So. Eyeglasses.

[valis2]

I went to the eye doctor yesterday. They took pictures of my retinas, which remind me of egg yolks. Egg yolk galaxies. Something like that. Anyway, I decided I wanted new frames, and picked through what they had. The salesguy recommended me three pairs which looked horrible--I kept explaining that I have a huge round head, and that any pair of glasses whose ear pieces have to flex outward when I wear them is a no-no. (It looks comical. Seriously. I sometimes have to pick men's glasses because they're wider.)

Anyway, lo and behold, he hands me a pair which were awesome. (They turned out to be unisex.) What I was looking for was something unusual, something that would look great but was worlds away from what I wear now. I liked them so much that I bought them, and will get them in two weeks. They are Dolce & Gabbana frames. He pronounced it "dohls," but that matters little, because I have awesome frames. I was hoping to get something in the warm gold/chocolate style but ended up going with pinky-red/brushed steel. Anyway, I think they're pretty great, but honestly, I don't really know, because trying on glasses is pretty futile when you can't see what you look like in them because you're not wearing your glasses. I had to get inches away from the mirror just to get a good look at them.

This is part of my unending outward appearance revision. I've been really trying to look better than I have--more in style, or at least, a close approximation. Which is why I am always checking out things like "What Not to Wear." I won't comment on WNtW right now, as I have before, but at least some of the advice I hear on the show is useful.

In a couple hours I'll be headed to the salon for my annual haircut/perm. I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to get some length cut off again. And it will be nice not to have flat hair on the top of my head (my hair is quite straight, naturally). All in all, a couple more steps in the revision, which is a dance I never thought I'd be part of, but which has led to a better feeling about myself, so it's all worth it, I suppose.

Comments

[gina-r-snape.livejournal.com]

We want pictures!!!

Eyeglasses are so very hard to pick out. I always take friends with me and torture them to get good feedback. Last time chaeche and apythia were gracious enough to help me and I love mine now.

You wear glasses every day. You should definitely be completely happy with them.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I really wish that I had someone to go with me--but most of my friends are out of state, and my sister is up north with the parental units this weekend.

I don't know about the pictures--my poor camera is currently on a UPS truck, headed to who knows where. :( I'll have to borrow someone else's camera.

[gina-r-snape.livejournal.com]

Aw, yeah I know how that can be. Most of my friends are out-of-state too. In fact, they were visiting when I picked out my glasses.

Makeovers can be so liberating. It's a good way to start the winter.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Eyeglasses are so hard to find, it's true. But I'm excited by your slow transformation because that can just be fun. I just got my hair cut too and got a few inches cut off. I started watching WntW over Thanksgiving--there was a marathon--and it was very addictive. Makeover shows always feel so comforting to me.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Makeover shows fascinate me--and WntW is especially fascinating, of all of them. What I love is that the person in question has to transform her/himself. Some of the other shows have other people shopping for you, after all.

Anyway, I'm always delighted when it's a particularly stubborn case, and this person with horrible taste and horrible clothes suddenly "knows" the fashion industry and says things like, "This high-end store sells flip-flops!" in a triumphant tone. Or, "This is in style!"

Even better are the makeoverees who constantly claim that certain clothes just "don't look good" on them. They're wearing holey sweatpants to the office, yet they don't want to try on a sophisticated ensemble simply because it has pinstriping, and they "don't look good in pinstripes."

Personally, I would have a tough time with the show; there are things they want people to do that I think are silly or impractical. Also, I don't think they focus much past the show itself; I always cringe when they make over a woman with six kids, and then leave her. I mean, seriously. How is she going to afford to keep dressing in this manner in the future?

Even worse is when it's a plus-size person. Of course she can find fabulous clothing in New York--it's New York! But once the show is over and she has to go back to Cedar Rapids, where the hell is she going to shop?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Heh--it's true. And fascinating sometimes what people cling to as something they want to do. I was watching one where this woman had really long hair and she refused to cut it even in the end, and she was making references to her "beliefs" and things and I was like...are you keeping it that way for religious reasons? I remember she said she just maybe wanted to learn ways to put it up or do things with it and I was like...it's not the 19th century. People don't really do those hairstyles now. But it's more like where people will have a whole philosophy behind their clothes that doesn't come across the way they think it does.

