Eye glasses

[Decasanova]

I had an eye test yesterday at Boots Opticians and now have to wear glasses.

They were lovely but I only went there because it's an out of town one and easy parking.

I had a hard time choosing frames. One for reading and one for distance.

Having not worn glasses before I looked Brands I am familiar with either for sunglasses or clothing, handbags etc. Ray Ban, Givenchy etc

To my horror none of them suited me. I love Ray Ban sunglasses, but with a clear frame I looked like Michael Caine!

In the end I just tried on lots of different brands and have ordered a pair for distance from the Lozza range and a reading pair from Carolina Herrera.

I'd like to know what other brands that Boots don't stock that are nice so I can order spares or just different ones as I will get bored wearing the same ones.

I'm old and not into the latest trends as such but want good quality. Nothing with a high street name.

Any suggestions from the glasses wearing ladies, please?

I really wouldn't buy frames from Boots! Their stock is SOOO dull, and I feel the same about all the high street optical chains. Feel free to ignore me, but I think you need to find a really good independent optician in an upmarket town, and spend a good hour trying on with advice on what suits you from someone who doesn't know you.

Glasses cost so much (I have just ordered new frames/varifocal lenses: one pair has cost over £600) I don't do it any more often than absolutely necessary. My cost per wear theory is that the latest trend will last longest so I to buy the most fashion-forward that suit, so that for 18 months they look edgy, then quite modern for another 18 months, and after four years, they should still be passable, although you will be fed up with them and fancy a change. You don't give your age, or say whether you will be wearing them the whole time (I do, now). Some of the nicer readers are quite presentable and will do the job, unless your RX is very different between left and right eyes.

Cubitts sell their own frames for about £125 including simple lenses, otherwise the makes I have bought have tended to be French (Face à Face, Alain Mikli, Paul & Joe) British (Tom Dixon, but mega-£££) or Danish (I liked Pro-Dansk). Most frames are made by an Italian company called L'Uxxottica, which has the licences with all the big fashion names). Apologies for the essay; hope some of this helps.

Black eyewear do some great frames, you can order online if you're brave enough. I went through their Goodge street shop and the service was excellent. I went for these:

OCSockOrphanage

Thank you. The Optician service was excellent but the choice of frames was not that great.

After trying on lots I do now know what suits me in terms of frame shape and size and colour so am happy to buy online.

I preferred the styles of the men's ones but they were too wide.

I was expecting to pay a lot but only spent £500 odd because it was but one get one half price and the ones I liked from the more expensive ranges didn't suit me!

I will have a look at Tom Dixon and Danish, thank you.

Interesting that most are made by one manufacturer though.

LadyOfTheCanyon, those look nice I shall have a look on that site too.

What I found was that ones that dipped in at the bridge of the nose didn't suit me and the straighter the line of the top of the frame and nose piece the better!

This is what I mean, the top being straight across

blackeyewear.com/courtney/

These are perfect

blackeyewear.com/dizzy/

OCSockOrphanage I forgot to add that I'm an old bat but I am very fussy with what I wear, hence wanting a really nice pair of glasses!

As a fellow old bat(tleaxe), I think we have to be really careful about glasses, and I have a particular prejudice against 'classic' styles. No, they just look dowdy and are, therefore, ageing. Those Black styles you've picked are very strong, zero chance of being overlooked in those, and some great colours.

You are so right! I would see a pair I really liked then I'd look in the mirror expecting to see Karl Lagerfeld albeit female and there was Deirdre Barlow staring back at me!

Cutler and Gross have gorgeous glasses and if you find the 'frame finder' on the top right it may help you find what you're looking for: www.cutlerandgross.com/

Retropeepers may not be for you but there are a lot of strong looks (look at the men's frames, and there are more women's than just the usual cat's eyes) and imo they offer good value for money: retropeepers.com/collections/gentlemen-frames-readers

Have you got an Ollie Quinn? A limited but - imho - excellent selection for 100 quid all in (unless you’re more than -4: then it’s £149).

Oliver Peoples and Bailey Nelson are my favourites.

In my specs wardrobe atm are Kirk & Kirk, Oliver Peoples, Calvin Klein, Lindberg and Rodenstock.

Interested to note that those in the know also recommended men's frames. I use specsavers but the female side is all pink, sparkles, Edna average shapes, hideous gold tat etc. Buy bloke!

The stronger shapes tend to be put in men's ranges, but are then sized for larger male heads, so it is not easy to buy bloke as SpecialSubject suggests, which is why I tend to like the northern European androgynous ranges.

Regular readers will be unsurprised to find that I have a big head....can never get hats to fit but buying specs is easy.

Also bloke size feet so no need to buy crappy women's trainers or walking boots.

Give asda a try, really reasonably priced and a pretty good range.