Beauty is how you feel inside and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.
~ Sophia Loren
As a young woman I was constantly getting compliments about my big, soft, doe eyes. I don’t get those compliments any more. My eyes seem to be getting smaller as I age, and it’s not just my imagination. When I was discussing this phenomenon with an optometrist, she explained that there are three reasons why our eyes appear smaller as we get older:
- As we get older, our skulls shrink and the eye sockets get larger as the bone shrinks away which makes our eyes look smaller.
- Over time, we also lose some of the fat in our orbits which causes the eyeball to sink down into the socket, making them appear smaller.
- The tendons in our eyelids weaken so the corners of the eyes aren’t as tight as they once were; the eyelid margins become shorter horizontally and more round.
In my case, these changes make my eyelids appear heavy and the once pointy corners have disappeared. To add insult to injury–my brows have faded, and the definition of my facial features has softened.
For many women over 40, the need for glasses may be a Godsend. Glasses can help us re-define our face and help us show up with flair. The frames can become an effective substitute for faded eyebrows and the shape can lift the appearance of the eye. Eyeglasses are easy to put on, and you can acquire glasses with different personalities for added complexity.
This is what I’ve learned in the process of adding glasses to my Illusion Dressing treasure trove:
Photo by Abhishikhaa Bhadouriya Portraits
My first pair of glasses were wire rimmed progressives. They were practical, lightweight, and as my colleagues would tease–absolutely boring! Olga and Masha dragged me down to Accent on Eyewear, in Menlo Park, CA and helped me choose a fun dark green pair with high heel shoes on the earpieces.
Photo: Photography by Jovani
When choosing color for frames, commit to a color that says something about you. I wear a lot of dark green and teal so the investment in green frames was a good one. However, they don’t go with everything.
Photo: Photography by Jovani
I kept my old silver frames because they work better with corals and pinks. They harmonize with my hair color and silver highlights. The shape helps to lift the appearance of my eye without looking retro. And yes, the magnification of the lens makes my eyes look bigger!
Glasses are your new jewelry. Take several pieces of jewelry with you when trying on frames. Do the frames compliment or fight with what you wear the most? You want to create the greatest amount of harmony between you and what you wear.
If you only have one pair of glasses, I recommend treating yourself to another pair or two–just for the fun of it.
If you can get by with inexpensive readers, then the skies the limit. There are many stylish and inexpensive options. Flutter Eyewear has stylish non-prescription readers and sunglasses.
If you rely on prescription eyewear, having a few pairs of frames might be a better option. EyeChicks, in Loomis, CA has a fabulous collection of luxury European designer glasses. The owners also have expertise helping clients find the styles that best suit them.
Whether you have one or one hundred pairs of glasses, don’t get old in your glasses. You are only young once, but you can be immature (young at heart) all your life. Have some fun!
What’s next for me?
I plan to update my wire rims with something that pops on skintone and blush colors. Something softer and lighter with a light, silver, glow, but fun and flirty. I want party glasses to show up looking fun and flirty and radiant. If I take this next step this Fall I should be sporting my new look just in time for the holidays.
Age is inevitable, but aging gracefully requires a little advanced planning and a lot of experimentation.