I am at my wits end now trying to find glasses

[GinAndOnIt]

So, after a previous thread trying to work out what colours suit me, I've finally whittled it down to wanting glasses with a 'cool' colouring. I think I was going wrong before because I was picking brown glasses.

I've just had my third set of trial glasses through the post from Glasses Direct (brilliant idea by the way!) and the glasses are blue, pink, purple and grey. They all look shit. I've got a very petite face, so my current glasses are from the teen range at Specsavers, but they are way too trendy for me (and red FGS) so I'm not keen on them.

My eyesight used to be a lot worse, and I wore contact lenses at all times for years and then finally got laser eye surgery. The laser eye has been starting to fail for the last couple of years, so I'm back to glasses, but eyesight is still fairly okay. I don't want contact lenses (apart from special occasions) because at the moment, I take my glasses off as much as possible so as not to make my eyes lazy.

Am I just destined to always look shit in glasses? I must say, I find thin metal frames or frameless glasses to be very aging on me, and I much prefer the look of a solid frame. Any tips on lovely glasses you have and love? They always look so lovely on other people.

My DH went to every opticians in a wide area and asked to look in their "discarded" frames that were out the back. Completely new, just taken off the shelves as they weren't the newest styles. He wanted oval, rimless or half-rimmed styles.

He was eventually lucky and found 2 frames which were perfect. Worth talking to assistants to see what they've got hidden away. Good luck 🤓

I've no magic answer - it took me four months to choose my latest frames. I just tried on loads and loads and loads then tried on some more. Then went back the following week and did it all again and soon till I found some I was happy with.

I wouldn't choose online unless I was sure what I wanted. I like a real live optician. I go to an independent one because they have the best selection and give the best service but if I wasn't happy with any of them locally, I would travel.

I also spend as much as I can possibly afford. I don't bother with 2 for 1 type deals as I'd rather have just one pair that I'm totally happy with. My prescription alone is expensive so it's a major purchase for me but I'll skimp on a coat / boots etc rather than on my specs because they're on my face every waking moment.

What Flo Said. It's taken me since March to choose frams and now I have some and am down £350, I'm not wild about them.

If you do eventually pick some from Glasses Direct don't forget there's a discount if you pay via Quidco.

I've been looking since March as well. Not too urgent for me as they are a backup to contacts and I still have my old pair, but I really want to get it right and maybe start wearing them a bit more regularly.

I'm glad it's not just me. I have a -5.0 and varifocal prescription so I've no choice but to wear glasses every day. Last 4 years have been spent wearing expensive but unsatisfactory glasses!

After an unsuccessful day going through every frame in Boots, Supersavers and Vision Express, I went to a proper posh independent optician that stocks Oliver Peoples, etc. It's in a city but TBH it's going to be a £500 purchase and I thought worth the trip. They took one look at me and picked a pair off the display said "try these" and they were perfect. 2 or 3 others were all good too, all understated and classy but contemporary looking, not pointlessly embellished or chunky/bright/clownish.

They were these by the way and they come in 2 sizes.

My previous pair were quite like the ones Raising has linked only more oval shape and with a slight uplift at the corners. I really liked them and, if Oliver Peoples hadn't stopped making them, I might just have got some in a different colour and saved myself a lot of trouble.

Oliver Peoples, ProDansk, LA Eyeworks, and Face-a-Face are smaller independents (not owned by Luxxotica, which dominates the mass market and "masstige" brands), and they tend to make understated, un-bling, non-glitzy frames that are flattering and look contemporary long after designer frames seem past it. My favourite pair will be reglazed this time around; they cost a fortune eight years ago, and are still effortless but distinctive.

As others have said, go to a local independent - where I work we have around 800 frames on stock and they are all different, we do not stock more than 1 of anything - lots of the smaller ranges such at Etnia Barcelona,
Zen, Ronit Furst, Eyespace, Orange etc do different size frames and petite ranges so adults have no need to wear kids frames. We are very open in our advice and will certainly tell you if the spx don't suit you. The big chains all stock the same ranges and look to have loads of styles but they are often the same style in every colour.
Many independent stores will have staff who are very well trained and can just pick styles off the shelves after looing at your prescription that will suit your face/colouring, prescription.

Re glasses size - himself has a narrow face and specsavers bloke ones fit him, although obviously styles vary.