Taking cue from the most trendy of cultural society, the shifts in the fashion of eyewear have gone back to the 50s. And the 60s. And the 70s and 80s. Really, eye fashion has turned back the clock on style to anything but the last twenty or so years. And why shouldn’t it? With all of the great looks, from chic to new romantic, the past is making a resurgence that is most noticeable on the faces of celebrities and on the shelves in opticians’ offices everywhere.
What’s in:
Big. This isn’t exactly earth shattering as oversized eyewear has been in for a while now, but it has changed a bit in the past eight months or so. Elongated ovals stretching from the mid forehead to the cheekbone are much more in right now than the more traditional sideways oval, which stretch almost ear to ear. Really either way, the bigger the better, so go big or go home.
What’s out:
Square. It’s not hip to be square. The new millennium especially saw a great increase in the sales of square frames, but this is all changing. As stated earlier, small is out, big is in, square is out, ovals are in. If you are trying to be fashionable, just avoid the understated square look all together. Your glasses say a lot about who you are, so if you want to scream trendy, reach for the round guys.
What’s in:
Thick Rims. While rimless glasses were all the rage fifteen years ago, they are no longer the cutting edge. A blast from way back, thick rims that draw attention to your glasses rather than diverting it elsewhere are the stylish choice. Embrace and own your eyewear, get the thick rims.
What’s almost in:
Bold colours/patterns. This is your chance to really lead the pack. While many are okay with going out on a limb with frame type and shape, many more still struggle to pull the trigger on a bright red or green colour so prevalent throughout the 80s. And while too many are all too comfortable grabbing an understated, barely noticeable pattern, only the bold living on the cutting edge of fashion are gutsy enough to reach for those cheetah frames.
So if you think you can handle all of the great attention your glasses are capable of, remember to overdo rather than understate. The fashion experts will thank you, as will your children in twenty years when they look back at how fashionable you used to be.
Penelope Byrd is a freelance copywriter based in the UK. She specialises in medical journalism, in particular eye care.