See and be seen

Clark Kent's first step when morphing into Superman was to whip off his glasses. Today, he'd probably reverse the process. X-ray vision notwithstanding, a notice-me pair of specs is the power accessory du jour, with high-fashion frames clearly making the business scene.

Optometrist Galina Rabkin, owner of Vizio Optic in Brookline, says the store's edgiest frames are most in demand among local executives. "It's all about color and geometry," she says. Rectangular shapes with modern art-patterned stems or multidimensional frames with architectural cutouts are eye-catching -- which is the whole point.

"If I'm really dressed up for a meeting, I'll wear the funkiest glasses I have," says Ann Haley, manager of office services at Brigham and Women's Hospital, whose ever-expanding eyeglass wardrobe includes leopard patterns, three-tone combinations, and blue frames with a yellow cityscape pictured on the stems. "I really stand out and it loosens people up."

Then there's the cool factor. Bold, black, geometric frames add a "rock 'n' roll" spirit to classically elegant business attire, says Antonio Nunziante, deputy director of marketing and development for Boston's Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events. Black also has a more youthful appeal, he adds. "There's nothing more aging than a pair of silver glasses with gray hair."

Anthony Pangaro, a principal of Millennium Partners-Boston, agrees. When he was selecting reading glasses, Pangaro opted for the same hip black frames worn by his 30-year-old son, a design engineer. "My prescription hasn't changed in years, so I can collect lots of different styles," Pangaro says. And baby boomers take note: "You can look 10 years younger in trendy glasses without the plastic surgery," Rabkin says. Now that's visionary.

TINA SUTTON