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?
Clear winner is the Marisol!
Eyeglasses are such a personal thing (I’ve worn them for 60 years, beginning at five years old). I have a wardrobe of glasses, as it’s the accessory that I ‘lead’ with (wink). I think you selected a great assortment Jennifer. You could pull off any of them. I am not one to tell another woman what she should like, especially when it comes to eyeglasses. However, I think that Franny Frame in Toffee color looks exceptionally beautiful on you. Jennifer you could model eyeglasses. I love seeing all the options available. Thank you so much for sharing.
I LOVE the second ones, the Marisol! And I like the Naima! Perhaps it is the shape but also the colors on you. That blue is awesome! I need to do the same real soon. Good luck choosing!
I like Franny frame on you the best.
Thank you so much for this post! Glasses are such a personal but difficult choice. I think the Naima looks stunning on you. Your eye color pops and the soft colored frame highlights your face! Have fun!
Jennifer,all eyeglasses are nice.I like most the first and the last one.
Great choices, Jennifer. My three favorites are listed below. You look nice in all of them, so I know what a tough choice it will be.
#1 Franny
#2 Fara
#3 Naima
Also, those first “cheaters,” (the clear ones) look terrific on you.
Choosing glasses is always a tricky decision. I felt the ones that were extremely dark and heavy were not a great contrast to your light hair and coloring, and my favorites were the clear frames (not the frameless ones) and the tortoise frames. The others, I felt, were too heavy on your face. At our age we dont want something heavy dragging down our faces. I also like the thinner frames, even though not quite in style, for the same reasons. Maybe look at more options? Just my opinion. Look forward to seeing the final results!
I like the Naima & the Fara the best for you.
I really liked the Gara frame on you. The shape seemed perfect for framing your eyes and for your face shape. I would be a little afraid of the color being confining but it looked great on you.
My vote is the 1st, the Fanny frame. It’s different but bold in a way & I like the shape on you.
I love the Fara frame on you! They have a lovely shape that compliments your face with just enough color. Some of the darker, chunkier glasses overtake your face.
Marisol and Fara are my picks for you
Good morning Jennifer,
Thanks for this post, I’ll be facing a similar dilemna in a couple of weeks. It is NOT easy! Last time around I decided on a pair of prescription sunnies which were on the bold side (and $$) and haven’t really liked them every since, preferring my older pair most of the time. Ugh.
Leading contenders: Fara, Naima – and the Rocco is growing on me. I think these will complement most of your wardrobe, just my opinion tho 🙂
Naima frame in rosewater agatate. It’s classy and suits you.
Fanny all the way! It warms and softens your face and I feel they are the right size. Many of the others seem too large and too dark for your face. Fara would be my runner up!
Hi
I like the Fara frame on you.
I like the Franny , the Fara and the Torrez. Actually they all look good on you
I absolutely love the Fanny and the Fara frames on you! Please let us know which ones you eventually pick. Thank you so much for all the hard work you do. You are like having my own personal stylist!
Franny or Fara are nice accessories on your beautiful face.