2.9.2005

Specs Appeal (or the Garofalo Effect)

Admit it, girls with glasses are sexy and the Dewey Decimal System gets you hot. And while you’re at it, why don’t you also come clean about the librarian in the beginning of Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” video. We know you thought she was sexier with her glasses on and her hair up. Glasses make girls look smart. And smart girls are sexy. Bespectacled ladies seem down to earth. Tina Fey has become every fanboy’s dream because she seems approachable. If you saw her at a party you could probably muster the courage to go talk to her. Plus, she’s got a great sense of humor, which often goes along with a great pair of frames.

Women in the movies have been wearing glasses too. Think about how many teen movie plots revolve around an ugly girl in glasses who is suddenly transformed into the prom queen by letting her hair down and removing her specs. Thora Birch was nerderiffically adorable in “Ghost World.” As was Linda Cardellini as Velma in the big screen adaptation of “Scooby Doo.” And remember last year’s Academy Awards? Liv Tyler shocked viewers by … showing up in her peepers (gasp!).

Besides Tina Fey, the small screen also has its fair share of spectacle wearers. The new season of “Survivor” has a girl in glasses. And she’ll probably need ‘em on day one to start a fire. Michelle Clunie from Showtime’s “Queer as Folk” is cute as button in hers. Anyone remember Josie Davis from “Charles in Charge”? Well she’s all grown up now and we guarantee no one’s calling her four eyes. Let’s not forget game show host/MTV VJ Kennedy. She’s been sporting specs for as long as she’s been on TV. They sort of became her trademark. Two dimensional ladies have also been sexy on the small screen in their blinkers. Who wouldn’t want to date Daria — all neurosis and nippers. There are even spectacle-sporting TV newscasters. This one works for NBC. Her name’s Ashleigh Banfield. News flash: Ashleigh is hot!

Musicians wear glasses too. Plenty of men have found success in their goggles, but few women have. We’re guessing it wasn’t Lisa Loeb’s lame music that Dweezil Zappa fell in love with. It had to have been her bitchin’ glasses. Ditto for Anastacia.

With this in mind, here’s some unsolicited advice for the young men of America: No longer will the hip chicks hang out at the food court in the mall. Lenscrafters will become the new Orange Julius. But you better work on your game — the frames are ready in about an hour.

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