Glasses Becoming An Accessory

Written By Ashlee Finke

Photography By Ellie Edwards

Modeled by Ashlee Finke, Claire Nemec, Ruby Morales, Jake Moreland, & Kya Wilson

Growing up, I always noticed when people I knew had to get glasses, they typically preferred contacts instead. This made it seem like it was embarrassing to wear glasses. One of the main tropes in the media during the mid-2000s was the girl-who-needed-to-take-off-her-glasses-to-realize-that-she-was-always-beautiful, which did not help this thought. This enforced the narrative that glasses made girls “ugly”, which is Interesting how this standard did not apply to men. However, recently, more and more people are embracing their glasses. People are finally showing off their colorful and funky shaped frames. 

Currently, the frames that are currently popular are wide and integrate rectangular and circular shapes. I have noticed that colors like green, muted yellow, red, and earth tones are being used with these glasses. Eyewear bands, which are bands that keep glasses from falling off, are being used as accessories with glasses. Usually, the use of the bands are for conveniences but they have become an accessory that adds even more interest to an outfit. When it comes to frames, there are definitely classic styles and bold colors that are still being used but people are starting to match their glasses to their personal style. Instead of being embarrassed to wear glasses, individuals are integrating their glasses as accessories.

Recently, Emma Chamberlain released a collaboration with Warby Parker which includes glasses of many different shapes and colors. The collection includes a rectangular pair that is a cherry red and a semi-circular pair of green and tan glasses. While there have been celebrity collaborations in the eye-glass world before, this collaboration with Emma Chamberlain—an impactful and influential celebrity—feels more relevant to Gen-Z. It is exciting to see these collaborations happen more frequently. They push for versatility and make wearing glasses seen as a fun accessory rather than just something people need to wear. Further, I noticed that more affordable glasses companies, such as Eyebuydirect and Firmoo, are producing fun frames and colors. This is thrilling as it means that people can buy multiple pairs of glasses to accessorize with. 

As someone who never wore contacts and has rocked many different styles of glasses, I am ecstatic to see them become a popular fashion item. I have enjoyed seeing people wear glasses that match their style and personality. It is so fun to see everyone having fun with their glasses. Hopefully, this is not just a trend, as I anticipate people continuing to utilize one of the best accessories: glasses!