Glasses,Eyeglasses,Sunglasses

We style-conscious eyeglasses wearers have enlivened the fashion landscape yet again. Eyeglass chains, once the domain of absent-minded, hyperopic adults and irresponsible, myopic children, have become trendy.

Those of us formerly cursed with the moniker ”four eyes” are having our revenge. Once again we – the 60 percent of Americans prone to squinting at distances, reading books at arm’s length or both – have proved that twice the eyes means twice the fashion.

A couple of historical highlights: Remember the sudden rise of flip-up sunglasses as a fashion statement? The flip lenses, which folded down over prescription glasses, began as a convenient way for those of us with imperfect vision to shield our delicate eyes from the sun’s glare. We could flip the tinted lenses up while inside some chic cafe, then flip them down for window shopping.
When so much function met urban style, folks who could read the bottom line of an eye chart at a thousand paces soon were mimicking our incredible hipness. They began wearing nonprescription glasses with flipped-up tinted lenses. Our feathers were ruffled, but – imitation being the sincerest form of flattery and all that – we tolerated it.

Then we noticed young executives donning frames bearing the names Polo and Armani. These corporate climbers, we hear, started wearing glasses because spectacles made them look smarter, more stable, more serious.

Now that eyeglass chains have entered the realm of the bespectacled hip, can eyeglass chains for those with perfect vision be far behind?

Traditional chains – or eyeglass retainers, as some folks call them – have been updated with fashion finesse: Elaborate beading, novelty charms and wooden spheres, for example.

Those enamored of Western chic can buy Specdangles with charms of boots and cowboy hats. High-powered women without money to burn can choose faux Chanel-style chains, complete with fake pearls.

Iconoclasts may want to invest in one of the newer, more eclectic eyeglass chains.

Taking a design cue from Detroit’s industrial history, metro Detroit-based Propeller Excessories assembles chains from a melange of copper, wire, nuts and bolts.

The key to wearing these chains is harmony. Keep the style of the chains in sync with the mood of your glasses – and your personality. For instance, if your personal style is romantic and your glasses have a Victorian flair, look for something delicate – maybe a chain decorated with crystals or a silk cord with beads.

If your glasses are wire-rimmed and your personal style is urban and adventurous, then those industrial chains may be just what you’re looking for.

And if you don’t really need glasses, we of the honest-to-goodness eyeglass-wearing club will be annoyed by your appropriation of our style, but – heavy sigh – we’ll understand.