Will new glasses help me dress better?

“A new pair of glasses helps me (literally and figuratively) see my clothing in a new light.”

When I was eight, I sat cross-legged in front of the TV, inches from the screen, watching my Saturday morning cartoons. It didn’t seem like a problem to me but when my mother noticed I was struggling to see the screen, her alarm bells went off. The next thing I knew, I was at the optometrist. The final verdict? I needed glasses.

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As a girl growing up in the 2000s, I was devastated. Glasses would mean the end of the world as I knew it. Every bit of media I’d consumed throughout my adolescence told the same story: glasses were ugly, girls who wore glasses were ugly and, as a girl who now wore glasses, I would never feel pretty again. Every teen romcom had a scene where glasses were the one thing keeping the popular jock from seeing the nerdy girl’s beauty.

Luckily, we’ve moved past that tired trope and I now know that getting glasses was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. Of course, being able to see clearly is great but they’ve become a core part of my identity. I don’t feel like Naima without my glasses. They’re an essential part of who I am and have informed my personal style ever since.

Though the style of my specs has evolved over time, their presence has remained the one constant in my wardrobe. The more I play with my accessories and experiment with colour, pattern and texture, the clearer it becomes that glasses can make or break an outfit. 

One of my favourite things about eyewear is that each pair typically falls somewhere between simple and show-stopping. I’m someone who relishes feeling put-together, but some days, I don’t have the time or energy to create a look that reflects that. Fortunately, I can make my day-to-day outfits more interesting with the right eyewear. Glasses are the equivalent of a classic red lip, elevating a monochromatic look, or even turning jeans and a T-shirt into something chic. 

But my glasses don’t always have to be centre stage. They can act as complementary accessories, too. I’ve found joy in curating bold, colourful outfits that I ground with a great pair of specs. For example, I love mixing patterns and bright colours, anchoring these looks with black glasses from the new Specsavers Mimco Eyewear collection and matching boots. This method is similar to ‘clothes sandwiching’, which involves contrasting different parts of your outfit. 

I’ve also been using glasses to play with my gender expression. I like balancing out hyper-feminine outfits with stronger, more masculine eyewear like these. It’s a fun and unexpected visual juxtaposition. On the other hand, I also use glasses to strengthen a look, leaning more into a masculine outfit by adding lenses with a darker colour and bolder shape. 

It’s hard to believe that I once hated the idea of wearing glasses. Eyewear is so versatile that I can’t imagine my style without it anymore. A good pair of specs is the difference between wearing and styling my clothes, especially when it comes to pieces I’ve grown tired of. 

Capsule wardrobe wearers will be familiar with that feeling of fatigue, that moment when you look into your closet and think, “I have nothing to wear,” even though you’re spoiled for choice. For me, a new pair of glasses helps me (literally and figuratively) see my clothing in a new light. 

I tend to buy a new pair every year, usually in a colour or shape I’ve never worn before. It inspires me to style my clothes and accessories in new ways and injects excitement back into my wardrobe.

However, when investing in a new pair the two key must-haves are style and craftsmanship. In my experience, the material is equally as important as the style or look of your eyewear. I’ve curated a diverse collection of glasses by investing in high-quality materials that have stood the test of time. Specsavers Mimco Eyewear collection is made from bio-based acetate called Acetate Renew, which is great for your wardrobe and the environment.

The new Specsavers Mimco Eyewear range is available exclusively in-store and online. To browse the range, head here.