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?
I love the Franny frames! I agree, my first thought was “what a beautiful lady!”
You’re so kind. Thank you
Franny is my favorite on you! You look stunning in glasses! I had catharact surgery & thank goodness I have the kind of vision that one eye see distance and the other see closeup but they look the same , your eyes and mind do it all. I wore contacts like that so was offered it. I look like the misplaced librarian with glasses.
That sounds like a great outcome Bonnie. I wonder if my mind would figure it out:)
I like the Fara frame. I think it suits your face shape and is not too heavy looking. The color is fun and pretty. Some of the other frames seem too heavy for a petite person. Eye glasses are so personal because they send a message as to how you want to be perceived.
Have you ever looked into Pair Eye Wear? You choose your frame and then buy different magnetic “toppers” to add different personality or color? I have clear frames and different toppers, mostly in blue, my favorite color.
The Franny and the Fara look best on you. Of the two, I would go with the Fara. The style and color look beautiful on you. The others either wear you or in the case of the Ezra, you look like Sister Jennifer. They also make you look “old.”
My favorite is the Farra crystal blue frame. As it turns out, I have spent the last several weeks trying to find new frames for myself! I had a particular look in mind, and thought I had found just the right ones – until my optometrist pointed out to me that the bridges on the frames I liked were all too wide for my face! Also, because my prescription is so bad, I can’t get really wide frame… good grief…. So I am still searching for the perfect pair. I hope you have an easier time of it!
That is so frustrating!
definitely the Franny frame. your blue eyes pop with them on.