Hey, Four Eyes!
Today I took a break from the massive amounts of beading for my Dixie Cousins costume to search for some new frames. Glasses frames that is.
I was due for my eye exam, and had it last week, however didn’t find anything at my optometrist, leaving me to hunt on my own at various optometrists around PDX. I tried on pair after pair at one of the top places for vintage frames, Hollywood Vintage, but came up empty. Me and vintage frames have never much gotten along. And trust me, I’ve tried. Every time I come across a pair at a shop or show I try ’em on. But to no avail. It seems as if 99% of vintage frames are round or square-ish in shape, which do not compliment my face shape at all. I ultimately decided upon a new pair at a local optometrist, which will be ready in a few weeks.
Shopping for glasses has always been something I’ve never much liked doing. I’ve had glasses since I was in the third grade, and while I have loved each pair I’ve gotten (whether from the get-go or grew to love) shopping for new frames is always an unpleasant experience. My current frames are a little worse for wear, and my last pair didn’t stand up too well when getting a second pair of lenses put in them, and because I didn’t want to risk going through that again, I opted to just search for new frames. Over the years my glasses have become part of my personality (that wasn’t always the case, I positively loathed them at first, but I think most young kids do), a trademark if you will, and shopping for new frames is a bit like designing a new logo for your business. They have to click with who you are, what you represent and what you do. It’s no easy choice.
On a fashion note, I super adore pink and green together. I think that notion has sprung from this purse, which I made out of vintage bark cloth. Pink and green, especially combined with black proves really dramatic, but also fun. It’s just a great combo to play with.
Outfit
Season Skipper Coat: The Mercantile, Springfield, Oregon (For $10!)
Toby Berman Sweater: Yours, Portland
Skirt: Peacock, which is closed, however the same gal now sells on-line, visit her on-line shop Beta Moss.
Stockings: What Katie Did
Shoes: TJ Maxx
Gloves, Bangles and Scarf: I forget
Bowling Pin Earrings: Found by my dad!
Purse: Made by me! From vintage bark cloth found at Antique Alley
Leave a Comment!
Having trouble commenting? Contact me
That’s funny you loathed glasses as a kid – I was the complete opposite. I lied to my eye doc around age 6, bc I really wanted them… Needless to say, that resulted in new glasses, disorientation, headaches, and a very mad mom. Oops….
I can’t wait to see your new ones!!!
<3 sara
That coat is amazing, and what a steal! I do so love green. And I love the pink scarf you’re wearing in your hair, it just looks so quintessentially 50s (and I have one just like it and feel all validated now!)
I completely understand you on the glasses front. I wear contacts sometimes, but I have such an odd correction that my brain gets grumpy when I switch between the two, so I’m usually only good for a few hours before I can’t focus and need to put glasses back on.
(oo. And the EARRINGS! I just noticed those. They’re super nifty!
Fantastic outfit! That bar cloth purse is so pretty. What a great pattern. I’ve yet to cone across a good uncut vintage cloth.
I love that skirt, and I also adore pink and green together – such a pretty colour combination!
This outfit is lovely upon first glance…and marvelous upon closer inspection. I am in love with your pink check skirt (I love pink skirts for winter) and them texture of your sweater…and those gloves have such a nice daisy detail. I didn’t see the bowling earrings at first, loving them…I saw a bowling pin brooch the other day, but never earrings. Just beautiful! xx Shauna
Ooohhh, this outfit is all kinds of stylish fabulousness! I adore the pairing of green and pink as well, and really, really this this cheerful combo looks amazing on you.
Three cheers on finding a new pair of frames. I know just what you mean, overly round or square frames (but especially round ones) generally look terrible on me, too. Hope that your new frames and you get along swimming and get to enjoy many happy years together.
♥ Jessica
Very cute bubble gum pink skirt! I love the attention to detail they did back then. All my vintage pencil skirts have those little arrowheads at the ends of the kick pleats and also a lining just in the seat. As for your frame challenge…I would think that a subtle cat eye style frame would look very nice on you.
