Saturday, February 19, 2011

Poindexter

The other night I went to a new Hibachi place with my friend Laura. For those of you who have never been to Hibachi, the tables seat 6-8 and when you have a party of 4 or fewer, you are seated with other restaurant guests. Laura and I were seated with a couple who were in town from California on business. The wife was of a very "Las Vegas" aesthetic. Fake tan, fake boobs, face lifted a little too far. Now there's nothing wrong with that. It's not to my taste, but I am always happy for you if you're happy with yourself. She was not so happy for me though.

Over the course of the meal, she told me no less that 5 times (probably more, I stopped counting to be honest) that my glasses were too "Poindexter", too nerdy, too unattractive and I needed to get contacts. She said "you are a pretty girl, but you need to do something about those glasses". I told her I liked my glasses. My husband likes my glasses, my friends like my glasses. This is who I am. A girl who is bespectacled. I am comfortable and happy with that. But she just didnt understand. (To be fair I'm sure some of that had to do with the straight citrus vodka she was downing by the glassful). It quickly went from being mildly amusing, to being really irritating. And by the end of the meal, I just wanted to get away from her before I said something rude about her style choices to get back at her.

All of that to say, I love my glasses. I feel good in them. My friends compliment them. And I'm happy this way. And with that I leave you with these pictures of my friend Marla Jo and I celebrating my birthday* last night. Her glasses just came yesterday and she could not be more adorable in them!

Marla Jo and I

Marla Jo and I

Marla Jo and I

*Yep! I'm wearing my birthday dress (much different than my birthday suit)! I get a new dress to wear out on my birthday every year and this year my birthday fell right in the middle of 30x30. It's not cheating, it's just tradition!

39 comments:

Cara said...

My one regret about your glasses is that they don't show your awesome eyebrows! That second picture is awesome!

But I do love your glasses, and a lot of that has to do with the fact you love your glasses, so you own them! (well, of course you own them, but I mean your attitude exudes comfort and confidence in wearing them!)There is nothing that works better on a person's face than confidence (and no amount of plastic surgery can show that confidence!!)

Kelly said...

What the FUCK was that woman thinking? How incredibly rude!

Unknown said...

Oh, how annoying! I also wear glasses, and love them. My optometrist always tells me that I'm such a pretty girl, and I should get contacts. It makes me so angry... I happen to think I'm just as pretty with my glasses, thank you very much!

Jodie said...

There is this awful ad over here for laser eye surgery that is all 'look at me now' after the woman gets eye surgery and she's dolled up on her way out to meet a guy. Oh we've come so far from 'No one makes passes...' NOT.

I like your friends glasses best (as in I could steal them for my face shape) but you both look super cute. When I am drunk I tell girls I like their dresses, haters are haters drunk or not.

Collette Osuna said...

Wow...just wow.....I still at the age of 42, cannot get over the nerve of some people. At this ripe old age I also have figured out that I have earned the right to be a beyotch and speak up when necessary....if I were at your table? I would have taken the chick down..........!
You look fab in your glasses...I have some that I don't wear NEARLY enough...rock on in your specs sister!!

Stop by and say Hello:)
Enter my EL Vintage Giveaway!!♥

Linda said...

You look super cute with your glasses and you look comfortable with them. What a negative person. Sounds like she ruined a lovely evening.

A said...

I would imagine that she felt pretty uncomfortable around you, since you're so confident and it's obvious after spending a few minutes with you that people are just drawn to you. With all of her "enhancements", it's likely that she's very insecure and seeing you in all your stylish glory probably really freaked her out and she felt the need to be rude to make herself feel better. Or it was just the alcohol. But either way, I'm glad she didn't manage to ruin your night or make you question who you are! Because yes, I agree, your glasses are part of you and add to your awesome style. Don't ever doubt that!

Glad you had fun on your birthday, my sweet girl! Love the pretty dress (the pattern looks confetti-ish--perfect!). XOXO

Rad said...

Kudos to you for remaining respectful despite this stranger's disrespect. I do think her comments about your glasses have more to do with her own insecurities about her looks than anything else. The fact that you are accepting of other people's choices is awesome and admirable. My grandma gives me a hard time about wearing glasses and not wearing a lot of makeup, but it's no secret that she is very insecure about her own looks.
I am big fan of team glasses. You look stylish and edgy. And your birthday dress looks great.

tinyjunco said...

really. the noive! it's strange, it's been almost 20 years since anyone has pulled the 'you'd be so pretty without your glasses' sh7t on me. but i get other weird stuff - a couple of weeks ago a lady in the supermarket just got all worked up because i had less than 12 items in my cart but i wasn't in the 'express' line. i just looked at her. she kept it up, but while talking softly to herself.

sounds like ***someone*** could use some nose therapy, so it stops poking into other people's business.....for me, i've found the best response is to say 'huh.' while staring directly at the person (with an 'i seriously do not give a baby mouse poo about whatever you're nattering on about' look). as a rule they just kind of peter out to themselves....

your glasses are great (speaking as a fellow 40 year glasses-wearer). and even if they weren't, what the heck business is it of anyone but you? people get worried about the weirdest things.

