This is a photo that I took, purely because I love these glasses and this shirt.
Wearing them makes me feel good. It also makes me think about all the time I spent not wearing things that that made me feel good.
Let me explain;
I used to wear plain grey or blue suits to work, I would try to bring some colour and personality in with coloured shirts and ties but I never felt very comfortable in a plain suit. It just wasn't really me.
I wore them because that's what I thought an Optometrist should wear, I had a certain image that people expected. This couldn't have been further from the truth.
People will accept you being you and showing your personality, whether it's with your clothes (like my shirts), or your glasses. You should always strive to be yourself every day.
Strangely it was my eyewear journey lead me to show my style personality.
It all started a good few years ago now with a pair of Johann Von Goisern (known as JVG) frames. For those of you who aren't familiar with the brand they hand make amazing coloured layered acetate frames. And when I say coloured I do mean colourful!
There was a pair that I loved but they didn't look right with my grey suit, they just didn't match. So, to be able to wear the glasses that I wanted to it was time to change my work wardrobe.
Now this next part may seem very cliched. I’ve heard people say that a pair of glasses can change your life. Yes, I’ve seen this first hand so many times when people who couldn’t see suddenly can see. It can be life changing to have your vision back. But that’s not what I mean by this. A good pair of glasses can have an effect on how a person feels, about themselves and how they present themselves and are perceived in the world. I have to say this pair of JVGs changed me. You see they didn’t really look right with my plain grey work suit. They looked out of place. They didn’t seem to match my “style”. Well, it turns out the grey work suit wasn’t my style. I never really felt comfortable in a plain grey suit but I thought that is what I had to wear. Having a lovely pair of colourful glasses to wear meant that I changed my wardrobe. I no longer wear the tired grey work suit, I wear clothes that reflect my personality with more colour and style. I now feel comfortable in what I wear for work as it’s more “me”. I wear chinos, nice shirts with a blazer or jacket.
And you know what? I’m happier now than I was, I feel right with what I’m wearing rather than wearing what I think I’m supposed to which didn’t suit my style personality. I now have more pairs of glasses that I love, that reflect my style and that aren’t the “safe” option.
Glasses that let me stand out as someone with really cool glasses.
My eyewear wardrobe is now full of frames that are different and colourful, they are higher quality; made from amazing materials, they are from independent eyewear designers who only make glasses frames so they aren't available in all opticians. I have a choice each day to wear a different pair that goes with the colours I am wearing that day. (I must have about 10 pairs currently that I can wear).
My biggest take away from this is glasses don’t have to be purely functional, they can be part of our personality, our own unique style and we can feel good about wearing them.
I feel a little sad for people who haven't taken these steps yet, maybe they are too afraid to go out of their comfort zone, or, more realistically, what they think other people expect them to wear. So many people are scared to stand out in the crowd but then don't feel comfortable or happy in their day to day.
I'm not saying every one needs as many pairs of glasses as me but be brave and take that first step and who knows where it will lead you.
And it’s true, a good pair of glasses can change your life!
