Why being called speccy is the height of fashion

Published on Monday 28 July 2008 22:13

IT WAS the American writer Dorothy Parker who wryly observed that "men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses".

But her conclusion looks set to be debunked by a fashion craze that has seen a surge in sales of "plain glass" spectacles for customers with 20-20 vision.

Research suggests spectacles are becoming the new "must-have" accessory, with one optician selling 1,500 pairs of plain glass specs a week.

The new group of wearers are being dubbed "suspecs".

A study by YouGov for Vision Express found that almost one in ten 18-24 year-olds had admitted buying them.

Celebrity role models – from newsreaders to Hollywood stars – are said to have had a huge impact. Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johanssen and Nicole Kidman have all been seen wearing glasses and Daniel Radcliffe's portrayal of Harry Potter, the bespectacled boy wizard, is also thought to have had a positive impact on perceptions – especially among young people.

At this year's Oscars ceremony, many A-list actors, including Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson and Wesley Snipes, took to the stage wearing glasses.

Some 64 per cent of respondents to the YouGov poll said that they felt glasses created a more positive impression today than they did a decade ago.

"Not so long ago, glasses were seen primarily as a medical aid rather than a stylish accessory," said Bryan Magrath, of Vision Express. "It is encouraging to see that the introduction of style has had a huge and positive impact on people's perceptions.

"There is a real sense that eyewear can boost your confidence and your desirability today – both to potential partners and to potential employers.

"The world has turned on its head in the last ten years – and the message is that rather than being a hindrance, glasses are in fact a clear advantage."

The age-old clich that men avoid women with glasses has been exposed by the YouGov research. It showed 53 per cent of glasses-wearing women aged 18 to 44 had received amorous approaches from men.

Dusty Springfield famously ditched her glasses, wandering around half-blind for much of her career.

But Seamus McClintock, from the Kirk Originals shop in Covent Garden, London, believes that times have changed and the bespectacled look – whether or not you have a genuine need for glasses – is here to stay.

"We are getting two or three customers a month who want plain lenses. It's a fashion accessory – glasses are cool," he said.

"There's a big movement in London for the 1950s look, with hooped skirts and headscarves … the glasses are seen as an accessory.

"The guys are wearing trilbies and tailored suits and they want the 1950s frames."

The Kirk Originals store boasts a number of celebrity customers, including Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.

A pair of one-off, customised frames can set you back 2,000, but basic ranges sell from 165 for those with 20-20 vision.