The start of a New Year means one thing when it comes to the fashion-conscious wearer of glasses or contact lenses— the start of new trends for the coming months.
2016 saw retro designs and strong colours dominate the catwalk and high street and 2017 looks likely to continue this exploration of vintage styles — but with a few twists.
Here are our top 7 trends for glasses and sunglasses in 2017.
1. The Wireframe style
If the fashion pundits are to be believed, 2017 looks set to be the year of the wireframe.
Wireframe glasses form a key part of the Geek Chic aesthetic— an enduring style that’s been a key part of haute couture and high street fashion since the start of the noughties. Thin, lightweight and strangely elegant, wireframe glasses evoke a pure, vintage feel— reminiscent of 70s, 80s and 90s fashion. They can also be worn easily by both men and women. Their softer shape also makes them easier to wear and much more flattering than standard frame styles.
Wireframe glasses are a favourite with fashionistas like Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof, giving them a great popular appeal. They are also a firm favourite with bloggers like Anum Bashir, Sonya Esman and Chiara Ferragni, lending them an edgy, alternative vibe.
The Zimco Sierra 532, Dunelm Stainless and Emporium Optic Solo 010 that we offer in-store are great Wireframes, with thin lines and gorgeous oversized lenses.
2. Tortoiseshell finishes
Tortoiseshell is one of those classic frame styles that never seem to fade in popularity. The association with vintage styles that Tortoiseshell boasts probably partly explains why this classic finish experiences the great level of popularity that it does.
Tortoiseshell looks set to retain its position as a leading finish into 2017, judging from various looks on last season’s catwalks. It’s the perfect style for people with fair hair and lighter skin.
3. For fashion’s sake!
We Brits do love a good dose of sarcasm and irony in our day to day lives, but one fashion trend could be taking this a bit too literally. Bizarrely, there seems to be a growing trend for frames with clear plastic lenses amongst people who have 20|20 vision and better!
Thick black frames (think Austin Powers, Thelma from Scooby Doo and Morrissey) with clear plastic lenses have gained an infamous association with being worn ironically, in the name of fashion, rather than for correcting vision. This has meant that many people have been approaching opticians, asking for vintage-style frames with clear lenses!
4. Round frames
Celebrity heartthrob and film-star Ryan Gosling was recently spotted wearing round frames. He joins a host of other celebrities like Johnny Depp, Florence Welch and Courtney Love.
Round frames suit oval-shaped faces best but any type of face can usually wear them well. If you have an oval-shaped face, frames that are broader than the widest part of your face will suit you best.
5. Clear frames
Transparent or translucent frames were particularly popular last year and dominated catwalk and high street fashion worldwide and they’ll probably continue to ride this wave through into 2017. Their simplicity and neutral colouring makes them a great choice if you want a subtle frame style that can be worn with most outfits, seamlessly. They’re the perfect choice for spring and summer.
6. The Clubmaster style
A style for the lover of the vintage and quirky, the Clubmaster is a timeless frame that is a favourite with creatives, intellectuals and people who just appreciate a tried and tested vintage style. It’s also a hotly-tipped favourite for 2017. Becoming popular in the 50s and 60s, when they graced the faces of counter-cultural icons like William Burroughs, and political activists like Malcolm X, the Clubmaster’s elegant browline and minimalist styling has helped it to stay fashionable for more than 50 years.
7. Oversized frames
Remember in the early 2000s, when all things geeky were fashionable? Well, oversized frames never stopped being fashionable and they are likely to remain a favourite type of frame style in 2017. With a quirky, retro feel, oversized frames are likely to remain an important part of many catwalk looks this spring and summer and it’s not hard to see why. Suiting most types of face shapes, oversized frames are a very versatile accessory to have in your wardrobe— especially if you love a subtle retro feel.
Get your glasses for summer sorted today
At Optical Express we offer a wide variety of glasses and sunglasses from leading brands including Gucci, Prada, and Max Mara.
You can check out our product range online, here. If you’d rather come into one of our stores and try them on in person, our friendly team are on hand to help you choose the best frames for your face-shape and your needs. You can find your local clinic here.