I couldn’t agree more! You glasses have to click with who you are and sometimes it can be so hard to find that right pair. Can’t wait to see which ones you chose.
I can totally sympathize, glasses are the one thing I just can’t shop for, I usually just try a bunch on and let my mum or the optician pick! 🙂
You look so amazing. I have been wearing glasses since I was four and like you glasses have become a part of my “personality”. I can’t imagine not wearing glasses now. Though unlike you, I LOVE shopping for new glasses! Can’t wait to see what you picked.
Late in commenting, but I love green and pink together, as well! And good luck with the glasses. I think you look wonderful in them and kudos to sticking with your frames as opposed to wearing contacts.
I hate glasses shopping! The last time I went in for an eye exam, I wanted to get new frames but couldn’t find anything I liked (in my price range) so I just kept the same pair I’ve had for almost 6 years. Before that I had the same frames since I was 12, I usually wear contacts and wear my glasses at home or on lazy days. I would love to find some pretty cateye glasses that aren’t terribly expensive. The last time I shopped for frames the only ones I liked were from Tiffany’s, so that didn’t work out 🙂
I have been reading your blog for about a year now, and I also live in Portland. I really like Beaumont vision center on 44th and Fremont. Although they are not vintage, but rather retro… They do have good lookin’ glasses, plus the ladies who work there are super nice and helpful.
I too have worn glasses since 3rd grade (contacts since jr high) and currently rock a pair of 1950s cat eye frames. I’m curious to see your new pair of glasses, it’s too bad that the vintage frame shop didn’t have a pair of you!
I wouldn’t have thought to pair pink & green together but it makes for a wonderful combination on you, I especially like the silhouette of your skirt.
As a fellow glasses wearer, I hear you! I actually just wear contacts because I find it so hard to find glasses I like. And because my lenses are so thick, the wright of the glasses actually gives me headaches. Ouch!
You look positively divine, Janey! The colour combo of green and pink is unexpected yet so well made for one another. The addition of that chiffon hair scarf is just the perfect finishing touch, as are those super cute gloves! I would love more vintage gloves, but my hands are just enormous, as is everything else on me – damn this Dutch blood! I don’t think I’ll ever quite own a nice variety of vintage gloves, but at least I can work on the hat area despite my large cranial size as well (when I started in the Marine Corps, I was the ONLY girl wearing a medium size cover, while all of the others – even my DIs – wore small or extra small covers. Seriously – when I say everything on me is overgrown, I mean it LOL.), and I already have quite a watch/”hunt” list for new chapeau additions now. It is just so hard for me to stay away from basic black or greys/whites. I need some colour in my hats too, damnit! This NYC tendency to always buy in basic black has started to gnaw at me a tad; black is never a bad option, but I am ferociously trying to fight my own mind in buying every accessory in black in nothing else!
I too have worn glasses since a ripe young age. Every school photo features me in my glasses up until I got contacts in 8th grade. I have an astigmatism in both eyes, but mostly wear contacts. I have frames, but they are mostly for giving my eyes a break from the contacts now and then. But I do have vintage frames I bought a year ago that I have been meaning to get my Rx put into – I just need that Rx yet from my optometrist LOL. And I am sure you look fabulous in most any pair of specs! I think it just adds to your charm and cuteness! Oy that sounds creepy, I didn’t mean to! LOL.
-Holly
When I was super young, I really wanted glasses because my dad had them and I thought they were neat! But, when I ended up needing them at age 10 I was disappointed because I knew I’d have to wear them for the rest of my life! I like wearing glasses now, though, and I agree that they become part of your personality or “brand”. I’ll probably end up getting new glasses next time I go to the optometrist (which might be in another year since I’m only working part time and money is tight…), and I actually find glasses shopping to be quite fun! For the past few years I’ve gone with plastic squarish black frames, which seem to work well with my face shape…