took me AGES to learn how to put them in my eyes), but once you get used them they are fantastic.

[jobey-wan]

i'm so with you. but i think they look pretty on you...sophisticated. glasses give women a certain mystique i think. but i know the feeling. I would like lasik but I am so scared.
p.s. I love your blog

[Bionic Beauty]

I started wearing glasses at 4, and always grew up waiting and waiting for laser surgery to correct my eyesight. However, now I find myself putting it off. I don't look like me without glasses, they are unique, a GREAT style accessory these days, and draw attention to your eyes.

Quite simply, I love 'em.

[Kate]

I'm with you all the way. By the end of the day, my eyes hurt so much from over-wearing my contacts, but I'd still rather do that than wear my glasses. My friend had laser and it's clearly the way forward...

[Franziska]

I am wearing glasses since I was six. I was bullied at school for this reason (by a girl who wore glasses herself, oddly enough). I got used to it. Glasses are like clothes. Never just have one pair, have a few! And you look fantastic with glasses, Jackie!

[Amber]

I have exactly the same issues. I first got glasses when I was 10, and from that point on I just couldn't wait to get contacts. I've been wearing lenses for years now, but I always have a pair of glasses in reserve for those times when my eyes need a break, and no matter how carefully I pick the frames I always feel frumpy in them. It's strange, because I like the look of glasses on OTHER people - just not on me.

[Mireille]

Glasses are sort of my trademark, I've got a really interesting pair I picked up in Hong Kong and I think I look rather chic and authoritative with them on. It's rare that I'm in public with my hair down and my glasses off, perhaps its a defense mechanism or a way to distinguish me from the rest of the pretty college girls with big ideas about social issues. Either way, I'm keeping them.

[issh]

Glasses truly are an accessory but my laser eye surgery was the best investment I ever made.