You never know what you’ll find when you look for glasses in France.
The first time I bought a pair of French frames (in 2012) was accidental, found while waiting for a friend to get her glasses adjusted. Even though they’re tortoise shell (good pattern and color for Autumn types – but I’m a Summer), I often get compliments on them, even from the Costco optician, who said wistfully as he filled my prescription, “I’ve seen some like this in the catalogs, but we’re several years behind fashion.”
Based on how great that pair has been, and because I need a new prescription anyway, I’ve come back for more. So today I started looking to see what’s out there currently. Thinking I’d just fondle the frames, as one does in the US (hoping that the random person in Costco has some taste when you ask what they think of the pair you’re trying on, right?), I went into an independent optician’s shop in the village of Viuz-en-Sallaz near my in-laws, in the Haute Savoie.
“No, no. We don’t ‘just fondle the frames’ here… we first analyze your coloring and face shape. And then we select the perfect frames for YOU,” said the serious young lady who waited on me.
What? Personal color analysis has even managed to find its way to a little French village?
So she draped me first in hot pink, une couleur froide (yes, a “cool” color, but a tad strong), then in bright orange, une couleur chaude (warm), which she kindly pointed out to me emphasized blotches in my skin and dark circles under my eyes. She said I was cool. I agreed.
Then she draped me in very pale lavender, which she felt made me look near death. Finally she brought out a dark blue, which we agreed was flattering. “You’re un Hiver,” she declared (a Winter, which I’d always wanted to be, but Winter is all about high contrast, and I’m not). And she brought out four cards, one for each season, which look to be out of the not very subtle Color Me Beautiful book of 30+ years ago. Her technology is imperfect, but hey, already this consultation waaay exceeds any eyeglass shopping experience I’ve had in the US of A.
She frowned when I told her I was a Summer (un Été). Then I showed her my own color palette, which intrigued her.
Nevertheless she wanted me to try very dark frames. We both agreed they made too intense a statement. ($200) 
We also tried some crazy. To wear these I’d need someone to invite me to an extravagant costume ball, and it feels weird to have them wrapping around the temples. But the deep purple webbing is such fun! For sure I’d never meet someone else at a party wearing the same pair. Designed by innovative French company Parasite. If they’re good enough for Elton John, shouldn’t they be good enough for me? Only $357 in US dollars! And I’d still have to pay for a tri-focal prescription in them.
Then there were the Woodies. Not my color and too big for my face–and they also serve to perfectly emphasize the circles under my eyes–but beautifully artfully crafted of thin curving layers of wood. They were really light and comfortable. My super-hip son-in-law has some glasses with wood side pieces — and with these I would totally out-hip him. Only $525.
As a style consultant I always tell my clients that they need to find clothes that make them look great, and to avoid clothes that wear them, if you get the distinction. It’s important.
When buying eyeglass frames it’s the same: finding a balance between what others see first – your glasses or you. Are you being worn by your glasses or are they enhancing you? Do they make your eyes more beautiful or do they kill their color? (Another reason to have a color analysis first…) Do they follow the lines of your eyebrows or soften your jawline? Also, if you’ve got dark circles under your eyes, does the bottom of the frame cover them or emphasize them?
I thought these crystalline pinkish frames were fabulous, but not sure whether I’m wearing them or they’re wearing me. Are cats-eyes are coming back? Hard to discern in my selfies, but the part around the eye is translucent and slightly reflective of the pink from the bright magenta side pieces. The Odysee model, also by Parasite. $357.
The ones that seemed best for my coloring and face shape were these. Interesting enough to look fashionable, but not overpowering. Alas, forgot to do a selfie with them on. Designed by Martine Forsan, using a layer of patterned fabric embedded in the acetate. Only $235.
I am not deciding till I’ve visited a few more opticians, but with personal attention like I received at Prof’Optique, I may well give them my business. Even when frames are expensive, we have to remember that most of us wear them every single day for at least a couple of years and they may be the first thing others notice about us. Amortized over time and use like that, $357 is pocket change!