Fun with glasses!

As you all know, I wear glasses. All day, (almost) every day. Glasses are totally my thing, to the point that in my last school, the kids who didn't know me called me "The one with the glasses." Glasses are totally my jam. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by someone from Warby Parker to see if I'd be interested in collaborating and sharing some ideas. More of the story below, in mauve:

"I approached Chalkdust and Boots with a challenge - create some looks that represent you and the things that inspire you using Warby Parker eyeglasses.  I love the idea of having glasses that you can tailor to a certain event or activity, based on your life, and at Warby Parker we want your glasses to reflect you and compliment your individuality and style!

With the central idea of choosing glasses that represent her in any possible situation or event, Chalkdust and Boots created some awesome clothing and accessory combinations with the help of the Warby Parker Home Try-on program, where you can pick 5 frames for 5 days totally free.  Check out her looks below!"

- Kaki Read – Fashion Coordinator at Warby Parker

So after a flurry of e-mails between Kaki and me, we came up with the idea stated above: feature at least five frames with five different outfits in order to showcase how glasses can really influence and enhance what one is wearing. As you all know, I tend to be a one-pair-at-a-time kind of girl, so this was kind of fun in getting me to think outside the box and to really view glasses as a fluid and subtle accessory. 

Because I've had a hell of a week, I'll be showing you a picture of each frame in close-up and an outfit featured earlier on the blog that I think could've been improved by this frame (so get ready to see some older hairstyles!). 

So here goes, in no particular order...

1. The Preston in Gimlet Tortoise

This pair is the first that jumped out at me when I started perusing the list o'specs. I love that light/blonde tortoiseshell color and never considered trying it on myself, although I'd admired it for many years on other women. The classic shape and the cool color made it the first choice for my home try-on experience:

And this is what they look like on me. Since these glasses skirt the line between classic and funky, I think these would be a mainstay for me, especially in a professional environment. My husband and I have been staying up late talking about our futures a lot this week and I've decided that I want to try to get back into higher academia. I submitted a proposal for a colloquium (rejected, alas, as I am no longer a grad student and this colloquium was more geared toward that), I'm planning on attending an academic conference next month, and somewhere down the line I guess I'll be giving job talks and sounding all expert-y. I think these glasses for a job interview/campus visit/job talk would be quite perfect. I would love to pair them with something very classic to add a slightly irreverent touch:

Worn in early 2011 for a private school job fair

... Ahh, yes, crisp button-down, classical pencil skirt, sedate flats - wouldn't these glasses break up all that dark color, what with my tights, skirt, and hair? 

2. The Tenley in Midnight Blue

This pair is touted as Warby Parker's version of the cat-eye shape and they're lovely. I love me a big frame, as y'all know, and I was curious to see how something with a pronounced shape would look on me, although I tend not to dig the cat-eye aesthetic, at least for myself. Fun fact: my husband loved these the most both on the site and in person:

Dramatic! I loved these for their bold shape and size. These would be my date glasses, you guys. I would wear these with any combo of my usual uniform (cool boots, skinny pants, long top/sweater) - or at least what my usual uniform was when I went on dates. Something like this:

Also worn in early 2011, to see 'The Black Swan,' I believe

I mean, I loved my Ray-Bans, but these would look pretty sweet out on the town. The perfect combo of geek and chic. 

*Gasp* You guys, I just noticed they came in this color. I think we found my back-up pair!!!

3. The Sloan in Rum Cherry

I believe that every kid who starts wearing glasses at young age (I was six), or at least most kids I know, goes through a red glasses phase; I did, my best friend did, the kids I tutored did... we just want to look awesome. My big brother still teases me mercifully for having owned big red glasses as a little kid, but when I saw this pair, I knew I had to try them on. Red glasses for grown-ups! Plus, red is totally my power color: I wear it when I want to make an impact; a lot of my favorite articles of clothing are red - most of my house has red furniture... I love that color! So I knew I had to see if they still looked dorky over twenty years later...

I wasn't kidding about my furniture being red. Check out the red couch I'm sitting on and the CD tower I'm pointing to...

I didn't expect to love these so much, but they were the ones to which I had the most positive impression straight out of the box. I guess I still like red glasses! As to where I'd wear them? Well, that's simple. My husband almost applied for a fellowship to stay a year in Berlin (he missed the deadline) and while he was working on the application, I started daydreaming about going to avant-garde concerts in Berlin while wearing interesting, vaguely European-inspired outfits. These glasses would definitely be part of them. I'd love them with this:

Valentine's Day, 2011

... or something like this:

Poetry event in spring of 2011 - remember when I cut off all my hair?!

I know, I'm the mayor of matchytown, and I almost can't conceive of wearing red glasses without a red article of clothing somewhere in the mix. But wouldn't this pair be fun for a cultural night out? I envision myself wearing a big black sweater and red plaid pants with these frames...

Not-so-fun fact: my husband didn't like these as apparently he had multiple girlfriends who wore red frames (I told you we all went through this!!!). Oh, well.

4. The Beckett in Striped Chestnut

This was my wild-card pair. I really wanted to try on these, but they were out because apparently they're super popular. So, with the Becketts, I went with something that looked familiar. A little too familiar. They were very similar to what I have now, but with a more retro flair:

These would be my research glasses. I would wear them at home to do work or if I were in the library all day long. With their no-nonsense shape, my friends and family would know I meant business if I were wearing these. I'd probably wear them with something like this if working from home...

Before a tutoring session, December of 2010

... or if doing research in the stacks:

Having people over in a snowstorm, January of 2011

And, finally...

5. The Duckworth in Marine Slate

While the shape and the size of these frames are not my usual cup of tea, I couldn't resist the pretty color and the way they looked on the model. Plus, something about those pronounced edges (plaques?) spoke to me. And I'm so, so glad I did try them on, cuz look!

Awesome, am I right? I really really liked these on. The blue is subtle (you can't really tell how pretty the color is, as I took these pictures in the dark at, like, 10:30 PM in my living room while Baby Boots slept in her crib in my bedroom), but noticeable. The shape is gorgeous. I would wear these to work at any point. I mean, I work in a pretty funky environment, but even in the most conservative of places, these glasses would be perfect - they're unique, but serious and colorful, but professional. I have no problem envisioning putting these every day to teach at my progressive little school. In fact, the day I tried on these glasses, I was wearing an outfit almost identical to this one:

Early 2011, tutoring session. I wore this exact outfit on Wednesday, only with light blue boots. There was blue everywhere.

Yeah, the Duckworths would've looked real good with the above outfit, I think. Especially as I wore so many blue accents this particular week. And I think my kids would've loved those frames.

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So, yeah, that was my most recent Warby Parker experience! What do you guys think, Style Nation? Do you see glasses as purely functional or can they accentuate your look? Are you a one-pair kind of person, or - if funds were unlimited - would you buy a bunch of different frames for different types of outfits and situations? Did you love any frames up here? I'd love to hear from you!

I'd also love to thank Warby Parker and Kaki for letting me indulge in one of my favorite pastimes - trying on glasses - in the best way ever: in the privacy of my own home! I'm not quite sure what frame I'll go for after my next appointment, but there's a very big chance that Warby Parker may be involved!

Good night! Happy February! Have a great weekend!