What always gets me is when they'll tell people to stop saying the word "comfortable" because I'm sorry, but that's one of my biggest things to look for too. You can look nice and be comfortable at the same time, and if I buy something that looks nice but isn't I'll gradually just wear it less and less. They seem to like jackets on the show that I often think would be too binding.

But it is nice, like you said, that they have people buying things that they like. I assume they make deals with stores to film so that they can even send the person to the right kind of store for what their taste is--that's another difficult thing. Of course I've barely been in any of the stores they show because they're too expensive.

But still,

[artystone.livejournal.com]

Of course I've barely been in any of the stores they show because they're too expensive.

I've noticed lately they've been ending up at Macy's. Which while not a cheap place, it's nothing like the boutique shopping they used to stick to exclusively in earlier seasons. During the "reveal" section I'm getting less and less surprised to hear, "...and her blouse at $20.00." I wonder if they were getting letters from viewers or comments on the website saying, very nice but I can't afford $300 jeans to wear to the Winn Dixie!"

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I noticed somebody at Filene's basement too--another reasonable one. Honestly, if I see something in that price range it's like it doesn't exist. It's like looking at a price tag that says a pair of jeans is $300 turns the jeans into a mirage.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I was watching one where this woman had really long hair and she refused to cut it even in the end, and she was making references to her "beliefs"

It is really interesting to see people and how they entrench themselves into self-defensive modes of living. I have to admit, I had the same thoughts, especially about hair. I only wanted to wear my hair in the most practical manner, and keep it up all the time (in a bun), and people just kept telling me how awful it looked. Not perfect strangers, but all of my friends and family mentioned that I should change my hair. I certainly had no idea how bad it looked--I never thought of it, and I can see how people on the show are just bowled over because people are so affronted by their style (or lack thereof).

What I never understood is that there are degrees of hair and clothing that are still practical, but more fashionable. I always equated fashion with discomfort and "frippery" and it was a big wakeup call when a friend told me that I was "too old" for what I was wearing.

What always gets me is when they'll tell people to stop saying the word "comfortable"

Oh, yes! That's one of my pet peeves, too. There's a limit to what I'll wear to look "good," and I agree completely with you about nice-looking but uncomfortable clothing; eventually I wear it less and less. Recently I bought new, more flattering bras, and was very disappointed to find that they were just as uncomfortable as I remembered. After the third day, when I was rubbed raw, I put it to the back of my wardrobe.

I'm totally watching the show right now!!

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

And there's a geek girl...which is weird because of course for me, geek-wear is very normal. When they're all, "Why is this such a big part of your identity?" I'm like...because it is? Hey, you guys have no trouble telling her to dress like a financial consultant. Why can't she also dress like a geek? Also they're laughing at how much she talks instead of tries on clothes...she's a geek! We analyze everything!

I had the same thoughts, especially about hair. I only wanted to wear my hair in the most practical manner, and keep it up all the time (in a bun), and people just kept telling me how awful it looked. Not perfect strangers, but all of my friends and family mentioned that I should change my hair. I certainly had no idea how bad it looked--I never thought of it, and I can see how people on the show are just bowled over because people are so affronted by their style (or lack thereof).

You have to get psyched up to do something different. It's hard to just tell somebody to change something as personal as their hair. Sometimes it's just safe, or you can't think of something else to do. And also sometimes you don't feel like doing something that everyone will *notice* so much. I think sometimes that seems to be a theme on the show, where peoples' look gets to where it's almost more of an armor or a sheild than something that invites people to look on them.

But it's a shame when you've got a hairstylist who's there to tell you hair that's going to be right for you and refusing to go with him. Especially since that guy doesn't really seem to be about pushing extreme changes. Only if he has to--like removing dreadlocks.

I noticed recently that all I basically did fashionwise for the past decade was was evolve from these sort of fitted shirts with flared collars and v-necks to sort of fitted sweaters with v-necks and long sleeves. You find a simple line that works with your body type and you go for it.

