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Oh, great. Just what we need: another fashion accessory to vie for our discretionary spending. That’s what I thought when I read this story in The New York Timesabout the current craze over vintage-style eyeglasses. At $100 a crack, people are swapping them out like shoes, purses, scarves and jewelry.

I can think of a lot of ways to stretch $100 toward a bigger fashion statement. Despite a prescription from my ophthalmologist that says otherwise, I prefer to think of glasses as optional. Unless I’m driving at night, I’m happy to see the world through my own slightly fuzzy lens. Remember Pola in How to Marry a Millionaire? That’s me. I think I’ll sit this one out.

For those of you who have made peace with your nearsightedness, here is a tip about buying eyeglasses from bricks and mortar stores—the price is not the price.

If you’re not negotiating, then you’re not getting the best deal. Call ahead and ask who the store manager is. Determine when they work and ask for them by name. Reason: sales people who work the counters will decline all negotiations or defer to the manager. Why not deal directly with the person who can give you the best deal? There is a ton of mark-up in eyewear. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with a bricks and mortar store, but respect the fact that they need to turn a profit, too.

I have occasionally purchased glasses directly from my eye doctor, just to support his business. Sure, I could have bought them at zennioptical.com for a fraction of the cost. But if I always buy based on price, the local businesses I rely on won’t be around to serve me when I need them.

I love this post’s photo of my Mom wearing glasses. It doesn’t seem to matter what she wears; she’s always pretty.  Share your favorite eyeglasses with us by posting a photo on our Facebook page. Or send it to me at crystal@dressedherdaysvintage.com. I’ll add it to our photo gallery.

P.S. If I were going to wear glasses, which style should I wear? Send me your suggestions!

Life is short. Wear the good stuff.