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?
Hi Jennifer,
I really love the Fara on you!! I saw it early this morning and had to keep going but I wanted to get back to you. Your smile is uplifting! Thanks for starting my day off in such a happy way. Love all that you share with us.
Thank you, Sherri
My first choice is the Franny frame. Second choice is the Fara.
Love the selection. Here are the ones that I think look fabulous on you – Franny, Fara, Naime, Wright, and Torrez. I love Warby Parker – I have two pairs from them and they have held up really well. I have a new prescription, and I might get the lenses replace and purchase a third pair. I really like the Naime ones and might look at those next.
I liked the last two! Very cute!
I vote the FARA FRAME IN IRIS CRYSTAL WITH RIESLING (1st choice) and
I love the Franny and Marisol frames on you; those are my favorites.
I like the first two frames in your blog! Good size, shape and color!
Franny or Fera
What a fun try on at Warby Parker! I actually own and love the Fara, and think they look great on you, too. I also like the Franny on you as they are softer and warm and give your face a bit of a glow. If it were me I would choose both of them because they body give off completely different vibes. It really is hard to select glasses frames because you cannot see yourself as you present to the rest of the world. I’ve ended up with some really fun pairs of glasses in my life due to the input from others. Please do let us know which you ultimately end up selecting.
Franny and Fara are my favorites
I think that when you are smiling, every frame looks great. When a person frowns, it brings the whole face down.
They all look good. But my fav on you is the Franny.
Kimberly
Hi. You look great in all the frames, however my vote goes to Franny frame.
Ellen
These are (almost) all great choices, lady! ;D Both the cool and the warm hues flattered you, how does that work?!? IMHO, I ranked the choices as 1) Naima; 2) Fara; and 3) Franny. Have fun with whatever you choose!
1)The Fara Frame; similar to one I have and it is light weight and always looks good with what I wear and my blue eyes.
2)Naima
and eye bobs
Love the Naima, Fara and Franny Frames for you. They look fabulous on you
Wrong person to ask, I have a pair in every room! Over qualified or just like variety?
Definitely, the Franny, Marisol and Bold Peepers each plays a different supporting roll but all qualify as fun and great styling.
The Fara Frame gives you a softness and matches your eyes.
Number 1 choice is Franny frames and Number 2 is Marisol frame. These two frames add a pizzazz to any outfit, very attractive on you!
We love the Fara frame! The colour is excellent and unusual, but the key thing is that the shape just suits you so well.