Had Taylor Swift been in Kochi right now, she would not have thrown away her glasses to impress Lucas Till in ‘You Belong with Me’. If the whole plot of ‘Kal ho na ho’ happened here in the present, Shah Rukh Khan wouldn’t have asked Preity Zinta to get rid of her geeky specs.
Gone are the days when the youngsters here went after those troublesome contact lenses to get rid of their spectacles. The black thick-rimmed geeky glasses have become the new fashion statement among the city youth.
Geeky glasses are now seen as stylish and elegant, something that will set one apart from the others. They are known to suit one’s appearance in any occasion from a formal meeting to a party at a lounge.
The trend which began by the end of 2013 spread swiftly. It has swept away the stereotype that people who wear glasses are introverts, serious and not very sociable. This accessory gives the wearer an instant personality makeover. “Nerdy glasses make a lot of difference. They usually give a good impression about you to others. Moreover, they’re so much in vogue,” says Sachin, a college student.
Once upon a time the youth was crazy about multi-coloured contact lenses to look stunning, now these glasses have come as a simpler and convenient replacement. Even people with perfectly fine eyes are wearing them. Also, these are not known to trouble the users like contact lenses did.
These glasses come in four styles— wayfarers, Clark Kent-style glasses, half-framed glasses and costume nerd glasses. Among these, wayfarers are the most common among Kochiities.
“Geeky glasses are available in every price range. Starting from Rs. 690, we have the most expensive Mont Blanc frame costing Rs. 23,000,” says a sales executive at Titan Eye Plus, Kochi. Cheaper frames, less than Rs. 100 are available in the roadside stalls.
A part of the popularity of geeky glasses can be attributed to celebrities—from Victoria Beckham to Rima Kallingal, many have made use of the appeal of the geeks. “I really admire Chitrangada Singh in her pair of geeky glasses. She looked confident and even more beautiful,” says Devika, a college student, who herself wears geeky glasses.
Though widely used, these spectacles need not suit everyone. There is a criticism that many people use them just to be trendy, though it doesn’t accord with their face. “People should not vaguely follow a wave. They should opt for these glasses only if they look good on them. But, everyone has their own freedom,” says Swati a PR professional.
Also, these chunky frames could be heavy. “I brought these glasses because I thought they’re quite cool. But they are heavy. And it is is very difficult to wear them all the time. I’m planning to replace them with a lighter frame,” Akhil, a college student says.
Nevertheless, the popularity for them has not diminished. The youth is all set to be geeky now. Yes, geek is the new trendy.
