FASHION : Glasses Focus on the Chic and Stylish--Almost Like Jewelry

Glasses used to be a second choice to contact lenses, but no more. Today’s frames, unlike the functional, plain ones of old, are chic and stylish.

“Almost everyone used to want contacts, but today, because of thinner lenses and a variety of appealing colors and shapes, glasses have regained popularity,” says Rick Abelson, owner of a San Juan Capistrano eyewear shop.

Look in magazines, and you’re likely to notice a lot more frame-and-lens faces.

“Glasses have become almost a piece of jewelry,” says Patrick Griffin of the Griffin Optometric Group’s San Clemente office. “Today, they’re fashionable as opposed to functional.”

Some popular eyewear colors include jade, burgundy, pastel pinks and blues and tortoise shell, says Marvin Kagan, manager of the optical departments in Pace stores.

Here is a sampling of frames available locally. Unless otherwise noted, prices given are for frames only and do not include eye exams and lenses.

DANA POINT OPTICAL

This store carries a variety of men and women’s designer frames, including Giorgio Armani for Men & Women, which optician and shop owner Tom Lynch says are a good match for the person with high-prescription lenses.

“The frame is small, which keeps the lens weight to a minimum,” he says. The tortoise-shell frames come in plastic or metal, hold plastic or polycarbonate lenses and have silicone nose pads for comfort ($179-$210).

The Calvin Klein glasses for men and women also work well for high prescriptions. These small round tortoise-shell frames come in plastic or metal and have silicone nose pads ($179-$220).

For women, Tura plastic frames come in colors to match the wardrobe, including blue, green, purple and jade ($100-$170). They have silicone nose pads and can accommodate high prescriptions in plastic lenses.

Safilo for Men makes a rugged gold metal frame with spring hinges that also works well with strong prescription lenses ($110-$179).

24845 Del Prado, Dana Point, (714) 661-0850.

EL TORO OPTOMETRIC VISION CENTER

The selection here includes Avant Garde plastic frames for men ($100). These lightweight, brown, round frames have spring hinges. For high prescriptions, lenses made of polycarbonate are recommended.

The Fratelli Lozza glasses for men are a modified navigator shape and come in gold with tortoise-shell enamel trim ($100). The lightweight metal frames have spring hinges and silicone nose pads. Plastic lenses are recommended.

For women, the Fratelli Lozza “Breeze” line has thin metal glasses in red, blue or tortoise ($100). The frames have silicone nose pads and are best for plastic lenses.

The Silhouette is a large plastic, mildly rectangular frame that comes in red, blue or tortoise shell ($150). There is metal trim on the temples and a silk treatment on the nose bridge. This is a frame that works best with plastic lenses.

23635 El Toro Road, Suite J2, Lake Forest, (714) 951-8391.

FRAME-N-LENS OPTICAL

Frame choices for men include lightweight metal frames by SH-22 with soft nose pads and spring hinges ($39, includes single vision lenses). The frames are navigator style and come in gold and gun metal. The lightweight Van Heusen metal navigator frames are gold with a brown temple area, soft flex nose pads and spring hinges ($99, includes single-vision lenses).

The frame choices for women include the Kirsten, a lightweight, metal, oval style that carries any prescription and comes in pink, blue or demi-amber ($39, includes single-vision lenses). The Perry Ellis “12” metal frames for women come in tortoise shell or black ($99, includes single-vision lenses). The top of this frame is straight; the bottom rounded. They are lightweight and best with polycarbonate lenses.

152 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 778-2279; 8126 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, (714) 998-1358; 488 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, (714) 548-6739; 24602-C Raymond Way, El Toro, (714) 859-8214; 105 W. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, (714) 441-0960; 12893 Harbor Blvd., C-3, Garden Grove, (714) 534-2470; 9951 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 968-4111; 5842 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach (714) 840-4711; 3972 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 857-6707; 1439 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 937-5477; 123 E. Yorba Linda Blvd., Placentia, (714) 996-2700; 3725 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 662-1345; 12835 Beach Blvd., Stanton, (714) 895- 2759; 13721 Newport Ave. 5, Tustin, (714) 730-1650. Or call (800) GLASSES for nearest location.

GRIFFIN OPTOMETRIC GROUP

For the man with an especially strong prescription, the store offers Armani No. 101, a small round metal frame that has a plastic insert in the lenses that makes them appear thinner ($175). The gold frames have a tortoise-shell rim, are made of anti-reflective plastic and have silicone nose pads for comfort.