Re: I'm totally watching the show right now!!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

But it's a shame when you've got a hairstylist who's there to tell you hair that's going to be right for you and refusing to go with him. Especially since that guy doesn't really seem to be about pushing extreme changes. Only if he has to--like removing dreadlocks.


Sometimes I like what he does--but other times I just cringe. He seems a little too fond of bobs, and it really surprises me--the trend today seems to be long, slightly wavy locks, yet often he'll cut those off and flatiron the hair until it's mega-straight, which (to me) is a very cookie-cutter hairdo.

He did that to a woman with very lovely, dark wavy hair a few weeks ago, and I was horrified. Her hair was really unique and quite nice, and when he was done she had this ultra-straight bob which looked absolutely boring. Really, her hairstyle wasn't great, but all it needed was a little shaping.

I noticed recently that all I basically did fashionwise for the past decade was was evolve from these sort of fitted shirts with flared collars and v-necks to sort of fitted sweaters with v-necks and long sleeves. You find a simple line that works with your body type and you go for it.

There is a lot of sense in knowing your own body--I get the feeling that a lot of these women tried on certain kinds of outfits 20 years ago, didn't like them, and decided never to wear them again. I've been trying on things outside of my comfort zone, often to rediscover them--or to realize that I was right in the first place, lol.

Re: I'm totally watching the show right now!!

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

In a way this is where the long-haired people do well--like the woman tonight had super long hair. She lost a chunk, but her hair was pretty much the same, because most of what was cut off was just really extra length, with a little shaping.

I admit if I were on the show tomorrow I wouldn't want them cutting my hair either--I've had it shorter than I have it now, and this is where I want it. Like I said, I even just got a significant amount cut off, and I like my hairstylist. A lot of times somebody probably just looks like their hair iw "too long" when really it's just that it's hanging badly. I haven't been watching it that long, so I probably haven't seen enough to really talk about the hairstyles!

Re: body types, I remember when I went to my tenth h.s. reunion I thought for the most part the women all looked the same, but significantly better. I think they all figured out their bodies and now knew what not to wear.

What was funny tonight was sort of a clip show and they made a lot of fuss about old episodes being embarassing because omg Stacey and Clinton's clothes are so out of fashion now! Right--because that's just the kind of attitude your every day woman needs to have to keep dressing herself. I do much better just knowing what kinds of basic cuts I'm not going to be able to pull off than knowing that it's really important this month that I have three buttons on my cuff because nobody's wearing two buttons any more.

Re: I'm totally watching the show right now!!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What was funny tonight was sort of a clip show and they made a lot of fuss about old episodes being embarassing because omg Stacey and Clinton's clothes are so out of fashion now!

That reminds me of house makeover shows--for a while everything had splashes of bright color, and then suddenly it shifted to browns and neutrals.

That's the problem with a show like this--it really does reveal how "temporary" fashion is.

Also, I'm really fascinated by the women who turn them down--it has happened before. I'm really fascinated by them. On one hand, I wonder how they could turn down a big new wardrobe--but on the other hand, it must be because they're pretty secure in themselves, and they're not interested in someone else forcing them to buy certain kinds of clothing. Or is it because they're absolutely petrified of losing that New Kids on the Block sweatshirt? heh.

[artystone.livejournal.com]

LOL that is so true. "I don't look good in short hair" says the woman with 6 foot smelly dreadlocks.

And the moms upset me too. They come out looking all shiny and smart and you know the minute they go home the baby is going to puke down the back of that $300 blazer just like he did down the back of the Kmart sweatshirt.

I just cut my hair too. And I have developed a fasciation with shoes. Real shoes like grownup ladies wear. Even my shoe crazy daughter said "you got more shoes?" the other day. Yes, yes I did. And Stacy would love them. :D

[valis2.livejournal.com]

And the moms upset me too. They come out looking all shiny and smart and you know the minute they go home the baby is going to puke down the back of that $300 blazer just like he did down the back of the Kmart sweatshirt.

