Have you ever wondered if wearing glasses affects how you’re viewed by others? Well obviously anything we wear – fashionably speaking or not – is going to be added into judgment by others. However, the real question is “Do these glasses make me look old-er??” It’s an age-old stereotype that glasses make us look wiser. Another great commonly-known stereotype is that wisdom comes with age. So, by the power of correlation, we can come to the conclusion that glasses do indeed make us look older. However, do they really?
According to a UK magazine, the average person that wears eyeglasses is perceived to be at least three years older than they really are. This could be because of the ‘wiser’ aspect. Or possibly it could be due to an unattractive coke-bottle effect? No matter the reasoning behind aging us, we need to find better ways to deal with this fact – should it be true! As this is a general statement, perhaps it can be broken down into categories. Maybe there are glasses frames out there that do date us – but maybe, just maybe there are also great frames that can actually make us look younger!?
The most popular glasses of today are large funky plastic frames. This style was actually brought on by the Geek Chic look and has been embraced by society. The greatest part about the style is that typically it doesn’t tend to age you. The only thing is you must be mindful of the catch: with such large lenses, Grandma Chic (another fun, modern style which takes geek chic to a whole new level) matures you to the extent of its name! So, if looking to old is what you’re worried about, you can choose nerdy bold frames, but try to stay away from taking it too far! Now, this is not to say that metal frames are not in style. Although, in regards to age, primarily they should only be found on the face of a sharp young businessman, as they are just less fitting to the fairer sex. However, if you are a female and the nerdy Hipster look just isn’t your thing, there is one frame style that probably won’t date your face! Go look for a pair of small and simple, half metal/half plastic rectangular glasses. With the smart metal rims around your eyes, and a cute, funky design on the stems – like metal frames on men – eyeglasses like these could give you some added sophistication without adding those years!
So, do glasses affect our portrayed age? The answer is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. If looking older is just not what you’re going for, always be sure to buy glasses that work well with you facial structure – as well as your style! There are so many different types of glasses styles out there, but try to keep in mind: which looks tend to age you, and which don’t! Whether you actually need prescription glasses, or just want to look smarter, most likely you do not want to add years to your look. So take a few tips from here and bring them with you the next time you need new glasses.
Hillary Glaser is a social networking specialist and expert in cross-media promotion, currently working on promoting prescription eyeglasses. She is the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for GlassesUSA – the easiest way to buy glasses online, which now offers free shipping on all US orders with the code FreeShip10.