She can’t see without her glasses!

BLOG 7: 24/05/2024

Hello old friends, yes I have been M.I.A. due to university commitments, so sorry about this, I need to get my priorities in order!

A lot has changed in our time apart, and I’m not just talking about the release of the 2024 Federal Budget, my brother’s 22nd birthday or the fact that Hailey Bieber AND Sarah’s Day are pregnant. I’m talking about the fact that my IQ has skyrocketed because I am now a glasses wearer. Yes, it is a proven fact that people who wear glasses are automatically smarter than the rest of the population, sorry, you can’t argue with science.

Honestly, I don’t know why I didn’t get my eyes tested earlier. For starters, I knew my eyesight wasn’t great, and I always get headaches, which is an automatic sign that one should get their eyes tested. However, I liked living being able to flex to people that I had 20/20 vision. I believe it was my fashion game that really pushed me to book an appointment at the optometrist. As a firm believer in the capsule wardrobe approach, I’m a big fan of accessories. Throughout my Pinterest feed over the past couple of months, the cool girls have been rocking statement glasses (so quirky)… so I thought, I may as well get them tested, just in case. Getting my eyes tested could go one of two ways, I could remain correct in my 20/20 vision flex, or I could unlock a new accessory, both excellent outcomes.

The ‘quirky’ trend is a funny one which has reappeared throughout female adolescence… let’s take a stroll down memory lane. I remember being in school and wishing I had a broken leg or braces or glasses. I think I just wanted to be a victim, I wanted a sob story, to be different from the rest of the girls at school. I ended up having braces from Year 9-12, and I loved having them for approximately one hour. For the remaining four years, the novelty of being ‘quirky’ wore off. As all my friends blossomed into beautiful straight toothed women, I remained the awkward 16 year-old with braces at her semi-formal. I guess we always want what we don’t have.

To be fair, I did embrace (haha) having braces, and I (quite obnoxiously) made them a part of my personality… “sorry I can’t come out, I have the orthodontist”, “omg I need to leave early, my braces are so painful today”. I mean, for goodness sake, in Year 11 I dressed up as Darla from Finding Nemo (hot, I know). I thought, “if I have braces, let me use this to my advantage”, it was pretty iconic. Who am I kidding? I loved the quirkiness of having braces, I loved the victim complex of having them at my semi formal, and I loved the immediate glow up in Year 12. I remember coming back from holidays at the start of Year 12 to a load of compliments, little did they know, the only thing different about my appearance was the lack of metal in my mouth. What a confidence booster!

I’m planning on incorporating this ‘let’s embrace the quirkiness’ mindset to wearing glasses. Oh, by the way, I did the test, I am farsighted and now get to wear funky glasses when I study!

While I’m very happy with my glasses choice (I look like Sam Sparks from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, subtle flex, yes), I have got a little bone to pick with optometrists. As a glasses virgin, who was unaware that she even had problems with her sight, I DID NOT EXPECT to have to choose my frames immediately after my eye test. Why did no one prepare me for this? Sure, I love catching a glimpse of myself in a reflection, but I cannot describe how completely painful it was to stand alone in a glasses store and try on different frames. Awkwardly giggling at myself with an employee breathing down my neck was a humbling experience to say the least.

I mean, the beautiful girl who was assisting me did make the entire experience fairly easy. She told me which frames were best suited my face and encouraged me to choose something with a bit of personality. However, I have learnt that there is something inherently uncomfortable about someone watching you look at yourself in the mirror, specifically them analysing you as you analyse yourself. I unlocked a new feeling of discomfort that day and I left the store sweating.

I’ve had my glasses for a couple of weeks now, I’ve loved styling them with new outfits and being able to see in general. So, if you haven’t already, go get your eyes checked and embrace your quirkiness, as Katy Perry once said “if you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything”.