Would You Wear… Non-Prescription Glasses?
1. Anna via Chictopia, 2. Alexa Chung, 3. Sara via Lookbook
For this week’s “Would you Wear,” I wanted to talk about a trend that’s been around for a few seasons now: non-prescription glasses. Lots of fashion-forward girls (and guys!) have been rocking oversized glasses with clear lenses… even if they have 20/20 vision.
Personally, I’m on the fence about this one. When done right, this look is both stylish and adorable. Unfortunately, I have horrible eyesight and am already required to wear glasses (or contacts), so I’m not that willing to buy non-prescription frames when I can just wear the real deal.
Are you loving this look? Not quite sure yet? Check out these adorable frames:
Product Information: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
So, what do you think of this look?
Would you wear non-prescription glasses? Or is this a look that you’ll be skipping? Do you want to embrace your inner geek? Be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!
Posted on on June 29, 2010 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Eyewear, Featured, Glasses, Non-Prescription Glasses, Would You Wear?
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Brittany
waay too hipster for my taste.
Stephanie
I like the look but I only see a few people being able to pull it off without looking akward. I know one my friends has been wearing this look for the past few months and I can honestly say he looks good with it. Me on the other hand…. I only pull it off one lol. But def fun to wear :)
Stephanie
*Awkward
*once
sorry I had to fix those two typos lol
Faby
Looooooove it!!
haha I’m kinda in love with this trend but you’re right If you don’t pull it off it looks horrible
Jen
I have to wear them for distances and I hate it so I don’t really understand why people would choose to wear them just to be fashionable.
Valeria
Prescription glasses here… so, I don’t think so, lol :)
Nikki
whish I had the choice lol! – Im badly short sighted!
I kinda like that people who dont need them like wearing them now though.
I hope it means wearing glasses when you are a teen is not such a trauma these days.
Serena
I think it can look cute, but I myself would NEVER wear non-prescription glasses! I don’t need glasses, and honestly the mere idea of them scares me….. but I guess everyone’s opinion is different!
Dallas
i don’t really like them and i have a reason why…there is a girl i know in my school who insists on being “scene” so she started wearing these huge heart-shaped plastic frames with cloudy lenses that looked like she had scooped them out of the garbage. she would ask her friends how they looked and they all said quite honestly that they didnt like them at all, though she continued to wear them. ever since then im afraid ive lost my liking for them.
MAni
I can barely see a foot in front of me without my contacts so I’d rather just get glasses that would help me out. But I do own a pair on non-presciption glasses that I got one year for a costume.
Lyz
I personally love it! I wear them when I’m late for class in the morning and don’t put on makeup , other than that they stay in my makeup bag. But prepare to make up a story of if your near or far sighted and at what age you got them… almost got outed in front of one of my huge classes thanks to the teacher’s lecture on children’s eyesight. Fantastic.
Renee
I think some these glasses really fit with those who dress like boho-chic style ! I loved the 4th one also the wayfarer’s non-prescription model looks really cute!you caught up a nice hot trend Ashley!
m
prescription glasses here too – & this is honestly a trend that i never understood – why wear them when you don’t have to?
i mean, i prefer my glasses to contacts, but i still have to wear something otherwise i can’t see. if i had my way, though, i’d have 20/20 vision & not have to worry about it.
Catherine
I wear contacts/glasses, but I bought a pair of non-prescriptions glasses from Forever 21. I like my prescription glasses, but I also like having a new look with a different pair without shelling out $300+ (that’s how much my prescription glasses cost me). I really dig this trend. I’ve always loved glasses and how they look on people.
June
Ha, Brittany said it.
sammy
agree with brittany
Ahaja
My sis and I do already. They make wonderful accessories. Even if I needed to wear prescription vision enhancers, I would choose glasses.
Hope the link works. To see how we wore them.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=902485396#!/photo.php?pid=145504&op=2&o=global&view=global&subj=1007400059&id=100000374164402
Ahaja
never mind the link is wrong.
Kelly
hipster-wannabe fodder, as Brittany said.
also, I see way too many of the people who tortured me in gradeschool for being a “four-eyes” wearing them now that they’re “in” than I am comfortable with. meh.
