Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
LifeFriday, July 11, 2008 11:09 AM CDT
Comments Comments (7) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Latest fashion trend for all to see
By Bob Holliday
bholliday@pantagraph.com

Chrome Hearts: Style Gittin' Any? -- Updated retro black, unisex tortoise frame with chrome hearts detail in fleur de lis sterling accents. $755
Patsy Webber has 11 pairs of eyeglasses, and expects to pick up a few more for good measure. Webber is part of a growing trend of consumers treating eyewear as a fashion statement.

"Glasses bring out the individual," she said, adding "I decided that if I was going to wear glasses that I wanted them to make a statement."

That they do. There is, for example, the bright red and white pair Webber wears when she's in an artistic mood. She also has three pairs of prescription sunglasses.

While some buy glasses to match outfits, Webber buys outfits to match glasses. For her, "my glasses come first."

That's music to the ears of Julie Kubsch, owner of Specs Around Town Optical Boutique in downtown Bloomington, where Webber buys her glasses.

"There's always been a cult of eyeglass-wearer people, but now it's more mainstream," said Kubsch, who sees logic in the trend. "How much do women spend on purses? You put it (the purse) on the floor near your feet and how many people see it?" she asked.

The same applies to shoes, she said. "You don't shake hands and look at their feet. You look at their face."

Kubsch herself has eight pairs of glasses.

Celebrities are, if not leading the trend, at least embracing it. For example, actor Johnny Depp is often pictured in stylish glasses, as is "Saturday Night Live" alum Tina Fey. "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson also reaches for stylish frames.

Webber believes this has an impact.

"I think people say 'If these people wear glasses, maybe it's not so bad,'" she said.

Webber, co-owner of Ryan Pharmacy in Bloomington, didn't start wearing eyeglasses until she was around 40, but is now making up for lost time, having packed nearly a half-dozen pairs on a recent week-long trip to New York.

Teresa Beland, of Normal, has multiple pairs as well. She wears her bright and cheery pair to cheer home-bound health care patients, but also has a dressy pair and a more business-like pair. She plans to add another pair or two to her collection.

"Because I have to wear glasses, I want to make them fun," she said, adding that she believes this is money well spent.

"What affects your looks more than what you have on your face," she asked?

Beland won't get any argument from Lonnie Landess, an optician with McLean County Eye Center.

"Styles are so much more fun now," Landess said, noting "from our perspective this is a good trend."

Advertisement
Take a look
Kio Yamato O & X -- Men's and women's frames. $170 to $400
Face a' Face: Style Fever -- Beveled rectangular frame front with crystal and raspberry striated color. The wide pistachio temples compliment the color on the front. $420
Francis Klein: Style piano -- Soft oval shape embellished with carnation pink and peridot green stones, along with delicate silver studs. The frame is a translucent smoky green. $575
Most commented stories
Community calendar
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 7 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

volunteer21 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:40 PM:

" If she has that much money to waist on glasses then she should send some my way. $400 for glasses! that is as much as a car payment. "

laura wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:56 AM:

" I would never pay that much for glasses! No one cares about what is on your glasses. Get contacts. "

bullfrog wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:37 AM:

" IF mine cost $200.00 instead of $800.00, I could have 4 pairs, one for fishing, one for reading, one for driving, & one for the boudwa <(sp. ) to make me more sexy !!!!!!! "

meshil wrote on Jul 18, 2008 12:41 AM:

" Knox Leon

Knox Leon "

Lively1 wrote on Jul 12, 2008 3:12 PM:

" There are websites out there now that offer eyeglasses for much much less. Zenni Optical is one that I've used. "

isabelle wrote on Jul 11, 2008 4:53 PM:

" DT:
gas prices. "

DT wrote on Jul 11, 2008 2:37 PM:

" Why should a frame sell for $400? Material costs are minimal as are manufacturing ones. They certainly should cheaper than sneakers. I'm just not sure whether is George Bush's or global warming's fault. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy