“It’s exciting,” Danika Thompson, optician at Wellington Eye Care, said of wearing glasses these days. “It’s no longer, ‘Oh I have to wear these ugly things so that I can see.’”
In the last five years since Thompson has been at Wellington Eye Care there have been big changes in attitudes towards and trends in eyewear. She explains that color has become very big — turquoise, red and pink are especially popular. Yesterday’s muted shades are still an option but certainly not the only one.
Glasses have become a way to express one’s personality. The finish can be glossy or matte, and the frames can either “pop out” or remain more subdued, according to the look wearers feel most comfortable with.
Today’s spectacles often feature patterns on the temple and sides, anything from stripes and flowers to geometrical designs. Glasses have gone from big to small, and now back again to big. “Cat-eyes” are in these days as is a Buddy Holly “geek chic” look.
Men’s frames are no longer only drab black or brown. Navy blue and olive green have become popular for men and Thompson says that plastic frames are “in” for both men and women.
A quick check on the Internet reveals four prominent trends: The Instagram Look — reminiscent of the ‘70s-tortoise prints, soft shapes and understated wooden frames; the Mathematical Look— neutral colors, angular cuts and an emphasis on the brow bar; the Aquatic Look — blue, turquoise and teal; and the Garden Look—earthy greens, vibrant pinks and saturated mirror lenses. Who would have thought?
Thompson, who has been in the eye business for 15 years, spent 10 of them working in a lab, on the manufacturing side of the business. Today she has the pleasure of serving as buyer for Wellington Eye Care. I get paid to shop,” she says indicting the vast array of glasses available here in Wellington. “People come from Cheyenne, Rawlins, as far away as Pueblo to get their eyes checked and buy their glasses in Wellington.” Thompson said.
She enjoys choosing all different kinds of frames and helping people find the style and color that works best for them. “I love to see someone’s face light up when they find a frame that suits them just right,” she said.
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