I have worn glasses for most of my life. Getting new frames are always a pain in the ass, but very exciting. It is a long process of switching between sample frames and my own glasses, squinting at a mirror trying to figure out if these are the frames that will best represent me for the next couple years. If they weren’t so damn expensive, I would have multiple frames to match different outfits and moods.

My first pair of glasses at age 8 were a pale pink affair that I selected because they blended in with my face. I was horribly self-conscious and thought no one would notice. Instead, they just washed out my already pale complexion. Until college, I wore the most inconspicuous glasses I could find. I finally realized it was hip to be square, and jumped into dark, plastic frames. With each pair, they have gotten progressively edgier and more interesting.

My newest pair, by Ralph Lauren, continues in this tradition. I was looking for something closer to Cat’s Eye, something leaner, sleeker than the boxy frames I have had previously. It came down to these and a pair of Pradas, but the Pradas had a little flower on them that I just couldn’t get behind. I love that these taper at the outside, and have a slight purple tint to them. I was very nervous about them because I wouldn’t be able to get a clear look at them until they were actually purchased and made. Luckily, I got them, put them on, and loved them more than I ever thought possible.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, stay tuned for a peek at my new sunglasses….