“I’m a grown woman. I’ve got a great career. When people suggest that I look in the children’s section, it definitely gets me in the gut. How can a woman who rocks in all aspects of her life be downgraded to child? I may be petite, but I walk around like I’m seven feet tall.” –Carla
Has Your Optician Fitted You with Kid’s Frames?
Many women with small or narrow faces have been directed to the children’s section at their local eyewear store.
That’s because children’s sizes overlap with adult women’s smallest sizes. Glasses for an older kid will be around lens width 48mm. For a younger kid, around 45 or 46mm. Those would be considered a woman’s XS (Petite) and XXS (True Petite), respectively.
Women’s petite sizes are uncommon – only about 8% of women need them – so most eyewear stores can’t afford to offer a good selection.
Given that, it’s not surprising that women sometimes settle for kid’s frames. Sometimes, they really are the best option that your local store has to offer you.
But there are many reasons why they be unsatisfactory.
Cartoon Logos and Spaceship Colors
Although it is easier to find the right lens sizes in children’s frames, they rarely come in the elegant and fashionable styles that adults wear. The colors are often quite loud, and there may be hearts and unicorns. For many women, this is not the look they are going for.
Thick and Clunky
Often they are thicker. That reduces the chance of breakage but makes them look clunky. This is cute on your kid, of course. But many women with small faces actually prefer a thinner frame because it is less overpowering on a small face, and may give a more refined appearance.
Temples Pinch Behind the Ear
The temples are usually shorter on children’s glasses than adult frames of the same size. This causes uncomfortable pinching behind the ear. Often, they are too short to be adjusted for comfortable wear.
Fortunately, Petite Glasses Are Made for Adult Women
Designed for small or narrow faces, petite frames offer a much better fit. And, they come in the contemporary, adult styles that you see all around you.
What else do you dislike about wearing children’s glasses? Comment below!
Hi. I am so happy to find your website. I have worn glasses for 50 plus years. I HATE shopping for glasses! I put it off until I absolutely need new ones. I have spent the last week going to all the local eyeglass shops. I cannot find anything. The first thing I do is check the size as I know after many years what size I need. Then I have to put them all aside for disenfecting. I feel bad. I end up with about 2 pairs in 47/48. That is it! Then they suggest – try on bigger ones – you might find something. They do not even help me after a few minutes, because I think they know they don’t have anything to offer. Of course, I get sent to the children’s section, all of which do not work for me. They are thick and clunky. Sales associates don’t seem to think it is important to have frames that fit. I wear my glasses from morning until I go to bed. It is important they compliment my face shape, fit my face, and I feel good about wearing them. Oh, forgot to mention…I did find a pair I like. They cost $320 for the frames alone. I am so frustrated. I am going to try and find 5 pairs on your website and hopefully one of them will work.
Thank you for sharing! It’s great when you can find something local that suits you. Glad you found a frame that works for you ;)
I always bought adult frames until my last prescription. I really didn’t like the adult selection, which was an entire wall, and was drawn to the children’s frames on a single rotating rack. Yes, they were all colors of the rainbow. THAT is what I wanted. A statement piece, not some boring run of the mill frame seen on every other adult out there. I tried on a pair and much to my surprise, they fit so well! I mean, they fit so much better than all of my previous adult frames. I picked out frames in lavender. I have since received many compliments. Also, about half the price of adult frames, so yay me! Go with your gut is the moral of the story here, folks. Don’t be afraid of unconventional.
Thanks for asking! I’m fond of Bevel frames for men. I do hope to offer men’s frames in the future, so I’d love to hear what size you need.
Any suggestion on a website where to find men’s smaller glasses?
Wonderful! Kara is my best-seller, actually. I’m so glad you found the right fit. Thank you for circling back with your success story!
Just had to add, I have received my 5 pairs in the mail and love having them all fit. Kara is the style for me, for sure, a perfect fit, but I now have to decide between the light tortoise and the tortoise! What a joy to have choices!
Hi Susan, Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so glad you resonate, and I really hope you find a great fit here!
I just wanted to say how glad I am to find this site. I’ve worn glasses my whole life, and have a narrow face (47/48-15/16 is about right), but a fairly “average” temple length (135). To exacerbate the problem, my lenses magnify, so if I get the frames too wide or the lens height is too tall, my eyes and face will expand to fill them up….a look I call Mr. Magoo. My last few pairs have been children’s glasses, and that is okay (if you can find them without neon colors), but the temple length is too short.
