I wish I could meet Jenny Kee. I want to tell her that she’s been a huge inspiration to me in one key yet frequently overlooked part of daily fashion: my glasses.
Jenny Kee
I wear glasses. I wear them from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. I don’t (can’t) wear contacts and although I’ve considered getting LASIK, I keep deciding that no, I don’t want to not wear glasses. They’re a part of who I am and besides, I think I look naked without them. It was after re-reading Jenny Kee’s autobiography A Big Life and staring thoughtfully at the cover and her statement glasses that I decided to go search through every independent optometrist in Sydney’s CBD and finally buy the glasses I’ve always wanted.
I’ve always had slightly unusual glasses, from the dorky candy pink specs I had when I was six to my first pair of heavy rectangular black frames, chosen years before the whole nerd-inspired glasses trend really took off. I’ve had Betsey Johnson cateyes with pink glitter inlays…
Betsey Johnson cateyes
…and a pair of achingly cool dropped-arm metal frames from Sass & Bide’s short-lived foray into optical design that somehow managed to look completely in style even after five years of hard wear.
Sass & Bide ‘Berlin’ frames
Sass & Bide ‘Berlin’ frames – with Adeline and Jaime / image credit: BeautyDirectory
Neither were boring, but they were a little safe. They were easy. I’m sick of easy.
Rayban tortoiseshell Clubmasters
So I bought a pair of tortoiseshell Rayban Clubmasters, and I’m thrilled. Browline glasses are challenging to wear – say goodbye to all my dramatic dark make-up! – and the 1950′s masculine style is dominating against my pale skin/silver hair, but you know what? That’s why I like them. My glasses are an integral part of who I am, and I want them to stand out as much as I do. Magnificent. I’m so glad I took the plunge, and I’m so glad that it was none other than Jenny Kee who inspired me.
The amazing Jenny Kee / image credit Street Peeper
Jenny Kee. What a fan-freakin’-tastic woman and a true style idol. Go visit JennyKee.com and treat yourself to one of her scarves. You won’t regret it!
