Anyway, glasses have been a necessary part of my life for a great many years now (I will NOT be saying how many years), and much as I love them, as with sunglasses, I tend to be a creature of habit…
I have been wearing glasses since my early 20’s. I am quite happy with that – I like that glasses can be a nice added accessory with an outfit as much as they are a practical item. In my early teens I even tried faking it in an eye exam just so I could get glasses… I don’t recommend it actually!
Anyway, glasses have been a necessary part of my life for a great many years now (I will NOT be saying how many years), and much as I love them, as with sunglasses, I tend to be a creature of habit. Once I get a pair I like, I tend to stick with them for a LONG time. I have had the same Costume National sunglasses for nearly 5 years now, and I break out into a cold sweat when I can’t find them for some reason. That cold sweat gets even worse when I can’t find my optical glasses.
The reason I get so worried is apart from the fact that I am such a creature of habit – I really dislike buying a new pair of frames.
Aside from the cost, I seem to go from a normally decisive human being into a bit of a blithering idiot whenever confronted with a couple of hundred pairs of frames. I’m not sure why this is – as I normally have a very clear idea of what I do, and do not like.
I think it is possibly because frames change so quickly from season to season and I am, at heart, a bit of a classicist. I like a good classic shape on a frame. I think this is because I would far rather spend money on clothes than on a new pair of frames each year. So I tend to avoid going shopping for frames like the plague. In fact it has been so bad, that I haven’t had any glasses for 6 months – after losing the last pair who knows where! In fact I have been stealing my Daughter’s glasses, and it was her that finally pulled rank and demanded that I get a pair of my own!
So it was off to OPSM in Queen Street to source a new pair of frames. I wasn’t very hopeful to be frank. I have an uncanny habit of loving the most expensive pair of sunglasses/frames in the shop, and the budget was tight. I usually tend to be a bit tight lipped with the sales assistants, and they generally just try and get me to buy a/ the first pair I try on or b/ the most expensive pair I try on. I have a narrow face, and a lot of current styles – boxed and black, are too angular for my face. I am not the sort of girl who can wear a poppy pair of coloured glasses (though I do wish I was), and there were plenty to choose from with reds, and purples and even a cute pair of lime green ones. I was very impressed with the range they carried, and that everything is already there on site. I already had my prescription with me as I had just had my eyes checked, but you can have it done there as they have all the latest equipment.
I was very impressed with the service – there was no hard sell, and lots of options for me to try – and ones I wouldn’t have even given a second look, but on trying them I found they were a good fit and looked great. I have a narrow face so glasses often overwhelm my face. So imagine my surprise when I found some frames I liked (Ralph Lauren) that suited my face (smaller, dark, and not too angular), and didn’t break the bank ($250). Success! And all done in less than 25 minutes. I think that is basically a record for me… Now I can see, and my Daughter can have her glasses back. If only I could remember where I put them…
We have included 4 more pairs that took our fancy from the OPSM range for Winter 2012. The blue Ray Ban frames above retail for $299 with the fabulous preppie shape that we love, and the colour is just a bonus.
If a subtler colour is what you are wanting, the internally-teal-coloured black D&G frames above ($290) might be the ticket.
We love this retro flavoured, tortoise shell and wire DKNY frame above, again priced at just $299.
And if it is tortoiseshell all the way, then this divine pair above from Prada for $499 could be just what the Optometrist ordered…
By Anya Brighouse
22 May 2012
Leave a Reply