Style: Seeing is Believing

I have been wearing glasses since the age of 14. I had no idea that my eyes were even bad, until I was pulled out of class after a routine eye-exam. I already was sporting a mouth-full of braces, so, what the heck—why not draw a little more attention to my already fragile and self-conscious persona? What a blow! When I returned to the class the boys whooped and hooted while the girls all circled around me like I just received the news that my parents had died. Sigh.

My mother, as always, offered a compassionate ear, no doubt followed by some solid advice. But, most importantly, she took action immediately and provided some well-deserved shopping-therapy.

My first pair of glasses were clear pink—big, with arms that dropped a bit. I looked like I just walked off of the set of Golden Girls, but, to me, those frames were hot! Not only could I see the board, I was experiencing a new-found self-esteem. Hiding behind a pair of glasses made me confident bordering on audacious. From the moment I started modeling those Sophia Petrillo’s, the geek sheik from within came out loud and clear and never went away.

I have since tracked down and sported the David Mamet’s, the John Lennon’s, and the Sigmund Freud’s (yes, apparently I have a “thing” for men’s glasses). But nowhere is hunting for the next-great pair of frames more fun than at Fabulous Fanny’s, located in New York, New York.

Fanny’s offers vintage eyeglasses from the 1800s through the 1990s. Visiting the store is like visiting a mini-museum. Alongside racks of vintage clothing and accessories, are drawer after drawer of antique specs. The first time I found Fanny’s, I whittled away an entire afternoon followed by a trip to Chinatown to purchase a cheap pair of lenses for my already-reasonably-priced Woody Allen’s.

Even if you don’t wear glasses (or like wearing glasses, like me), Fabulous Fanny’s offers a wide-variety of sunglasses, too. And, although browsing at Fanny’s is an irreplaceable experience, you don’t have to travel to New York to have fun—you can now buy them all online. So, if you’re interested in bringing out the Elton John, the Buddy Holly, or the Tina Fey in you, go to Fabulous Fanny’s stat. As their motto states, “if you have to wear them, make it fun!” Details: 335 E 9th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, New York, www.fabulousfannys.com.

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