Best Affordable (& Stylish!) Glasses

Do you want more than one pair of glasses but don’t have the budget for them? Then read this for suggestions for stylish & affordable glasses under $45 (prescription lenses included!)

I first started wearing glasses when I was in 6th grade and I was actually excited to get new glasses. My family and I went to Lenscrafters and I was shocked to find out that glasses could be so expensive! Since I went to Catholic school, I saw glasses as a way to accessorize and show some personality with my uniform and I wanted multiple pairs. Sadly, that didn’t happen.

During my freshmen year of college, I came across the brand, Zenni. Boy, did I quickly fall in love with them! I was really skeptical at first–I mean how could prescription glasses only cost $19?! I tried one pair to see if they were even the slightest bit decent quality. The rest, you could say, is history, and I now own around 10 pairs of Zenni glasses and a couple pair of sunglasses! Being able to rotate my glasses not only helps them last longer, but I can cater them to my specific outfits. If I’m feeling artsy, I can throw on my oversized pink frames. If I’m feeling shy and quiet, I can put on my dark brown tortoiseshell frames that cover more of my face. I even have a seasonal pair for Valentine’s Day.

To order from Zenni, you do need to know your prescription and your PD–or your pupil distance which should be on the prescription you get from your doctor. Other than that, it’s super easy to select a pair of frames and choose the different configurations you want. I usually include the bLockz for blue light blocking lenses and the oil-resistant add-on, but other than that I go with the most basic options and have been very pleased with all of my purchases.

I’m going to share some of my favorite frames below so you can try Zenni out for yourself! Whenever anyone asks about my glasses, I always (very enthusiastically) tell them to check out Zenni and I hope you do, too!

Red Heart Glasses

I got these for Valentine’s Day because I really love being festive for the holidays and I’m always disappointed I can’t wear the cutesy party favor glasses like Christmas trees or New Years. So I was so excited when I saw these red heart glasses and could add them to my Valentine’s Day ensemble. At $19.95 (basic prescription lenses included), I think it’s very worth the money. And I’ve even found myself wearing them since Valentine’s Day just for fun!

Pink Cat-Eyes

I feel like these are my most whimsical pair for my everyday rotation. They’re really large, which I love, and the light pink color goes with basically of my wardrobe. There’s just that’s so feminine about these while still making me feel really confident. These are $27.95 which is on the pricey end for Zenni, but still really amazing! When I finished my add-ons, they came out to be $42.90 for the frames and the lenses and I say that is very worth it. You can find these adorable glasses here.

Clear Pink Lenses

This was the first pair of glasses I got that was a little out there. When I wear these, I feel like I can take on the world! They add some pizazz to my outfit, but the clearness of the frames isn’t distracting from my face or my outfit, which makes them a great pair to wear when I’m wearing a busier outfit. They are $15.95 and came out to $45.90 when I added on high-index blue light blockers and oil-resistant coating. You can find these ever-so-slight cat eye glasses here!

Dark Tortoiseshell Cat Eyes

I like to call these frames my librarian glasses–I feel very scholarly and smart when I wear these and usually pair them with darker maroon outfits or autumnal colors. They are a more dramatic cat-eye than my other frames which is a nice little attitude boost and are just an all around fun pair to have! These are also $27.95 and came to $57.90 once I added some heavy duty lenses on (my prescription still gets worse every year….fun times!). If you want some funky cat eyes, look here.

**Unfortunately this exact pair has been retired but this pair is quite similar and it’s only $6.95!

Looking for cute shoes in women sizes 12+? Check out this post!

Light Blue, Bedtime Frames

These are priced at $9.97 so I got them to just keep on my nightstand. They’re a little small for my head (though I have a massive head) so I don’t tend to wear them out in public, but they’re very comfortable for laying in bed in my pajamas. And that price! You truly can’t beat that super affordable price. If you’re looking for a light and easy pair to wear, then these are a great option for you.

Best for Everyday Wear

This pair is by far my most favorite pair of glasses I’ve ever owned. I love them so much that I have bought extras in case Zenni ever stops selling them! They are unbelievably comfortable and are a classic tortoiseshell pattern that goes with most outfits. They also fit my face super well–they’re large, but don’t consume my face. If you have an average sized head, they will be a bit oversized on you (like I said, I have a massive head). These are priced at $35.95 and came to $40.90 when I added on an anti-reflective coating to them. I truly cannot recommend this pair enough—if you could only buy one pair for the rest of your life, I would suggest these!

**Unfortunately this exact style was retired in Summer 2020, but this pair is quite similar to them!

Hopefully this helps you find some new cute and affordable glasses! I think glasses can be a wonderful accessory and I know some people feel self conscious about wearing them, so hopefully this helps someone realize they don’t have to sacrifice their own personal style just to be able to see 🙂

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