Spectacle Wearer of the Year celebrity judge announced

Media Release

03 October 2016

SPECS IN THE CITY: Kim Cattrall leads search with Specsavers for
New Zealand’s most stylish glasses wearer

Specsavers announces Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominated actress, Kim Cattrall will be touching down in New Zealand on 21st October to launch this year’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition presented by Specsavers.

Kim is no stranger to making a bold fashion statement. Currently starring in and producing international Emmy nominated series, Sensitive Skin, Kim will take up the role of star judge and ambassador for the Specsavers competition.

While in New Zealand, Kim will be on the lookout for someone who stands out from the crowd, and who wears a stylish pair of glasses with confidence. The overall prize will include a trip for two to New York and the opportunity to meet Kim herself. Entrants need to simply upload a spec-selfie to: loveglasses.specsavers.co.nz for a chance to win.

Survey* findings reveal that nearly half (46 percent) of spec-wearing New Zealanders feel more confident while wearing their prescription eyewear. Kim agrees, saying, “For me, glasses have always been the ultimate fashion accessory and owning multiple pairs allows me to project my particular mood on any occasion and match it to my style.”

A proud spec-wearer from the 5th grade, Kim has been styling her look with a chic pair of glasses ever since. “I was having trouble reading the blackboard so my teacher suggested I have my eyes checked. I've worn glasses ever since.

“Choosing my first pair of glasses was the earliest time I can remember selecting an item that reflected my own personality. Not what my mum chose for me, or something handed down, glasses were my individual style alone. I remember that first experience shopping for glasses made me feel empowered to make my own choices and I loved it. In fact, I still have that first pair!” Kim adds.

Best known for her role as Samantha Jones on the smash hit series, ‘Sex and the City’, Kim is also a published author, producer and stage actress and has recently started filming a new BBC adaptation of an Agatha Christie murder mystery in London.

The Specsavers’ Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition, now in its sixth year, is a nationwide hunt for New Zealand’s most stylish and confident spectacle wearer. Kim follows in the footsteps of previous proud spec-wearing ambassadors – actresses Eva Longoria, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Christina Hendricks. Kim will this year join fellow judges, fashion designer Alex Perry and celebrity hair and makeup artist, Kath Gould to decide the New Zealander who has made their glasses into the ultimate fashion accessory.

Talking about why she’s excited to be on the judging panel, Kim says, “I love that a pair of glasses can make me feel powerful and confident or whimsical and romantic – whatever I feel like that day. I’m hoping this will be reflected in the entries as we search for the next Spectacle Wearer of the Year.”

Fellow judge and fashion designer, Alex Perry, says, “Kim, Kath and I have teamed up to find the New Zealander who wears their glasses with confidence, and we’ll be looking for entries that show off a bit of personality. As someone who has been designing glasses for a number of years now, I know how important the right pair of frames can be.”

The winner of the competition will receive an all-expenses paid trip to New York with a friend will have the opportunity to meet Kim Cattrall, and will earn the prestigious title of New Zealand’s Spectacle Wearer of the Year, as well as a year’s supply of designer glasses from Specsavers. Six Kiwi finalists will be chosen from around the country through the online competition and will win a VIP trip to Auckland, including a professional photo shoot and spec style consultation.

Entries to the 2016 Specsavers’ Spectacle Wearer of the Year are now open at: loveglasses.specsavers.co.nz

*Perceptive Research commissioned by Specsavers, Nov 2015

-ENDS-

About Specsavers

Specsavers’ 52 stores across New Zealand offer a wide range of designer glasses including exclusive collections from renowned designers Kym Ellery, Alex Perry, Collette Dinnigan and Country Road. Other Specsavers designer ranges include Karl Lagerfeld, Superdry, Love Moschino, Converse, Karen Millen, Jeff Banks, Quiksilver, Roxy, Tommy Hilfiger, Osiris Eyewear, Gant and Hackett.

Bringing value to the eye wear market, Specsavers offers ‘2 pairs of glasses for 1 low price’ on all glasses $169 and above, with designer ranges starting at two pairs from $299. High quality, standard single vision lenses are always included in the price.

Maybe this is why more New Zealanders chose a Specsavers optometrist for their last eye test than any other optometrist (Millward Brown Research 2016).

© Scoop Media