!!!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRESS!!!!!!!!
steph

Megan G said...

Ridiculous! What a rude woman. I probably would have said something. Your glasses are your choice. I think they really work on you. You look really cute in your birthday dress! Rock on, fabulous!

Elissa said...

Oh my gosh. That's ridiculous. Where do people get off, thinking they have any right to judge/disapprove/otherwise act completely inappropriate and bitchy? I don't how how you keep your composure. That woman could have really used a bitch-slap back to etiquette school. But I'm mighty proud of you for standing up for yourself and refusing to let one cow ruin your birthday.

/rant.

You look hella adorable and happy! Wish I'd been there to celebrate with you. <3

Alison at Wardrobe Oxygen said...

Oh the CRAP that people say when they get a little liquid courage. I bet she thought she was being helpful, since she just oozed plastic Barbie and found herself hot.

Well I think your glasses are HOT HOT HOT, and that is proven by these great pics from the night! Happy birthday, you sexy thang! ;)

Rebecca said...

Why would someone thinkit is okay to insult a complete stranger's fashion choices. Lame.

Your glasses are cute, and if you like them that's what matters.

Anonymous said...

What a rude, ignorant person that woman was! I think you look fab.

Happy birthday!

Unknown said...

I love your glasses! And, frankly, I really find it admirable that you were polite to that woman. I would not have been able to keep my mouth shut, especially if I had some cocktails in me!

xoxo-
abbe

My Leather Jacket

archives vintage said...

what a biotch!!!!! im glad you are confident enough with yourself to let it roll off you, but srsly....who is she to say?! esp when she's all plasticized! i love you just the way you are. your glasses are adorable, and you are beautiful.

GFS said...

OOOHHHHHHH, How I WISH me and Juanette were sitting at the Hibachi table with you!

We would've had her ass sitting in the middle on that hot ass skillet table facedown in the "onion volcano" display that they always do in those restaurants!

Facedown! Facedown!

Unknown said...

Hi there! I've been reading your blog for a long time, but I don't think I've ever commented. I couldn't walk away from this post though.

So, I'm planning to order some super nerdy looking glasses from www.warbyparker.com. I told a fellow flight attendant about them and she paused, looked me and said, "Those are lesbian glasses." I couldn't even formulate a response. I was absolutely dumbstruck. I asked her what she meant and she just shrugged and said "everyone knows what lesbian glasses are, and those are total lesbian glasses. Also, you'll look like a dork."

It upset me a lot, b/c I'm really excited about order my glasses and about wearing them. I LIKE that they're going to make me look like a dork because I AM a dork. What did Thumper's mother say? "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Gracey the Giant said...

Women like that just make me so angry. It reminds me of something that happened to my sister a few years back. A woman told her she'd be pretty if only she were thinner. Can you believe that?

I have to say that you (and my sister both) handled it a lot better than I would have. I'm a glasses wearer and I love my glasses too and if anyone said that to me, I probably would have called her on her fake face/boobs/tan.

Good for you for keeping your cool and knowing that you're gorgeous and your glasses are awesome.

Gracey
http://fashionforgiants.blogspot.com

Cathey said...

I don't know how you managed to not be horrible right back to her! It always seems like the people with fake everything are so insecure, they feel the need to try to make everyone around them insecure too! For what it's worth - I love your glasses! And your friend's too - they work so well with her bangs!
Happy Birthday (Late? Early? So confused!) Either way, hope it was/is a great day for you!

The Suburb Experiment said...

Ugh the nerve! I'm mad on your behalf. Like, I'm sorry random lady that my appearance isn't pleasing to you. We can't all look like aging playboy bunnies!

Seriously. You're gorgeous. What an idiot.

Jenn

Stephanie said...

I love your glasses. She was just jealous she can't rock awesome frames like yours. :)

poet said...

What?! Your glasses look absolutely amazing, they go so well with the rest of your style, and if you feel good in them, all the better... I would wear glasses more often because people have told me I look good in them, but I can't stand the pressure on my nose and ears, so contacts it is.

Cheers,
poet

Alison said...

