"THE CULTURAL COMMENTARY"
Visionary Style: The Everyday Fashion of Glasses in Powder Springs
By: Dayton Page
As a true eyewear fanatic, I am always looking at and analyzing the different trends I notice in people’s glasses. Whether it is a specific color, shape, or style, I am usually able to catch a trend in eyewear before it even happens, but I noticed something different when exploring a new community in Powder Springs, Georgia.
When it comes to eyewear, it’s common for people to wear more expensive and luxury brands of glasses like Ray-Ban and Oakley, as these are some of the dominators in the eyewear industry, but as shifts in the economy occur, so does the value that people see in everyday wants and necessities, which, in this instance, is eyewear.
One trend that seemed to take place in all my interactions with residents of the new Powder Springs community is that their eyewear came from small and niche glasses brands, with some brands not even being glasses-focused at all. But, despite the fact that these glasses came from unexpected and affordable brands, what didn't seem to be compromised on is the personal and unique style that each pair of frames still manages to own, and how they make the wearer feel.
"The Pefect Match"
Striking the balance between everyday ease and fashionably sophisticated, Shantel looks effortlessly chic in these glasses. The glasses feature a cream and dark-brown tortoiseshell pattern that covers the entire surface of the frames.
While Shantel doesn't need these prescription glasses 24 hours a day, she stated that she needs them sometimes for everyday tasks like driving, reading, working, etc. Because she knew she wouldn't wear them all the time, she mentioned that she wanted to prioritize a little bit of style and a little bit of affordability, which is why she picked these glasses from Warby Parker for under $100. She stated that she landed on these glasses as they made her “feel pretty and beautiful” while still having the ability to match “almost everything” in her everyday wardrobe. Shantel mentioned that her fashion style is “elevated basics,” so she didn't want a frame that was too expressive and something that felt “classic and simple” to reflect what she saw in her wardrobe.
I mentioned to her how perfect that glasses matched with her hair color, and she stated that they “match her vibe and energy even better,” to which I couldn't agree more.
"Blue-Light Brilliance"
I caught Michael on his way out for a neighborhood stroll as he took a break from his industrial design work and had to ask about his glasses. His glasses featured a tortoise-shell pattern of half square frames with the bottom of the frames being gold-wired and clear lenses. Because Michael works from home, he decided to get these blue-light blocking frames from Amazon for under $20 to help keep his eyes from getting fatigued throughout the day.
He is less about fashion and all about things that feel “functional and practical” for him. He mentioned how he was really surprised at how much he liked the glasses himself, especially because he does not traditionally wear or need glasses.
After I took his picture, we both laughed and thought about how much the glasses make him look like Malcolm X. Who knew a $20 pair of glasses from Amazon could create a fashion transformation like that? These glasses were proof that true style doesn't always need an expensive price tag, just confidence and the realization that practicality is the new luxury.
"Effortlessy Framed"
Making errand running look super effortless yet trendy, all through a pair of simple sunglasses is Allante. These sunglasses featured a gold-wired angular vintage aviator-style frame with a bar-style nose bridge, and rose gold colored tinted lenses. While these glasses were not only effortlessly fashionable, they were also affordable.
She mentioned that these sunglasses come from the eyewear brand Quay Australia and cost her about $45. While she stated that she enjoys fashion and putting together cute looks, she also acknowledged that sunglasses are her way of “dressing up” on days when she doesn't have the “energy or time” to do a real fashion look. “I absolutely love wearing sunglasses with almost any outfit,” she stated. “For me, sunglasses are like the easiest way to be super cute without overly doing too much and just looking too extra.” Allante stated that while she just recently discovered the Quay brand, this isn't her only pair of glasses from them, as they are “super cheap” for her and she is addicted to adding more to her sunglasses collection.
Now, if this is the definition of “throwing something on,” I think she is giving all of us a run for our money with our errand-running looks. And not to jump out of frame, but can we get a little commotion for that hat, too? Absolutely stunning and fashionable even on her off days.
"Sunglasses with Ease"
On his way to a chill guys' night out, Rob wore these inexpensive Aviator-style sunglasses from the brand H&M. These glasses are classic, simple, sleek, and timeless, featuring an oversized square dark and light brown frame, tinted ombre brown lens, and an oversized nose bridge.
Because Rob isn't super into fashion, he stated that these are the only pair of sunglasses he has, but he also stated that these sunglasses specifically are “essential” to put on wherever he wants to feel good. He stated that he picked out this pair of sunglasses because they weren't “too gaudy" but also weren't too expensive for his taste either. He didn't want to overdress or stick out for his chill guys night out, as his friends told him they were all wearing joggers and sweatsuits and coming relaxed, so he paired his look with these sunglasses to feel “fresh and somewhat fly.”
While I did joke with him that his glasses might have been too fly for the look he had on, they definitely accomplished the goal of chill vibes, and the sunglasses definitely have an undeniable old-school suaveness to them that makes him look cool but without trying too incredibly hard. His sunglasses truly were proof that sometimes the best shades don’t always have to be bold, boundary-pushing, or bank-breaking either.
"Tiny Perspectives"
The most adorable glasses feature of them all comes from three-year-old resident Harper Rose. While she couldn't tell me absolutely everything about her looks, which, some might think it was because she is three, but I think she was just fashion gatekeeping, I discovered that these sunglasses, or as she likes to call them her “sunnies,” feature a circular dark-brown frame with a tortoiseshell pattern and brown shaded lenses. These glasses are not only playful, but they are custom from Etsy with the perfect balance of fashion, fun, and vibes, which reflects everything her personality is all about.
While these glasses feature a cool and sophisticated playfulness, they are only just the beginning. Harper Rose owns over 35 pairs of custom sunglasses, with some being crafted in the shape of hearts, to other pairs taking on a sunflower silhouette, to even some having her name spelled on them rim in funky pendants. I even had to discover the hard way that she absolutely refuses to leave the house without a pair of “sunnies,” even if there is absolutely no sun outside. It's actually like a full-on fashion meltdown for her, but hey, what a fashion icon wants, she gets. I mean, would you tell baby Anna Wintour that you left her “sunnies” at home? I don't think so.
She told me that she chose these glasses because she wanted to feel “cool like her Uncle” at church. I knew she got her style from somewhere *wink. But, somewhere in between the pews and after service snacks, she proves that fashionable style has absolutely no age limit and that one of Atlanta’s best fashion icons is only three feet tall.
Walking through the Powder Springs community, I realized something profound, and it was that everyone's glasses choices spoke more about them as people than their clothing choices did. Glasses have the ability to reveal and represent so much about the person who wears them, but they also have the ability to reflect so much of the world around them. With changes in the world shifting constantly, the focus on where people get their eyewear from shifts as well. But no matter how inexpensive people's glasses may be progressing towards, the quality of style and confidence they still bring to people is priceless.