I have glasses. Bet you didn’t know that about me. To be honest, I don’t wear them very often because my eyesight is actually OK, I just have something tedious called astigmatism – which I have just Googled and is apparently ‘an optical defect in which vision is blurred due to the inability of the optics of the eye to focus a point object into a sharp focused image’. Wow, that’s dull.

Anyway, sometimes I get eyestrain looking at my screen so I don my specs, which I thought made me look very clever and Kidman-esque but actually don’t. And they are broken and only have one arm. (If that’s what you call it – you know, the bit that goes behind your ear.)

So I really need to get some more. And when I do, instead of hastily picking a pair that looks a bit like Nicole’s because I’m on my lunch hour, I shall perhaps heed this advice from British Hairdresser of the Year Andrew Barton who understands that your hairstyle has a bearing on your choice of glasses.

• Blondes: avoid heavy styles or cold colours such as blues and greens and light-coloured metals. If you blush easily, avoid pinks and amber.
• Pale complexion: try lightweight styles with delicate colour effects.
• Auburn: greens and browns will match the colour of your eyes so reflect the warmth of your natural colouring with reddish brown, gold, copper or tortoiseshell colours. Make an impact with a strong, bold contrasting frame.
• Dark hair and olive, Mediterranean or light Asian complexions: go for metal frames in antique silver or gold colours, as well as softer browns but try to avoid pastels or very dark colours and heavy styles.
• Dark or black hair with a darker complexion: experiment with metallic frames, in simple shapes and colours. Try rich deep colours and pewter or metal frames, but try to avoid bright colours unless you want to make a strong impact.
• Short hair styles and tied-back styles: experiment with bold designs or more decorative styles, to draw attention to your eyes.
• Long hair: check how different frames look with your hair either loose, pulled back or bunched on top of your head. Don’t forget to keep your fringe regularly trimmed so that it’s not too long or too heavy.
• Geometric cuts: compliment with angular frames or soften your hair cut with an oval shaped frame.
• Soft and curly styles: easily enhanced with delicate shaped frames or even rimless frames in translucent colours, but always make sure your specs follow your brow line.
• If in doubt: speak to your hair dresser or visit a Specsavers store where they can advise you on the best styles to suit your colouring, hair style and face shape.

Andrew has also joined forces with Specsavers to find the Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2010, and will sit on the expert judging panel at the glamorous Spectacle Wearer of the Year grand final event, which will be held at London’s Victoria and Albert museum on 10 November.

If you’re a specky like me and want to enter, you can collect a form from your nearest Specsavers, or enter online here. You can even watch a video on YouTube about it. And for every eligible entry £1 will be donated to anti-bullying charity partner Kidscape. The competition is open to men and women aged 16 or over, who wear specs for fashion purposes or optical necessities. The winner will be represented by Storm Model Management for 12 months and receive a two week all-inclusive holiday to Barbados or St Lucia courtesy of Almond Resorts and Virgin Holidays, a makeover with TV celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton and a year’s supply of Simple skincare.

Not a bad prize. And would you believe it, I have a little something for you to – a goodie bag to give away to the first correct answer in my inbox to the following spectacle-related question. What is the name of a corrective lens used to correct the vision in only one eye – a) a monocle b) a barnacle or c) oracle?

The Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2010 goodie bag has a retail value of over £200 and consists of a £150 eye wear voucher, glasses case, glasses repair kit, pen, Andrew Barton haircare products and Simple Health & Beauty skincare products. Email your answer to productplacement@live.com

Good luck, four-eyes.

Terms & Conditions:
1. The prize is the goodie bag as stated – no cash alternative is available.
2. Only one entry per person.
3. This competition is open to UK residents only.
4. The competition closes when the first correct answer is received. Product Placement’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

  • Share/Bookmark