I just have to chime in here too. I love your glasses, they are so cute! I love my glasses too, although I don't wear them often. Mine are orange and I know not everyone's choice. But, if you have to wear glasses you should wear ones that are perfectly you and you should love them regardless of what others think!!!

Scarah Mascara said...

Count me in with everyone above. As a fellow glasses wearer who persists in wearing them despite the odds, rock on with your bad self.

I love glasses. I call them face accessories. :)

Lisa said...

Happy Birthday! Your glasses are awesome (as are your friend's), you look great and that is just plain rudeness of that woman to assert her preferences on a stranger.

Ana said...

Happy birthday!! I love your glasses, what an unpleasant woman!

Erin said...

Sigh. Well, when I rule the world, stupid people like that lady will all have to wear signs. I'm just sayin' is all!

Anywho. Happy Belated Birthday!!!! You look gorgeous!

Wendy said...

I'm a girl (okay, fine. Middle aged soccer mom--but I rock the look) who prefers how I look in my glasses. They're like an accessory, and they make me more interesting. That woman was obviously insane. You look great.

ReaderRita said...

Please; even though you already know this: you are super cool, and so are your glasses! I know that the only thing that really matters is how you feel about yourself, but I just want you to know that others really appreciate your style. I'm a lurker who had to come out of the shadows to tell you to ignore that incredibly rude and misguided woman! Isn't it interesting that you had your own thoughts about her "style" which you kept to yourself out of decorum, yet she felt the need to impress upon you HER ideas. You know that it's her lack of confidence in herself, don't you? Obviously you made her nervous because you were yourself, and were totally at home in your own skin, when she is SO obviously not. She was threatened by your security and ability to think for yourself. Women who want to look like Barbie are made really jumpy by women who want to look like themselves.
I feel sorry for her, actually.
But you? You rock, you're talented, and you have a great blog. Thanks!
(and yes, I have worn glasses since 1972, and they've never been the same as anyone else's!)

Tabitha said...

OMGEEE! I can't believe how rude some people are. Granted, that's one of the reasons why I'm so glad that I don't live in California anymore, but still - don't people have manners?

I personally LOVE your glasses and they fit you so well. They're so unique to you and are part of your "brand". :) Not a lot of peeps can pull them off, but you do it so well.

Hope you had fun celebrating, regardless of that bump in the road - by the looks of your pics it looks like you guys had a great time.

Anna said...

First of all, I love your glasses! I myself wear "poindexter" glasses, and sometimes get a little grief about them. When I started a new job last year, the first thing one of my co-workers said to me was "why did you get THOSE glasses?" and I just said "Because I like them!" So wear your glasses with pride!

Second, I just found your blog through the 30x30 directory, and I love your style and think you're gorgeous :)

JavaChick said...

I wear contacts because I can't stand to wear glasses - I find them uncomfortable (and I got my first pair when I was starting grade 4, so I had plenty of years to get used to them). That said, there are some people who look really good in glasses and I will find myself looking at them thinking I wish I could do that look - but I know the actual wearing of the glasses would drive me crazy.

You look great in yours, so keep on enjoying them!

Sheila said...

I would have told her to stuff it! Your glasses are your trademark, and they look fabulous on you!

Another bespectacled woman right here!

Cathy Benavides said...

Girl, the only thing you need to do about your glasses is make sure you have a back up pair! Those glasses are so fun and you look absolutely lovely in them. Why would you want to stick your finger in your eye everyday when you can choose to have another accessory as awesome as glasses?? Keep rocking your specs- they look fabulous!!

Keep Warm (Danielle) said...

I'll never understand why people think that it's ok to make unsolicited negative remarks about something that you clearly like and have chosen. Especially when they don't get the very pleasant hint to butt out. Honestly. You, your glasses, your friend, and your dress and as adorable as ever!

Boutique Girl said...

I can not believe how rude people can be! There is no need for it all. I like your glasses (not that it matters what I think) and I think they seem very you!

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

UGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! I hate people like that! I'm sorry you had to deal with that... I get told the same thing a lot. If I take my glasses off anywhere, everyone is always like "Ohhh, you look so different without your glasses! Oh, you're so pretty!" Um... thanks? Yeah, but NO THANKS! So, so rude.

Ignore that crazy lady. You look gorgeous and confident and that is all that really matters. I love your glasses and your friend's glasses... omg, so many sexy specs! :)

grace said...

I've had similar experiences, and I just find it so frustrating. My glasses are necessary to correct my vision, yes, but they are also at treasured accessory. I have no wish not to wear them. I think I look good with them. And anybody who disagrees can kindly keep her mouth shut!