It is so frustrating especially with Covid. If I go in a store, I need to look at the SIZES not just the style and color. That means picking up a lot of glasses, and they have to disinfect every pair that I touch, and I hate to cause that trouble. But you cannot read the size without picking them up, generally speaking. When I ask for the petites, they show me a section with 3 pairs in it. When I browse in the children’s, they tell me not to look there, those are children’s glasses.
My glasses are the first thing I put on in the morning and the last thing I take off at night, so I feel like having them look nice is really important.
I am very much looking forward to getting my 5 pairs in the mail. This is the first place where I’ve read a description of EXACTLY my problem! Thanks so much!
Aww, thanks! Blushes – The secret is eyeliner ;)
That sounds like a very frustrating journey! I’ve heard from many women with a similar one – wearing contacts to avoid badly fitting glasses, etc. I’m sorry for your struggles with Lasik.
I hope that you will find what you are looking for here! If not, I always welcome suggestions for new styles. Cheers!
Comments (23)
Hi. I am so happy to find your website. I have worn glasses for 50 plus years. I HATE shopping for glasses! I put it off until I absolutely need new ones. I have spent the last week going to all the local eyeglass shops. I cannot find anything. The first thing I do is check the size as I know after many years what size I need. Then I have to put them all aside for disenfecting. I feel bad. I end up with about 2 pairs in 47/48. That is it! Then they suggest – try on bigger ones – you might find something. They do not even help me after a few minutes, because I think they know they don’t have anything to offer. Of course, I get sent to the children’s section, all of which do not work for me. They are thick and clunky. Sales associates don’t seem to think it is important to have frames that fit. I wear my glasses from morning until I go to bed. It is important they compliment my face shape, fit my face, and I feel good about wearing them. Oh, forgot to mention…I did find a pair I like. They cost $320 for the frames alone. I am so frustrated. I am going to try and find 5 pairs on your website and hopefully one of them will work.
Thank you for sharing! It’s great when you can find something local that suits you. Glad you found a frame that works for you ;)
I always bought adult frames until my last prescription. I really didn’t like the adult selection, which was an entire wall, and was drawn to the children’s frames on a single rotating rack. Yes, they were all colors of the rainbow. THAT is what I wanted. A statement piece, not some boring run of the mill frame seen on every other adult out there. I tried on a pair and much to my surprise, they fit so well! I mean, they fit so much better than all of my previous adult frames. I picked out frames in lavender. I have since received many compliments. Also, about half the price of adult frames, so yay me! Go with your gut is the moral of the story here, folks. Don’t be afraid of unconventional.
Thanks for asking! I’m fond of Bevel frames for men. I do hope to offer men’s frames in the future, so I’d love to hear what size you need.
Any suggestion on a website where to find men’s smaller glasses?
Wonderful! Kara is my best-seller, actually. I’m so glad you found the right fit. Thank you for circling back with your success story!
Just had to add, I have received my 5 pairs in the mail and love having them all fit. Kara is the style for me, for sure, a perfect fit, but I now have to decide between the light tortoise and the tortoise! What a joy to have choices!
Hi Susan, Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so glad you resonate, and I really hope you find a great fit here!
I just wanted to say how glad I am to find this site. I’ve worn glasses my whole life, and have a narrow face (47/48-15/16 is about right), but a fairly “average” temple length (135). To exacerbate the problem, my lenses magnify, so if I get the frames too wide or the lens height is too tall, my eyes and face will expand to fill them up….a look I call Mr. Magoo. My last few pairs have been children’s glasses, and that is okay (if you can find them without neon colors), but the temple length is too short.
It is so frustrating especially with Covid. If I go in a store, I need to look at the SIZES not just the style and color. That means picking up a lot of glasses, and they have to disinfect every pair that I touch, and I hate to cause that trouble. But you cannot read the size without picking them up, generally speaking. When I ask for the petites, they show me a section with 3 pairs in it. When I browse in the children’s, they tell me not to look there, those are children’s glasses.
My glasses are the first thing I put on in the morning and the last thing I take off at night, so I feel like having them look nice is really important.
I am very much looking forward to getting my 5 pairs in the mail. This is the first place where I’ve read a description of EXACTLY my problem! Thanks so much!
Aww, thanks! Blushes – The secret is eyeliner ;)
That sounds like a very frustrating journey! I’ve heard from many women with a similar one – wearing contacts to avoid badly fitting glasses, etc. I’m sorry for your struggles with Lasik.
I hope that you will find what you are looking for here! If not, I always welcome suggestions for new styles. Cheers!