By Leda Olia
When I got my glasses in 4th grade, they weren’t exactly the “coolest” accessory. Remember how Arthur the Aardvark was relentlessly teased by Francine who called him “four eyes” on the playground? That’s basically what elementary school was like, especially if you had Harry Potter glasses like me (maybe Harry Potter made glasses just a little bit cooler).
In 5th grade, my parents said I could get contacts. No more wearing glasses? Sign me up! And I’ve never switched back.
But now, glasses are all the rage. There are glasses for every face shape and size, every style, and every budget. Plus, celebrities have made glasses totally vogue; Tina Fey, Zooey Deschanel, and Johnny Depp all sport glasses either on set or off.
Okay, but those designer glasses cost a lot. Most of us probably aren’t willing to spend upwards of $300 on new specs. That’s where Warby Parker comes in.
I was surprised to see that their glasses were so reasonably priced — $95 is a small price to pay for super-chic prescription eyeglasses (they sell sunglasses too!). It turned out that I needed special lenses for my strong prescription, so they charged me another $30 for that. A little bit disappointing, but necessary.
A couple of weeks ago I signed up for their “Home Try-On” program in which you can select up to 5 pairs of glasses and have them sent to you free of charge. This way, if you can’t make it to a showroom (like the one on Newbury Street), you can try on the pairs in the comfort of your home for up to 5 days.
When I got mine, I felt like I was playing dress up; striking poses in front of mirrors, taking selfies, and snapchatting all my friends to get their opinions.
Curious as to which five pairs I tried? Here’s a breakdown (from top to bottom in photo):
Finn, Revolver Black – This one was weirdly too small for my (big?) head. The frame itself is quite narrow.
Marshall, Rum Cherry – A wider frame but a super-fun color. The red was just too adorable.
Preston, Whiskey Tortoise – Another wider frame with a rounder shape. A little too big for me.
Wilkie, Whiskey Tortoise – A classic rectangular shape, said to be universally flattering.
Ainsworth, Elderberry – I couldn’t resist another punchy color. This one has purple frames and is green on the side!
While the bold, red Marshall pair was quite alluring, I decided to go with the Wilkie, which flattered my face the best of all. Plus, I’m really a big fan of tortoiseshell glasses – they’re so classic, and won’t go out of style.
Another great thing about Warby? For every pair they sell, they give away a pair to any of the one billion people in need of glasses around the world.
For more about Warby Parker, visit their website at http://www.warbyparker.com/
