New Frames!

I had brand new glasses arrive in my mailbox.  So exciting!

For someone who has been wearing glasses since my teenage years, it has only felt like in the last few years glasses have become way more accessible and affordable.

I love having glasses and though sure, I wouldn’t mind having better eyesight, I don’t see myself ever wanting to get surgery to fix my eye sight or even get contacts.   Something about being a girl with glasses just works for me.

This is my second pair of new frames this year, and together they are still far less than one would pay on a single pair of glasses.  I really would love to channel my inner Elton John and have a whole array of glasses (though just one extra pair is dreamy for now).

I thought I’d share a bit about both pairs as they came from two different affordable options.

The vintage pair are some that I found at the Vancouver Flea Market for $35.  I took them to a local store and was able to get lenses put in them.  It is risky with vintage glasses as they need to heat them up in order to put the lenses in so they could break…so be sure to make sure they are in good shape as possible.  Luckily it worked for me.

This is probably the 5th pair of potential vintage glasses I’ve bought over the years (some for only a dollar or two).  Thrift stores or flea markets are prime for this but there are some incredible vintage stores that do the searching for you.  One of the best selections I’ve ever seen is at Hollywood Vintage in Portland.  The price point will probably be much higher than what you’d find at a flea market or thift store, but the selection can be incredible.  You can also get some via Etsy but much like the vintage stores, the price point will be higher…but really, compared to a pair of frames from a brick and mortar glasses store, its much cheaper.

These new frames are from Clearly Contacts (I think in the States it is called Coastal) and they are amazing.  They offer you a free first pair.  For folks like me with a pretty strong perscription, I had to pay for some upgrades in the lenses but it was still under $100 which after having to shell out hundreds for past glasses, these are both dreamy options!

I’ve also heard good things about Warby Parker and Lookmatic, but I really do prefer being able to purchase from a company here in Canada.

Its been so interesting seeing my internal reaction to having new frames too.  I’m realizing how much I’ve tied my outward identity to those cateye frames this year.  I feel more myself in them.  Its like they speak of the quirky in me and I feel really seen and understood somehow when I wear them.  While I’m loving these new black ones, it feels a bit different.  I don’t feel like I recognize myself in the mirror…so while I love them, you’ll probably mostly see me in the vintage ones still.  But at the same time, I am not a pair of glasses so I’m excited to stretch myself and see something new in the mirror.