Trying On Eyeglass Frames: Bold or Soft?
I usually try on clothes for the blog, but this week I switched gears and went looking for new eyeglass frames, which turned out to be its own special kind of identity crisis.
Choosing frames is oddly personal. They sit right in the middle of your face, announce themselves before you’ve said a word, and somehow manage to make you look either polished and interesting or like you made one unfortunate decision under fluorescent lighting.
So today, I’m sharing the contenders.
Try not to let my expression sway you. I did my best to keep my face consistent, but people kept coming into the store, I started chatting, and lost track of what I was doing. There’s also quite a bit of glare on the lenses, so you’ll need to look past that and focus on the frames themselves.
I found several fun options, and I’d love your help narrowing them down.
The Franny has an oval shape with a slight cat-eye tilt that gives it some lift without going too far into “retired drama teacher.” The toffee tortoise feels warm and classic, and the shape is soft enough to be easy to wear every day. It also comes in Jet Black, but I think the tortoise has more personality.
The Marisol has a soft, round shape with a more noticeable bridge and bolder temples, so it makes a bit more of a statement without feeling heavy. The Nordic blue is unexpected, which I liked immediately. It’s not loud, but it’s definitely not apologizing for itself either. It also comes in Toffee Tortoise if you prefer a safer choice, but where’s the fun in that?
The Fara is a classic cat-eye with a lighter, more refined feel than some of the chunkier versions out there. The mix of crystal acetate and metal keeps it from looking too sweet or too severe. It has enough shape to be interesting, but not so much that it starts wearing you instead of the other way around.
The Ezra is a softly rounded metal frame made in Japan from lightweight titanium, with delicate detailing along the eyewire and nose bridge. This one feels a little more intellectual, a little more understated. It also comes in polished gold, but the silver feels cleaner and more modern to me.
The Rocco has a strong brow line and a softly squared bottom, which gives it a more architectural feel. The wide temples and gradient colorway make it a little bolder than some of the others, so this one definitely has presence. It’s the kind of frame that says you notice details and aren’t afraid to make a statement.
The Naima is an oversized acetate frame in a soft rosewater color. It has a playful, slightly glamorous feel without tipping into anything too flashy. Oversized frames can be tricky because they either look chic or like you borrowed your aunt’s readers from 1989, but this one manages to stay on the right side of that line.
The Wright has round lenses and a keyhole bridge, and it comes in several colors as well as a low-bridge fit option. That’s especially helpful if frames tend to slide down your face or sit awkwardly on your cheeks, which is enough to make even a beautiful frame irritating by lunchtime. The rosemary crystal color is subtle and interesting, which I always appreciate.
The Torrez is described as square, but to my eye it reads more softly rounded, which is probably why I liked it. The combination of tortoise fronts and metal temples gives it a nice balance of structure and lightness, and the adjustable nose pads are always worth mentioning because fit matters more than most of us want to admit. A frame can be gorgeous, but if it pinches or slides, it’s not the one.
I like several of these for completely different reasons, which isn’t especially helpful when the goal is to narrow them down.
And finally, if you’re fortunate enough to only need cheaters, I envy you. They’re much more affordable, so you can play with lots of pairs.
So I’m curious what you think. Do you prefer the bolder frames or the softer ones?
Franny!
I love the purple #3 and #4 on you. The others I think are too big for your face and others so bold, all people are going to zero in on the glasses and not your face,
Hi Jennifer,
Loved seeing you in all of the differnt frames!
I think you look fantastic in Fanny, Fara, Naima
and the first Peepers ( the clear ones).
Hopefully you can get two pair!
I find it very difficult to choose frames too.
You have to wear them every day…
Thanks for sharing,
Margaret
Love the Farrah. I don’t think the Erza is nearly as much fun as the others. They all look great on you, however.
Love the Franny frame on you.
Fara Frame highlights your beautiful blue eyes!
I liked the nordic blue and then the funky ones with blue light aid. Please let us know which ones you decided!
I agree with Eugenia; the Fara, the Naima and the Ezra, in the colors shown. The Fara was the one that said, “Oh, she looks so pretty in those.” I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes; so, I have been playing with readers. I also ordered a prescription pair with my reading ‘script in the bottom and clear at the top, but they will darken in the sun. Sunglasses are usually too big and irritate my cheeks, so I choose a frame and have them made for me. I did not like the Franny; it closed in your eyes and I didn’t see your pretty eyes. PS: My prescription pair are in a wild frame that is fuchsia and turquoise. I’m 73 and figure if I’m going to go wild, this is the time. LOL
Fanny and Wright both look great on you!
Franny, Fara, Ezra, Wright are YES.
The other 4 are No, No.
This post was so helpful. Choosing new glasses is so stressful!
My favorites:
Franny- they warm up your face and look so classy
Fara- beautiful color and not overwhelming for your features
Naima- very on trend but with a subtle color that is perfect for you
Can’t wait to see what your decision will be!
The Franny frame hands down!!! You look fabulous!!
Love the Marisol on you! You look so pretty in them.
Hi! You have Lots of nice choices. I like the Fara frames best
I really like the smaller frames on you. The last pair really suit you. I’m not keen on large frames. You have a lovely neat face and I think the smaller frames are better on you.
I think either the Franny or the Fara accentuate your eyes the most. I also like the color of the Marisol, but I think that frame is a little too heavy.
I really like the Naima frame on you
My favorites are the Fara, the Ezra and the Naima. The Ezra may be too safe but is the type I generally choose for myself. I love the Fara on you!
In your line of work, with so many photos on the internet for all eternity, I imagine that you would want glasses that don’t wear you, that are not the first thing noticed, and definitely don’t scream “I’ve slipped into the eccentric old lady time of life”. In that regard, I like the Franny, it has a fresh shape and looks great with your facial structure. The Fara is a little softer and also a great shape and color for you.
Franny frame!