On the lighter side…
Kris Fronzak
Editor in Chief
According to The Washington Post, thick-framed “hipster glasses” have more than a trendy or ornamental appeal. The frames supposedly also make the wearer appear innocent.
Prison inmates have known this for years, and trade the accessories amongst each other before trials. Families sometimes drop them off to defendants during visits, and some lawyers even encourage clients to wear them in the courtroom. In a notable case in 2010, five men on trial for murders in D.C. bedecked themselves with the thick frames in the courtroom.
The practice has been criticized as the “nerd defense” by lawyers, who compare the glasses to masks designed to “confuse the witness and influence the jury.” Proponents counter the accusations by saying the glasses are part of the “professional look.”
The courtroom trend is not likely to affect self-declared hipsters at the College, who will continue donning the glasses as long as the fashion stays away from mainstream fashion (msn.com).