Making a Spectacle: Big frames making a comeback

If you had glasses in elementary school then you will probably remember the teasing that came with it. Glasses were "dorky" and the cool kids would never be seen in them. Usually, they were the ones making fun of the "four-eyes." Nobody wanted to be called that, and when the day came for you to try on your new pair of glasses, it was a complete nightmare.

"Only the nerds wore glasses," said Meredith Klein, a DePaul senior. Her first eyeglasses were anything but chic. They were plain, round ones with metal frames.

Fast-forward to 2012 and Klein purposely bought a pair of big, square frames that went with her face shape. She wears contacts, but she likes wearing her glasses too. There was no pressure from her parents to buy the glasses, but Klein bought them simply because she wanted to. Their bright blue color makes her stand out.

Klein is definitely not the only one to use glasses as an accessory. They are appearing everywhere as an outfit staple; as versatile as a pair of boots or a belt.

So, what happened to make "nerdy" glasses suddenly cool to wear? Perhaps people got tired of hiding their glasses, and wanted to show the world that they are not embarrassed to wear them.

A shifting perception of glasses in the media has also helped. Once upon a time, pop-culture heroes like Superman only used glasses as a disguise, something to imply dullness. Today, beloved icons such as Klaus from "A Series of Unfortunate Events", Molly from the "American Girls" series, and, of course, Harry Potter, have gone a long way to show the world - and elementary school kids everywhere - that glasses don't mean what they used to. These characters wear glasses, and they are clever, adventurous, and occasionally save the world. They are awesome.

Style has also helped the glasses resurgence in popularity. We can thank a man named Raymond Stegeman who changed the look of glasses forever in 1952. He designed the first Wayfarers for Ray-Ban. The black, plastic frames became iconic instantly, and through the decades they would disappear and reappear at the oddest times -- thanks to movie stars like Audrey Hepburn.

Now, once again, that chunky look of the past is back and the little teeny-tiny glasses of the ‘90s are so over.

Famous Hollywood actors such as Scarlett Johansson, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Zooey Deschanel, and even Justin Bieber are guilty of wearing vintage frames, contributing to this fashion trend.

"People want that old Hollywood look," said Kristin Decka who is an employee at See Eyewear, an eyeglasses boutique at 2531 N. Clark St.

Decka said the most popular frames are the Wayfarers, but the cat-eye look is also fashionable.

There are hundreds of looks available, from classic to unusual. They come in neon colors and animal prints, as well as primary colors.

See's frames run anywhere from $169 to nearly $500 for designer brands, and the average Wayfarer is priced around $250. Alternative and vintage stores like Urban Outfitters and American Apparel sell Wayfarer glasses for far less. They offer different shapes and sizes. Online stores also carry the retro look.

One store, Wear Eyewear at 750 N. Franklin, sells metal and plastic frames. Stephanie, an employee who did not want to give her last name, said that the trend is to buy plastic frames, but they "sell a lot of everything." Tortoiseshell and black are the most popular frame colors.

Everywhere you go on campus, you see unusual glasses. People like them because they are cute and different and are a fun accessory that can transform any boring outfit into something trendy.

Danielle O'Donoghue, a student at DePaul, uses her glasses to "completely change the look and feel" of her outfit.

There are hundreds of looks to choose from and for some, owning one pair just isn't enough. Some wear glasses to make them look intelligent and trendy, but William Schau, a DePaul student, admits that he wears his big, black glasses because he is "lazy."

Even if you do not really need eyeglasses to see, you do not have to worry. A prescription is no longer a requirement to wear glasses. Since the trend began, websites such as framesdirect.com and retail stores offer designer frames without lenses. Or simply, popping out the lenses will do the trick.

John Samuels, a fan of "fake" glasses, said that when he breaks his sunglasses he just takes out the lenses and still uses them.

"It makes me look smart," Samuels said. "And it saves me money."