There’s a scene in Sex and the City (the one where Charlotte dates the “gay straight man”) where a man kisses Charlotte unexpectedly on a “non-date” and she tells the girls, “I was in my glasses!” as if it’s the horror of horrors that she went on a date with glasses on.
I’m blind as a bat, have been for years. But those who know me well have still rarely seen me in glasses. I’m very much like Charlotte. Unless it’s been a long night of drinking, I’m sick or just crawling into bed, I am contacts all the way.
Recently, though, a man told me glasses are sexy – and said it in that “mmmm, glasses” way that really makes you go hmmm.
So I did a little googling and found that maybe I should think about wearing my specs more often. The Definitive Book of Body Language: Why What People Say Is Very Different from What They Think or Feel by Barbara Pease & Allan Pease tells us women who wear glasses are seen as “being more studious and intelligent, particularly in the early stages of a meeting.”
The most interesting thing I found, though, in their analysis is this: “Women wearing both glasses and makeup are described as confident, intelligent, sophisticated, and outgoing.” See part of my issue with women (I’m generalizing, but bear with me) who wear glasses is that they often skip eye makeup. But apparently, my tactic with glasses is the right one – regular makeup, then glasses.
So on top of striking the fancy of men who like glasses, maybe I should get over my “but I’m in my glasses” idea and wear them more often. Project.
About the Author: Marcy Twete
Marcy Twete is the Founder and CEO of Career Girl Network and the author of the book “You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works.” At Career Girl Network, Marcy provides women with information, resources, and networking to empower them in their careers and to advance the work of women in business as a whole. Prior to launching Career Girl Network, Marcy worked in numerous nonprofit organizations and as a consultant in the field of nonprofit fundraising, marketing, and community relations. Marcy is a graduate of the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and a native of rural North Dakota. She is the Vice Chair of the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network in Chicago and a member of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Twin Cities, and is dedicated to advancing the work of organizations that move the needle for women and girls worldwide.
Interesting… I fit into your generalization of a glasses girl (had a traumatic experience with contacts that scared me off forever) that doesn't ever wear eye makeup. Do people really notice that? I always figured glasses block my face, so what's the point ? Maybe I'll give it a shot.
I'm a fellow blindie and typically go contacts all the way. I don't even do contacts sans make-up, so would never, ever do myself in with no contacts, no make-up (if you can get away with it, kudos to you). That said, the few times I do wear my extra set of eyes, I totally feel like everyone should be hot for teacher. Kind of smart/sexy/indie. Husband likes them too!
i wear my glasses every day at work and i don't mind them at all. and when i wear them, i'm wearing make-up and my professional clothes so i don't feel undone or messy when i'm wearing the glasses. the only time i wish i wore contacts is when i'm driving because i can't wear glasses and sunglasses at the same time and it's getting to the point where i need my glasses on while driving!