That is one of my biggest criticisms! They seem to discard all of the trashy clothing. Now, I'm not saying that they should keep the New Kids on the Block sweatshirt that is worn to rags. I'm just saying that sometimes, when you're at home, you just want to lounge. Honestly, the way the hosts carry on, you'd think that everyone needs to look like a fashion plate All The Time, and that it's a disservice to everyone else's eyeballs if you happen to wear a tracksuit one day.

I remember one episode where a guy bought TWO $2000 Armani leather jackets--he had no money leftover to buy normal clothing. I think it was from the first season. You could see that Stacy was really uncertain what to do. They're a lot more careful now, I think. He did need a jacket, but two? That was crazy.

The show has really changed, but I'm still irritated by some of the things that happen--and when I watched a special where they had five of the makeoverees come back to compete, they all said the same thing..."It's tough to try to keep dressing this way on our budgets!" That was what bothered me, because I had wondered about that very fact.

Honestly, the plus-size contestants do find some great clothes--but I know, from shopping for myself, that you aren't likely to find those outside highly-populated areas like New York and LA.

I've tried shopping for shoes in places other than my standby (Payless), but I've been pretty dissatisfied (you've heard my emo!rants about that) so far. Except for Zappo's, but even that has been hit or miss.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I have so much trouble buying shoes. They're always uncomfortable. Right now the main place I consider is Aerosoles. I've gotten a great pump and a great ankle boot, and bought both in two different colors. I want them all to last forever.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Oh how wonderful! D&G is awesome.
I know the thing with glasses. My face is all slim and long and most glasses look oversized when they stand out over my ears *g*
I hope the allroud yearly checkup makes you happy and wraps you into a completely new and shiny coat.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm just so happy to find a nice pair of glasses! They're flattering and quite nice, honestly.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Can we get pictures? I'm curious :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'd love to, but my camera broke! :( It's on its way to Sony right now. I might be able to borrow my sister's though.

[ladywhitehart.livejournal.com]

Ugh eyeglasses and handbags... You need them to be versatile yet stylish. Thalia and Donna Karan make really nice frames as well. If they change the base-curve of the lenses you can make even the high-index plastic lenses thinner. (I have one of those thick prescriptions too.) Have you tried contact lenses?

I too am a WNTW viewer. I've tried a lot of S&C's suggestions with some pretty good results. I agree with you on the woman with kids-- for all practical purposes I don't think it would be worth it to wear Prada while doing laundry and shuttling the brood and their friends. Is it just me or does Nick the hair guy look like Snape with a bad perm?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I get Spectrolite (sp) lenses, which are pretty thin already. As far as contacts--I have a rather severe astigmatism in my left eye, and that limits the kind of contact lenses you can wear (or used to). Even more difficult, I have very very dry eyes, which would make eye drops a constant theme.

Nick bugs the hell out of me because of the CONSTANT BOBS. Jeebus, not every woman looks good in a bob! A few weeks ago I watched one with beautiful, dark wavy hair. He cut off tons and gave her a super flatironed bob--it took away any individuality she had. It was really sad. She only needed a nice shaping cut, honestly, not a cookie cutter hairdo.

[todayiamadaisy]

My glasses place takes digital photos so you can see yourself trying on new frames. Genius! I never have to rely on anyone else's dodgy taste again. :-)

I used to love makeover advice in magazines, where they would say what different body shapes should wear and illustrate it with a drawing, effectively admitting that they couldn't find actual clothes that met that description.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, I wish that my eye exam place had that!

And the new iteration of the makeover clothing is to just lay the clothes down flat and take pictures of them--no actual humans involved.

[ladywhitehart.livejournal.com]

Sorry at first glance I thought it said boobs! I guess I need to get my prescription checked.

Agreed I hate it when gives someone a hair-style that goes against the type of hair the person has. It's too impractical to have to fight with your wig on a daily basis. It's almost as bad a Stacie's thing for pointy-toes shoes.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

haha!

And pointy-toe shoes? Ugh. They look good on some, but definitely not on others--I wear a size 12, and let me tell you, I will absolutely not be buying them. I've tried them on and they make me look even more ridiculous than I already look.