Choosing the Right Glasses to Achieve that Style Icon Look

Wearing the right glasses or sunglasses can instantly change your look and appearance and can even make the shape of your face look different. Indeed, contrary to opinion in some circles, eyeglasses and spectacles don’t just need to be worn for functional reasons, they can also make the ultimate style statement and accessory to your outfit.

Consider these genre-defining eyewear shapes and styles to completely transform your look and find your own style.

The round lens, Lennon style

The classic round lens style of glasses was most famously worn by John Lennon, but that doesn’t mean they’re just the preserve of music legends. Pick the right pair of round lenses and you can make a serious fashion statement all your own.

It’s worth noting that face shape plays a large part in whether you can fully pull off this look. For instance, those with sharper features and a predominantly square face shape wear these glasses best. Add a bit of style with some thin metal frames and tinted lenses to truly capture that timeless, classic look.

Transparent frames

Glasses with transparent frames were hugely popular in 2019 and they show no signs of slowing through 2020 either. This year, an interesting trend has developed for slight, transparent accents (e.g. rose, champagne and smoke) giving an updated look to this classic style.

Other popular tints this year are blues, rouges, and apricot colors. Try transparent (or semi-transparent) frames with a bold lens to really bring focus to the eye area or go with a clear lens to achieve an elegant, understated look.

Reworked classics

Some styles simply refuse to die out and it seems classics like the Aviator or Wayfarer will be with us forever. While it’s true these styles sometimes drop in popularity, over the years they’ve always made a comeback, and right now, they’re enjoying yet another renaissance.

In 2020, we’re starting to see subtle updates to these vintage shapes, including slightly more boxy frame shapes and single brow bridges. New materials are also becoming increasingly common — including titanium and acetate — adding a modern twist to a classic look.

Colored glasses

Fashion eyewear has never been more popular and there are a multitude of styles available these days from websites like Just-glasses.co.uk as well as in traditional opticians, sports retailers and even supermarkets.

However, if you want to make a really bold statement, nothing shouts louder than colored frames. Adding a splash of color to your glasses can add increased definition to both your face and the glasses themselves. If you want to really push things up a level, try pairing lenses in the same color as the frames for a really bold look.

Geometric sunglasses

Of all current styles, geometric glasses/sunglasses are guaranteed to turn heads. Angular shapes are making a huge comeback this year, particularly square and hexagonal shapes. Of course, the key here is subtlety, so to avoid looking like an Elton John throwback, choose a style with thin frames and understated colors.

Geometric styles are particularly well-suited to those with rounder, softer features as these strong shapes can help lend definition to the face. Geometric styles tend to have a highly individual look, lessening the chances of seeing someone else wearing your style — another plus for those looking to make a truly individual statement with their eyewear.