Reading glasses or readers have evolved from those old black granny glasses of the past. Today's reading glasses offer style and glamour making them as fashionable as they are functional. The many varieties of reading glasses available match the many personalities of their wearers.

To be fashionable and feel great you need to identify what you need from a pair of reading glasses. Reading glasses come in many types, but the most popular ones are: rimless, plastic, metal, and foldable. The following list describes each kind, the characteristics, and styles available.

Rimless reading glasses: This kind has no frame around the lens. The ear and nose pieces connect directly to the lens. Rimless readers are good for someone wanting something lightweight. They also have an invisible look to them for someone who wants people to notice their beautiful face, not their reading glasses. Rimless readers do not offer much room for creative designs and usually come in one solid color.

Plastic reading glasses: Plastic readers are, as their name says, made of plastic. They are probably the most recognized type of frame. The choices of designs and colors are endless. Almost anything imaginable can be done with plastic readers. The most common problem with this type of frame is they are the heaviest of all frames. Newly developed plastics, like memory flex plastic, are lighter weight and have added bonuses like forming to fit your face comfortably.

Metal reading glasses: Metal has fast become a favorite frame choice because it is lightweight and less noticeable than plastic. Metal frames come in many colors and designs as well. The biggest concern with a metal frame is that it bends easily and once bent is prone to breaking.

Foldable reading glasses: Foldable readers have hinges at the nose and ear pieces that allow them to be folded down to about a quarter of their original size. They are lightweight and easy to carry. They have metal frames and because of the extra hinges have an added risk of breaking. The easy to carry characteristics of foldable reading glasses makes them a favorite with people who only occasionally need to use them, but store them in a purse or pocket most of the time.

When buying a pair of fashionable reading glasses, make sure work for you so that you will wear them. Then everybody will see what a flair for fashion you have.