More than meets the eye

Photo / Paul Estcourt

Recently I discovered I needed glasses. Rather than being disappointed by this obvious nod to ageing and decline in my vision (which is accompanied by a steady decline in other areas), I was quietly thrilled. It meant going shopping, shopping for frames.

A new accessory for my wardrobe. The other thrilling thing is that spectacles are very fashionable at the moment. It's a vital area of revenue for international labels - everyone's doing it from Dolce & Gabbana to Versace, and here in New Zealand designers such as Kate Sylvester are producing frames that show it's "hip to be square".

Leading Auckland optometrist Michael Holmes, of Holmes Premium Eyewear, in Teed St, Newmarket, advises one shouldn't "follow the rules" when trying on glasses. "It's all to do with personality and personal style," he says. "Are you conservative, flamboyant, polite or a bit 'out there'? Eyewear is the first fashion accessory to be noticed by others so narrow the selection down to a range that says what you want it to say about you."

Easier said than done. Some days I want to be "a bit out there" - but the last thing I want to do is look like all those Jenny Shipley lookalikes.

"When it comes to shopping for eyewear there are the designer glasses from fashion houses with instantly recognisable names and there are specialist eyewear designers who create both directional frames and more classic looks.

Holmes cites brands such as the clean lines of Danish brand Lindberg, the retro-inspired frames of British brand Oliver Goldsmith and Cutler and Gross. "Lindberg's design classics of 5-10 years ago remain undated and sit easily among their collection of new designs, while Cutler and Gross have been offering classic designs for 40 years."

El McGough, the marketing director for Lindberg Australasia, says their biggest selling range is the Spirit Rimless glasses, but she has noticed a definite move towards their elegant and light Acetatenium range which gives people rimmed glasses without the weight.

Holmes says the exciting thing is people are becoming far more discerning when it comes to their eyewear. As with fashion it seems, it's cool to seek out unique brands that have a point of difference.

"There is still a huge demand for the retro designs of the 60s and 70s which are chunky, masculine and serious looking. These are most popular in autumnal acetates in browns, burnt orange, dark red or tortoiseshell.

"We are also seeing a move forward from some of the younger designers like Brit Claire Goldsmith and a young LA based eyewear design company called Salt. Both collections are very different but with both there is still a vintage feel, with a softer, finer feel in colour pathways like red lemonade, deep sea green and cotton candy.

With brands like Lindberg, people are drawn to the Danish aesthetic. Their frames discard the unnecessary and provide perfect balance and proportion. It is the only range we are aware of that truly reflects the essence of Danish form and functionalism."

My decision is made. Now it's all about putting to the test the Dorothy Parker quip: "Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses". Here's to proving her wrong!

Michael Holmes Premium Eyewear, 25 Teed St, Newmarket, ph (09) 523 0343.