From New York Fashion Week runways to what people are wearing on the street—here’s a look at what’s hot in sunglasses and eyewear.
-PJ Gach
This
article is brought to you by the Vision Council of America
Fall 2013 New York Fashion Week ended a scant few weeks ago, but everyone, it seems is all ready updating their wardrobe from eyewear to shoes to wear now!
Fall eyewear is brimming over with stylish statements! Color and shape are amped up and chic.
Michael Kors fall vision was inspired by Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters. Model wore either oversized shield-type frames or small egg-shaped ones. Over at Anna Sui, turquoise and pearl in 80s style Devo or school boy frames topped retro-rocker fashion. Tory Burch, known for her modern classics, paired oversized cat eye sunnies with her looks. A few frames sparkled with heavy rhinestone trim, whilst others had gold trimmed frames.
Talk about lush! Badgley Mischka sent models down the runway wearing fur scarves and delicate tortoiseshell frames. Round frames completed menswear inspired suits at Carolina Herrera. DKNY fell hard for cat eye frames too! She showed them in sunnies and prescription frames.
Menswear got a color kick over at Nautica. Aviators were updated in fire engine red, white and black.
“During
New York Fashion Week, we saw a revolution in eyewear,” observes Gayle Haworth,
Co-Found of Flutter Eyewear . “Oversized oval frames on the runway…Off the runway,
oversized statement sunglasses were the order of the day, in spite of the rain
and snow.
The trend continued in London at the Moschino Cheap & Chic fall 2013 fashion show. Models wore large sunglasses shaped like butterfly wings, huge cat eyes, and rhinestone embellished black frames.”
Style expert Jenn Falik concurs and adds, “Based on the runway fashions, there will likely be lots of menswear inspiration, edgy tough-girl black frames and then the opposite end of the spectrum- delicate lady like looks.”
In
the tents, fashion industry insiders: Editors, stylists and fashionistas echoed
the coming fall trends by sporting those styles. “The new eyewear trends will hit the market quickly,”
says Gayle. “For example, we already have a great pair of cat eyeglasses,
called Ayn that is on-trend and looks great on virtually any face shape. “
Now, if you’ve fallen in love with a particular style, but you’re hesitant to change, you can still wear it and be on-trend. As Jenn states, “The small-eyeglass trend seems to be migrating into sunglass style--and as for “Nerd Chic”--I think there will always be a place for that look because it can either be both literal and whimsical, depending on the person wearing it. “
The trick to staying fashionable is, as the experts state to stay within the basic colors and shapes of the trend. The great thing about eyewear is that you can so quickly update your look with just a pair of glasses. What do you do if you’ve fallen in love with a hot new frame, buy you feel it won’t go with your wardrobe? Jenn feels that, “Like any accessory, eyewear can enhance your signature personal style as well as temporarily update it. So, if there’s a hot trend in eyewear that doesn’t necessarily reflect your everyday style, but you want to try it out, think of it as a way to update the look you are typically known to sport.”
Still unsure about updating your eyewear style? Jenn says, “Does it go with your face shape? If you look in the mirror and it flatters you from the neck up, I think you can always make it work with the outfits you wear from the neck down. If you put the frame on and it just doesn’t seem to work, no matter how much you love it on someone else or tucked into the display case, walk away. There are more fish in eyewear frame sea.”
She also says, “I love it when classic frames are updated in modern colors or materials- it is a good way to merge timeless style with perhaps a slightly more daring trend. “
Whether you need readers, and so many people who work with computers for over eight hours a day need them, prescription glasses or sunnies, you’ll find that eyewear trends are being addressed for all three.
As Gayle notes, “Increasingly women and men in their 40’s and beyond want reading glasses and sunglasses that are fashionable and are not “age defining”. Our company Flutter Eyewear, for example, has created an exclusive line of readers that anyone would have a difficult time telling apart from the latest trends in prescription eyewear. Gone are the days when the only selection of reading glasses are little “granny glasses” designed to be pushed down to the end of your nose.
Another innovation in the reading glass market is sunglass readers, which are becoming increasingly popular. They incorporate the need for sun protection and reading glasses, all in the latest fashion frames.”
When you’re ready to buy glasses, here are a few of Gayle’s tips. “Of course, we all want eyewear that looks great on us. But it’s equally important to ensure you buy quality eyewear. Price does not necessarily equate to quality. The frames you purchase should feel substantial and the hinges should move smoothly. High quality spring hinges are the best if you will be taking your eyewear on and off several times during the day. Check to see if there is the “CE” mark on the temples. The CE mark indicates that the glasses meet European directives regarding consumer safety, health and environmental requirements. Most importantly the lens must be of good optical quality to prevent eyestrain. They should be impact and scratch resistant. Finally, it’s essential that your sunglass lenses provide UV protection.”
Gayle continues with her tips by reminding us to buy frames that fit our faces. “The single most important thing to ensure is that you are buying eyeglasses that are the right width for your face. Women with narrow or large faces can have a particularly difficult time finding the right pair of glasses, which is why our website filters frames by face width. When you put the eyewear on, your eyes should be directly in the middle of the lenses and the frame should feel comfortable – not too wide, not too narrow.
Also consider your face shape. An easy way to think about the correct frames for your face shape is to think “contrast”. . For example, someone with a round face should choose a rectangular frame. Someone with a long, oblong face should choose a frame with height, which will make his or her face appear shorter. Frames with gentle curves complement square face shapes. Ladies with oval and heart shaped faces are the lucky ones – they look good in a variety of frame shapes.”
Photo Credits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