Lucy
As an admitted four-eyes, this trend offends me deeply. If you need glasses and you like a style, do what i did: buy cheap $2 frames at a street fair or something and ask your eye doctor to fill them. It’s still not always cheap but it’s better. If you don’t need glasses, then get a pair of sunglasses and leave my people alone…
Wearing glasses only make you look distinguished if you NEED them, otherwise you look like a 10 year old dressing up like mommy/daddy
Kenzie
Do I like it? LOOVE it, totally, it’s an adorable look… but would I do it? No, probably not… My brother, however, has some prescription glasses that have an oversized, retro look to them, and they are amazing. But as for me? If I don’t have to wear glasses, I’m not going to. If I did have to wear glasses, I’d probably get a prescription pair.
Ronnie
I’ve always wanted glasses but I would want a more classic looking pair… something smaller than the ones these girls are wearing. Unfortunately for me, my eyesight is fine and I probably wouldn’t wear fake ones for fear of looking like a wannabe.
Julie
Nope, I recently changed my prescriptions to contacts and I’m not about to go back to that look (although my prescriptions are super cute). This is one trend that I really can’t stand, not even a little bit.
Trend Steps
seriously, i’m so scared to wear them. I’ve seen people with them, and they were such a trend a couple of months ago. But I guess if you have a great outfit it might work? Maybe you guys should make a post about that? :D
Whitney Lynn
I have to wear glasses [when I don't wear my contacts] anyway so I don’t see why it’s such a cool trend. But some people really can pull them off. While others can’t. I do have 5 quite cute pairs of glasses so I’m happy with them :]
Samantha
I wouldn’t. I also wear prescription glasses, though only sometimes for distances. I hate wearing them and I don’t see why people would want to wear glasses if they didn’t have to. I can understand why people like the look, and they do look cute on some people, but wearing them without needing them just comes off as sort of phony.
Robin
If I didn’t already have glasses to wear as an alternative to contacts, I would probably skip this trend. It’s a bit too hipster and generally I’m enough of a nerd that adding fake glasses would be overkill!
Giulia
#2 Glasses are my fave
Actually, I did finally get contacts this year and a couple months later I got a pair of non prescription glasses. I mean it’s funny always listening to my parent’s reaction but for the most part they’re just any other type of trendy accessory right now. What will eventually happen is that people will get tired of them and we’ll just stop.
Leah
ugh, no. I dislike everything about this trend.
Arisel
Well I already have to wear glasses as I can’t see very far without them but even if I didn’t have glasses already I would skip this trend. It’s cute and all but why pretend you need something that you don’t just to be fashionable?
I actually need to update my glasses since I got them back in high school and I was thinking of getting oversized frames kind of like the ones pictured above … I tried many glasses on last time I went to the eye doctor and I think those work better with my face shape. I’m still thinking about it though.
mily
I wouldn’t wear those types of glasses non-prescription. I got “geek glasses” as my prescription pair very similar to the “anna via chictopia” pair and everybody loves them. I tried them on at the eye doctor because the fitter wanted to see them on somebody before choosing them to stock at the optometrist and I realized that larger glasses really suit my face. I still get asked, however, if I bought mine at american apparel or at forever 21 which is slightly annoying because I can’t see anything without them and I’m offended when girls are like… “oh I just bought similar ones at an accessory store the other day for 12$”
Claire
Slim, sexy-librarian sort of glasses? Maybe, and that’s a big maybe. I hate the huge glasses trend, it looks ridiculous. Way too painfully hip.
Heidi
I’m nearsighted and have to wear either prescription glasses or contacts and can not understand why any one who doesn’t have to wear them would. Glasses may be cute but they get in the way of so much. I usually wear my contacts unless I’m in a hurry. I would much rather have 20/20 vision and not have to worry about it. This is a trend that I definitely do not understand.
SupaWaifu
prescription glasses here too… Contacts are a huge expensive hassle for me.. so i keep me nerdy glasses. I do have two pairs depending on how I feel to mix up my look.
shly
I think this a pointless trend. I agree with Brittany, only hipsters seem to do this. Plus, it’s so over done! You can’t get through lookbook, twitter or facebook without someone wearing nerdy glasses and pouting their lips.
Victoria
First of all I really like the look, but only a few people can actually pull it off. I’ve seen so many people who looked absolutely terrible in them.
Secondly I don’t think that it is a good idea to wear glasses if you don’t need them even if they have clear frames. The fact that your eyes have to look through a piece of glass or plastic infront of them cause cause a lot of strain and over time it can cause you to actually need glasses. And they are not always fun to wear.
Trust me because I did just that. I wore fake glasses a couple times a week and then after a couple months I found that my eyes were getting weaker. Now I can’t see as well as before and if I don’t wear my current glasses then I get horrible headaches that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Jordan
I’ve been doing this (but not everyday) for a little over a year. I personally think the right frames make a difference. My parents don’t exactly support it, but what do they know about fashion, anyway? I don’t think it’s insulting to those who actually have to wear glasses; just the opposite.