In sunglasses, the store carries the Mossimo Pacino, a small round metal frame which widens at the temples ($130). These frames come in a beige matte finish and can carry any plastic lens prescription.

In a larger frame with a young look for women, Griffin suggests the Christian Dior No. 2525, which is straight across the top and rounded at the bottom. The frames are metal and come in tortoise shell ($275). Because of their size, these frames aren’t suggested for high prescriptions; plastic lenses are best. Other choices include the Mossimo Stingray sunglasses, a black frame wide at the temples that gives a “cat eye” appearance ($136). Any prescription in plastic lenses can be accepted

30100 Town Center Drive, Suite H., Laguna Niguel, (714) 495- 3031; 224 Del Mar Ave., San Clemente, (714) 492-1853.

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS

For a clean look, store owner Jane Manning suggests a small Neostyle rimless metal frame that comes in yellow gold or white gold and has silicone nose pads ($150). Moderate prescriptions in plastic are suggested. Another choice would be the small round tortoise-shell “Roy Tower” metal frames with silicone nose pads ($100-$125). High-power lens prescriptions in plastic work with this frame.

For a different look, women can try the Savvy frames, which are small and oval. They are yellow gold with tortoise shell at the nose bridge and have silicone nose pads ($246). Heavy prescriptions work in a plastic lens. For a high-quality durable frame, Manning suggests the Neostyle glasses. These larger frames come in black, green or blue in plastic or metal ($100 for metal, $50 for plastic). They have silicone nose pads and hold an average plastic or glass lens prescription.

17390 17th St., Suite E, Tustin, (714) 838-3652.

PACE

The optical departments at some Pace stores carry the Polo by Ralph Lauren frames ($80), which are gold-tone, round and semi-rimless and give the wearer a preppy look, says department manager Marvin Kagan. They are lightweight and especially good for high prescriptions in plastic lenses.

The store also carries Ranger frames, which come in gold or burgundy ($66). These are lightweight navigator sports glasses with silicone nose pads and spring hinges. Polycarbonate lenses are recommended.

For a classy look, Kagan suggests Giorgio of Beverly Hills for women. These square gold frames have demi-amber accents ($140). They have silicone nose pads and are best suited to light prescriptions in plastic lenses. Another choice is the Camp of Beverly Hills frame, which is a round, preppy-style plastic frame with metal at the temples ($28). It comes in jade and can take high prescriptions in plastic lenses.

629 S. Placentia Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-1251; 16555 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, (714) 756-0218; 12540 Beach Blvd., Stanton, (714) 373-2330.

RICK ABELSON

For women who would like to minimize thick lenses, the Liz Claiborne plastic frames have a modern round look and come in an array of light colors ($89). Also offered are Guess light brown metal or wire frames in small oval shapes with silicone nose pads ($109). They are best used for a low or moderate lens prescription in plastic or glass.

For men, the Polo by Ralph Lauren offers a round, light brown frame that is metal on top and rimless at the bottom ($129). Because they are very lightweight, mild to moderate plastic lens prescriptions are suggested. The Stetson is a navigator style in gold and silver ($109). This metal frame has spring hinges and silicone nose pads. Glass or plastic lenses may be used.

31878 Del Obispo, Suite 122, San Juan Capistrano, (714) 248- 2590.

STERLING OPTICAL

Big squared-off Liz Claiborne plastic frames for women come in black, tortoise shell, red or blue ($79-$129). Plastic lenses should be used. The Renaissance is another squared-off plastic frame. It comes in a wide array of pastel colors and has metal at the temples and spring hinges ($97-$127). The frames can accommodate any plastic lens.

The navigator-style Stetson is a durable men’s stainless steel frame that comes in gold, silver or tortoise shell and has spring hinges and silicone nose pads ($107-$127). They are suggested for use with average plastic lens prescriptions. The Guess preppy-look glasses are round, lightweight metal frames that come in bronze, gold or black, with spring hinges and silicone nose pads ($127-$147). Plastic lenses are recommended.

1211 N. Euclid Ave., Anaheim, (714) 774-3300; 1000 N. Bristol St., Newport Beach, (714) 752-5636; 17395 17th St., Tustin, (714) 838-0776; Westminster Mall, (714) 891-8915.