There are some old sayings that are just that – old. Take, for instance, Dorothy Parker’s famous 1937 saying, “Men don’t make passes at girls in glasses.” That is all history as the coolest ones are proudly sporting the four-eyed look. Yes wearing specs is not geeky anymore, for the much-despised “plain glass” spectacles have now become a “must have” fashion accessory. Think of the divinely delicious Johnny Depp trotting the red carpet and you know for sure the nerd has just turned into a fashion icon.

Also, the new groups of wearers are being dubbed “suspecs”. A study by YouGov for Vision Express found that almost one in ten 18-24 year-olds had admitted buying them. The celebs responsible for the revolution are Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johanssen, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Radcliffe’s portrayal of Harry Potter, the bespectacled boy wizard.

In fact guys are more open to accessorizing these days be it watches, shoes, jewelry or belts. “Eyewear is an easy way to accessorize and it really changes your look. The most faddish look in young (and not so young) professionals eyewear right now is retro ’60s style: bold, heavy-rimmed and plastic,” says accessory designer and sales manager, Deepika Verma, working at an optometrist store in Dundas.  

“It is encouraging to see that the introduction of style has had a huge and positive impact on people’s perceptions. There is a real sense that eyewear can boost your confidence and your desirability today – both to potential partners and to potential employers. The world has turned on its head in the last ten years and the message is that rather than being a hindrance, glasses are in fact a clear advantage,” she added. A study showed that 53 per cent of glasses-wearing women aged 18 to 44 had received amorous approaches from men.

Here’s how to match frames with different face shapes:

Oval: The oval face is considered the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions and because it’s the standard of beauty. Therefore it is perhaps the easiest to choose frames for. To keep the oval’s natural balance, look for spectacle frames / glasses that are as wide as the broadest part of the face or walnut-shaped spectacle frames that are not too deep or too narrow. Almost any style is suitable; round, oval or angular.

Round: A round face has curvilinear lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no angles. To make the face appear thinner and longer, try angular narrow spectacle frames / glasses to lengthen the face. Choose spectacle frames / glasses that are distinctive, square with designs that accentuate the upper part of face. Look for frames with high temples.

Square: A square face has a strong jawline and a broad forehead. The width and length are in the same proportions. To make the square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow, soft round or large ovals spectacle frames / glasses styles, spectacle frames / glasses that have more width than depth and narrow ovals.

Long face: A long face is characterised by high cheek-bones, a deep forehead and a strongly defined sharp chin line. This shape can benefit from enhancing the width of the face so try wide, large framed glasses in oval or round styles.

So be it big, dark, oval, hexagonal or rimless, glasses are here to stay. And with funky designs hitting the market, pick up a pair and sport them in style.

Author: Ramya Bajaj Maheshwary