Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

It’s True: I LOVE My Four Eyes

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Two days ago, I attended the Fashion Forward Conference in New York City with the always awesome @ShopwithRobin. On the agenda: learning from some of the best and most noted names in fashion and blogging, plus tips and tricks for writing fashion/beauty editorials (as you may have noticed, I’m a bit of a clothing/makeup junkie).

Now normally, the first thing I’d do for a fashion event is pop in my contact lenses. I’ve long detested wearing glasses and often felt “prettier” with my contacts in – and, it’s a well known fact that glasses make a gal look geeky, right? Right?

Nah, I don’t believe that either, at least not anymore. In fact, I now view my glasses as part of my “look” – and sometimes, an outfit actually looks better to me when I’m rocking my dark frames.

Case in point: Fashion Forward.

My outfit:
Waffle Cardigan, Joe Fresh
Active Tee, Joe Fresh
Leggings, Joe Fresh
Boots, Browns Couture
Glasses, Gucci

Five years ago, I NEVER would have worn glasses to a public event! It would take a (pretty awful) eye infection to keep me out of my contacts… but today, not only do I include my glasses as a fashion statement – I work ’em!

Of course, my “eye love” doesn’t end with my frames – I also happen to take my eye health more seriously than the average 30-something. From prior posts you’ll recall that due to my grab bag of eye issues and hereditary time bombs, I’ve had to see an ophthalmologist twice a year, every year… for the past 15 years.

(Click here to read Love At First Sight; Love Your Eyes)

So at the risk of sounding repetitive, PLEASE see a licensed optician to fill your eyeglasses/contact lens prescriptions. Opticians are trained to take proper anatomical measurements, make appropriate initial and ongoing adjustments to eyewear and to perform thorough pre- and post-assessment of contact lenses to ensure vision health and safety, comfort, peak performance and clear accurate vision.

You’ll recall that visitors at Yorkdale Shopping Centre were treated to the Licensed Optician’s never-been-done-before interactive display on August 24th – here are some highlights from the event!

Missed the event? Choose your own prize pack with the Love Your Eyes online contest. Simply vote for your favourite prize pack, enter your deets and you’ll have the chance to win the whole kit and kaboodle! The contest ends on September 30th, so you still have a little time to vote for your fave and spread the word to your visually-challenged friends.

Click here to visit the Love Your Eyes online contest.

This post is sponsored by the Opticians Council of Canada. I Love My Eyes and encourage everyone to regularly stay on top of their eye health.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. You are so pretty with glasses too! That interactive display is neat – thanks for sharing the Love Your Eyes campaign!

    • Agreed Shirley! Although I’ll have to stash away a lot of money to afford different pairs for different outfits, LOL!

  5. Great post Lena. You look great with your Gucci’s!! I recently had my eyes tested after a few years of not being able to read labels whenever I went grocery shopping. I have started wearing 125 reading glasses and it has made a huge difference.

    On another note – ears and hearing. My BFF told me hundreds of times over the course of 20 years, to have my hearing checked…3 months later…I am now wearing 2 really cool (purple ’cause I was able to choose colour) hearing aids! Never knew!!!!

    • That’s amazing Teresa! I think it’s wonderful that you embrace the fun and fashionable aspect of hearing aids – most people would choose a boring old peach tone. And even happier that you’re hearing (and seeing) well now – there’s too much to miss out on life!

  6. You look gorgeous with glasses and without! I’m very much of the same attitude – I used to detest wearing glasses, associating them with nerd-ness. Now, I switch between contacts and glasses, depending on the look I’m going for, and I appreciate how flattering they can be!

    • Exactly Victoria! I love switching back and forth too – plus, you always have a new “look” when you enter a room ;)

  8. Nice frames Lena. I wear glasses myself, and am due for a new pair. Not being very fashion conscious, how do I pick frames that suit me? I asked the optician once and she just shrugged and asked me to pick what I liked. I did and that didn’t go so well. Are there any guidelines I should follow when I go to pick out frames?

    • Hi Cindy! The first thing you need to do is find another optician – one that will take the time to show you the best frame that suits your face. They’re trained to know what style looks best for your face shape, bridge of your nose and even prescription strength, and often will show you frames you hadn’t even thought of. That’s how I landed on my frames – I was really campaigning for an alternate style but my optician vetoed it and said it wouldn’t stay on face comfortably after extended wear. So happy I listened to his advice!

  10. Love the Waffle Cardigan, sweater girl. Thanks for the link to the additional contest. I know I visit the optometrist yearly because my vision change. I have a pair of glasses for when I’m on the computer, yet another when I’m reading. At times, get them interchanged then the confusion begins. This year opting for ONE only.

    • Why thank you – I think the waffle cardigan will be my go-to accessory this season. Absolutely, ONE pair of glasses is preferred! They do magic with combining different strengths and distances now. Good luck in the contest!

  11. You look awesome with glasses!!

    Thanks for sharing!

    I started wearing glasses within the last year!! I should get me a few pairs!

  13. I have worn glasses all my life (can’t figure out how to not blink when the contact comes close to my eye ball) – I think your confidence in wearing glasses is really great!