Girls who wear glasses...

“Boys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses.”

Or so says Dorothy Parker.

The early 20th century American poet and writer couldn’t be further from the truth in this the 21st century.

Nerd-chic is back as fashion goes through the looking glass.

Long gone are the plain Jane secretaries.

In their place are sexy bespectacled Terry Richardson clones and Alice McCall’s four-eyed beauties.

Richardson has long favoured thick, black, plastic-rimmed aviator-shaped glasses.

Described by one reviewer as “a nerd let loose in porno heaven”, Richardson’s look reflects his occupation.

He has set about turning pornographic photography into popular art.

Richardson is also helping to turn the fashion tables.

Nerds are back in a big way.

And this time, they’re sexy.

Local designer Alice McCall lead the charge at this year’s Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

McCall sent her Spring/Summer offerings down the runway accessorised with large, plastic-framed glasses.

McCall’s ready-to-wear collection consisted of sporty shapes in neons, greys and nautical stripes.

The accompanying plastic frames were large, aviator styles in bright red or heavy black.

It wouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary for a pair of sunglasses.

McCall’s styles, however, were shown with clear lenses.

Designer Marc Jacobs has been rocking the four-eyes look for years.

His preferences in visual assistance are for old-school, wire or plastic framed styles.

The model on the cover of the July issue of Russh wears Dita eyewear steel-rimmed glasses ($440).

This style is quite similar to some of Jacobs' favourites.

And similar to what your dad wore to work in the 1980s.

The popularity of television series Ugly Betty is also credited with the return of nerd chic.

Betty’s maroon frames, mouth-metal and garish knitwear make her the pin-up girl of the new-wave nerd.

And Betty is currently doing fine in the boy stakes, proving that boys do make passes at girls who wear glasses.

P.s. To rock this style in your 'hood, look for fun frames with lightly shaded lenses... If you require spectacles for visual assistance, and are up for the attention you'll get, try an oversized style.

Whatever you choose, make sure you hit up some cool colours... Neons, crazy prints, electric blue or traffic-stopping red.