To ask when Timmy Mallett became such a style icon for middle aged women?

[PuttingOnTheKitsch]

Or Dennis Taylor for that matter.

I'm talking about the ludicrously OTT spectacle frames that seem to be de rigueur for women these days.

Men don't seem to be encouraged to hide their gasp aging face behind overly large spectacle frames. Why are women being conned into it? It looks daft!

I don't think it's about hiding behind big specs, in fact, if anything, I see it as the opposite. The women I see in big glasses, brightly coloured clothing and chunky fashion jewellery usually seem to be quite extroverted characters who are comfortable with themselves. It's not a criticism, just an observation and I'm sure there will be exceptions to this, but, as a socially anxious introvert who favours dark muted tones and understated accessories, that's how I see it.

I channel Janine from Ghostbusters. I still take the advice of the lovely woman at my opticians. I wear my glasses,they don't wear me.

Damn, am I the only one who thought you were talking about Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikinis?

Same here.

Me too, they stand out rather than hide

And why would anyone think we have to hide our faces after 40??? I much prefer how I look after 40! Seems a bit ageist to say that

There's lots of things I don't like OP. I don't feel the need to start a thread about them though! Are you always so negative?

Another vote for this.

I've often noticed that they're worn by 50-sonething women whose kids have flown the nest. They've finally got the finances to shop in COS and Arket, the lifestyle that allows them to dress in something other than leggings and a Trespass cagoule, the headspace to plan outfits and the laissez-faire attitude of 'some randoms on Mumsnet may think these are weird but I fucking LOVE these glasses.' And for that day I cannot wait.

Completely agree. I have six pairs and three pairs of Sunnies. All from eyewear designers and bought from seen.co.uk . So not cheap!
Anyone who has their vision impaired understands how shit it is when people take cheap shots.
Why not just call us Speccy Four Eyes OP and be done with it?

Well I'm going against the grain. I have a very boring pair for reading and computer work and think these Timmy styles are wonderful. It's brilliant and hats off to them. If they want the neon statement necklace as well, then go for it. It shows me they're fun people.

Glasses generally seem to be enormous lately. I dont think its just women over a certain age, couldn't find any that didn't come half way down my cheeks. I gave up in the end and just bought some.

Oh god thank you OP! I work in social care and it seems to have so many woman with dyed pink hair, Per Una clothes and wacky specs.

?

Wonderful misogynist posts - waa.

I was just admiring someone at work who looked great in hers.

But then I love people who are comfortable to be bold with their clothes and fashion.

Too “try hard” 🤣 Yes, trying hard to see.

Maybe people are wearing glasses they like because they thought society was a bit more welcoming these days. Poor fools. They didn’t realise they were still surrounded by judgemental bitches all along.

It’s really not, it’s called myopia. It’s not fashion it’s a condition.

and even if we were trying to look different and unique, why do you hate that? You sound unhappy in your life.

After a lifetime of fiddling with contact lenses (which I can no longer wear) and trying to wear apologetic frameless specs because I lacked self esteem I now wear bold, biggish glasses (I'm 60).

Finally, I feel comfortable in my own skin and happy with who I am. I wear glasses - it's me. To me this is a freeing, empowering moment. It's taken me this long to get here. Choice is one of the great gifts we have. I don't care what other people think.

When I look at young girls in all in one beige body stockings/slides and white socks/crop tops I don't think Grrrr, I hate that, I think good on 'em.....that kind of fashion is not for me, it's for them. It's peaceful thinking that way.

My glasses have got bigger. Since I've needed vari-focals they've had to get a lot bigger than the style I used to wear. I thought it was better that they do their job of helping me see than keeping with the smaller style I used to wear.

Quite excited I'm an inadvertent follower of fashion!

Ha! I had never been able to summarise my fashion sense in a short paragraph, but here it is!

I reported that comment at 2.14 this morning.

Exactly. But yes we must all fit the same mould or be ridiculed, even when that involves things like glasses to just be able to see.

Better to get contacts.
Better to blend in.
Better to get very expensive eye surgery.
Better to change yourself not to upset mother.
Better to change yourself not to upset that mum from the school who looks at me strangely.
Better to be someone or something else.

What sad and enslaved lives.

@SisterAgatha
We need to swap out all those 'better' statements for.....
Better to ignore everyone and do as you please.

Instagram is full of fantastic people leading individual lives, dressing as Victorians, land girls whatever. It's bloody good fun and life would be more interesting and joyful if everyone had a hoot.

Really? You actually cringe? May I ask why please, genuine question.

there are hundreds of items / styles I'd never chose for myself, but unless someone was walking around showing their genitalia / dressed as Big Bird in a corporate office etc, I can't imagine cringing- if I even registered their style, I might just think 'that's not for me / I don't like that'. Why would an item of clothing make you cringe?

Dungarees are toddler clothes imo!