August 18th 2024.
As a 21-year-old, I remember the excitement of getting my first pair of glasses. They were those sleek, narrow frames that were popular at the time, and I chose them in a lovely brown shade to match my hair. While some may not see it as a significant moment, for me it was a milestone.
Growing up, I never had any need for glasses. In fact, I didn't know many people who wore them either. And the few that did always seemed to be self-conscious about it. From my perspective, it seemed like wearing glasses made you stand out or feel different in some way.
So you can imagine my surprise when I started working at an optical practice in 2006 and was given an eye test as part of my onboarding process. To my surprise, I was issued a prescription for glasses. I was told that they would help with tasks like using the computer, but I have to admit, the news made me a bit anxious. You see, I had already tried on all the frames in the shop and couldn't find any that looked good on my face.
Looking back, I think my reaction was partly influenced by what I had seen growing up. But I also believe that my perception of glasses being unfashionable or uncool was due to the fact that I never saw any of my favorite celebrities, style icons, or musicians wearing them.
Despite working in the industry, I couldn't shake the idea that wearing glasses would make me less stylish or desirable. So while I wore them at work, I never wore them out in public or on a night out.
But over time, I started to change my mindset. I realized that I was suffering from eyestrain and occasional headaches because I wasn't wearing my glasses as prescribed. And the irony of working in the optical industry but not wearing glasses myself was not lost on me.
As I interacted with clients, I noticed that many of them were also worried about making the wrong choice when it came to their glasses. They feared that others would comment negatively on their frames, which was something I could relate to.
This got me thinking about where these insecurities and beliefs about wearing glasses came from. Historically, glasses were associated with being intellectual and introverted, not glamorous or desirable. This stereotype was perpetuated by popular culture, which often portrayed glasses-wearers as bookish, socially awkward, or physically unattractive. Even the fashion industry didn't showcase glasses on their magazine covers.
And considering that over 60% of the population wears glasses, it's not surprising that their exclusion from mainstream media has a significant impact on self-image.
To change this narrative, I began to speak out about how we could shift the conversation around eyewear to make people, including myself, feel proud to wear them. But I knew that it had to start with me. I had never found glasses that looked great on me, or anyone else for that matter, when browsing through the racks at high street optical practices.
So I started to explore eyewear beyond these traditional stores. When I traveled to eyewear shows, especially in Europe, I was exposed to a wide variety of shapes, styles, and colors that you just wouldn't find on the high street. And that's when I finally found glasses that looked amazing on me. It was a game-changer.
Now, I continue to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive eyewear industry. I believe that everyone should have access to glasses that make them feel confident and stylish. And I'll keep speaking out and encouraging others to do the same until we see a change in the way glasses are perceived in society.
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