Kate
What really bothers me about this trend is that I can’t think of ANYONE I know who needs prescription glasses and wears frames as large as the trendy, fake ones are. Most people who actually wear glasses seem to choose smaller frames that don’t overwhelm their faces. I, for example, could never wear frames that large because they would take up half my face. Because of this, if I see someone wearing glasses that large, I usually assume the glasses are fake, unless I can see a bifocal line in the lens or some other indication they’re real.
On the flip side, however, I love how so many people who need a prescription long for the days they can wear contacts, and here people with perfect vision are, trying to make themselves look ‘smarter’ by wearing over-sized frames.
Jessica
i love the trend, but i feel like i see sooo many asians wearing them, i’m afraid that i’ll seem like i’m trying to be asian by wearing them…
Tomomi
yes I totally love this trend!!! Id never leave the house in my prescription glasses but Id wear contacts&non pres. glasses :D
My glasses are like #5 :)
prescription only
I think huge glasses look great on people with prescriptions. If you “rock” non-prescription glasses, you are a fool. Even more of a fool if you try to hide the fact that you have perfect vision.
Shannon
I think this trend is decently cute on some people. Personally…Tried it out, but 1) it made me look like a total fob and 2) I realized how absolutely preposterous it is for me to wear non prescription glasses when I have been wearing prescription glasses/contacts since age 7, am verging on legally blind and am at high risk for develping glaucoma in the near future.
P.S. For those of you who say you are “unfortunate” enough to have 20/20 vision, I know you’re probably joking, but seriously? That’s kind of a slap in the face for those of us with serious vision issues.
Laura
I have huge, Buddy-Holly-esque PRESCRIPTION glasses. I’m a four-eyes. Can’t see without them. i know they’re not EVERYONE’S favourite style for me, but I love it, so I really don’t care! As for non-prescription…why wear glasses if you don’t have to? You’ll need them eventually, lol, almost everyone does.
Anu
I don’t agree with the trend either, and it annoys me when I see people wearing them. When it comes to non-prescription glasses though, I might wear them but definitely ones that are way slimmer.
Yuki
I agree with some of the others. I have to wear glasses and luckily just got comfortable in putting contacts in. But this whole trend makes as much sense to me as wearing fashionable casts and crutches. It may seem cute but bad eyesight isn’t very cute fashion no matter if they are made by Gucci or Prada.
Jenny
I’ve had non-prescription glasses on-hand for the past 7 years, and I love to pull them out to surprise people every once in awhile. Most people do think they’re real until I tell them otherwise.
I think the key here is to pick a pair of specs that suits your face well. Mine are pretty small, with squared rims. They don’t look too overstated, and I like that. I do have a pair of zebra-framed glasses as well, which I don’t wear often, but I love them nonetheless. :)
Mae
I LOVE it, but only on certain people with matching styles.
For instance, on my, it would look not so good at all.
Yvonne
I personally like the glasses! It’s just a fun look!
Jess
My prescription-glasses-wearing friend made a good point the other day (although i do not neccessarily agree with her) she said that it annoys her when people suddenly start wearing non-prescripts as people have been teased for decades for being a ‘four eyes’ and suddenly now its cool?
I reckon they look pretty cool on the right person!
louis
I love it! I guess everyone’s opinion is different!
Rai
I would if I didn’t have to wear real glasses all the time! I can’t wear contacts. But I’d love to have loads of different pairs of prescription glasses to switch up my look x
Selena
I think this is a great trend. I guess there’s a timid part of me that is secretly glad that because of this new thing going on, those years of being teased as being four-eyed would be shoved back in their faces. But that’s just me being selfish.
Besides that, I think it is awesome. I have terrible astigmatism (and wearing glasses since age 6) and have only recently gotten contacts (custom made, mind you), so you’d think any type of glasses wouldn’t appeal to me. However, I’d totally rock a pair of vintage-chic pair or a nice professional looking one that makes me looks, well, professional. As long as the glasses aren’t over the top and look like they belong to a costume, I would definitely wear them.
Carrie
I already wear prescription glasses, and I do think having a few different pairs to change out is fun. The most recent pair I got is from ProDesign denmark and they have some really cool swirly patterns on the temples.
However, I don’t think I would wear non-prescription glasses if I had 20/20 vision!
Eli W.
I think it looks ridiculous. I actually need contact lenses and glasses. I cannot see a thing w/o them. Then I see teenyboppers and hipsters wearing these huge bifocals.
Ouch, You just slapped me in the face :o
Jacy
I think they are adorable! Although, I am not sure if where I live is ready for this trend.
Zoe
I actually need to wear proper glasses, so no.
My glasses look like the non-prescription ones.
Buddy Holly-esque, I guess you would call them.
Cara
Well, if I wanted to look like I was interning at the circus, I suppose I would. But, I do not, in fact, work in costume, and I happen to wear real, very cool, much smaller, vintage cat-eye prescription glasses. I can also say that even very cool glasses become insufferable when every dab of eye makeup, every nuanced light in your eyes, and part of the strength of every facial expression is always hidden behind glass, and I am currently trying to covert to contacts (my reflexes really aren’t up for me sticking stuff in my eyes, yet, apparently) and ditch all glasses forever, so does color my perspective a bit.
Samantha
I love this look, but I also wear glasses for distance on occasion. I agree that wearing them just to be stylish is a little phony when you have 20/20 vision. I need glasses to see in class so I go out and get trendy prescription glasses from online stores. I also find some of these glasses to be a bit extreme in the geek-glasses trend. Wearing huge frames is only ok if they’re singlasses. We’re not in the 80′s!!!
lisa
I LOVE my friends comment a few weeks ago… we were talking about lazer operation on the eyes, she has a really big construction problem with her eyes, so she can get the operation for free…. but she was a little concerned, and i finished the sentence “if it will go wrong”…. but no, she was afraid that she would actually never need glasses again….. fair enough though, she has always been rocking crazy glasses, and it has always been the part that made her outfit complete.
Bryn
This annoys me just as greatly as the geek-chic trend, and for the same reasons: once it falls out of style and it’s not hip or trendy to wear glasses or be dorky, what about those of us who actually need glasses, or who were born and raised nerds? Of course I love rockin’ my glasses. I also cannot see three feet in front of me without them.
Tee
What about recs to cute, trendy PRESCRIPTION glasses? I love this look, but, like you, have actual eyesight issues. :)
Charlotte
i already wear glasses but choose to wear contacts the majority of the times.
i love this look but i really cannot pull it off!!
charlotte xx
Cece
I would wear them,they are cute!
Kayla
now, i have two pair of perscription glasses… one pair of smaller wire-rims, and one pair of horn rimmed Ray Ban Wayfarers! i love them, although my friends do sometimes call them granny glasses. i really love the look and i recommend giving the trend a try!
callado
frankly i dont like the oversized look unless its shades/sun glasses.i too have sight problems-i wear have prescribed specs, cant risk damaging my already damaged eyes.so the loo is a big no-no for me.i go for the real deal or nothing at all!!!
bx girl
i wud i actualluy have a cuple of pairs nd i dnt care what ppl think bout it if they like it or dnt ima still wear them there cute to me
Kate
I wear these constantly. I adore them. The only downside is when people fail to understand why I wear them once they discover that they aren’t real. People can be painfully slow on the uptake. X(
Marcy
I don’t have an oversized pair, but a regular rectangular pair!
They’re super fun and make me feel artsy when paired with the right thing! :)
Maxine
I am already blind, so no thanks.
Robert
I actually remember when i was in the fourth grade and i wanted to wear glasses. Always been kind of a dork lol. But now that its in I’m actually really excited and ordered some reader style glasses from hottopic. I’m not really into the huge ones. Just simple black frames with rectangle lenses. I love this fashion trend.
Fred
To the people who are offended that others wear non prescription glasses, you do realize that a common reason for this is to keep stuff out of your eyes right? Its that or goggles and I know you can’t pull off goggles with a suit…little common sense goes a long way.
Holly
I’m on the fence about this trend. It isn’t as bad as some of the hipster-phobes make it out to be, but it is, unfortunately, associated with a hipster look. On the other hand, it is DEFINITELY offensive to prescription-wearers, and it’s pointless for both the visually impaired and non-impaired to wear them. Then again, what purpose do accessories hold other than to enhance our inner beauty and release the fashionistas inside? As a usual contact lens wearer, I do appreciate my glasses on a lazy day, because the right sized frames can do wonders to hide dark undereye circles. However, they aren’t my first choice of accessory on any normal day, as I feel like any type of frame tends to take away from my bright smile.
Abby
I actually have very similar prescription glasses, and I’ve heard nothing but compliments on them! They look great on most faces, and a classic cat-eye has earned me a few winks at in class. Definitely going to continue this trend in college in ’13.