Eyeglass as Social Symbol: Trends in Eyewear Fashion

The eyeglasses have come a long way since its primitive origins in the 1700s. What used to be a simple reading utility, originally used only by monks and scholars and made-up only of lens inserts and frames made from cattle horn evolved into a growing necessity as the rate of literacy and publication of books and reading materials grew exponentially after the Industrial Revolution.

Since then, eyewear has had a life of its own from being a symbol of education to lifestyle statements that communicated individual preference and personality.

As such, there is today more than a hundred eyeglass designs to choose from in addition to more than a hundred more optical shops that provide custom made services.  Popular brands like Esprit have come up with an extensive line for a wide range of purpose, personality and even season. There are geometric frames and stylish updates on classic designs. Gold-rimmed glasses, titanium frames, square, horn-rim, and brow-line glasses are among the popular designs in the changing landscape of eyewear. With an ever-expanding range of choices, the eyewear industry persist as an active  market where consumers are in perpetual look put for the glasses that would fit one’s wardrobe collection and budget. Recently however, there is a trend towards minimalism, a dominant aesthetic movement that have now seem to find its influence in various aspects of modern living including graphic, architecture and visual arts designs.

For eyewears, minimalism refers to the pairing down of high essentials with streamlined features for a clean, simple but elegant look. These designs are usually clear or photo gray acetate eyeglass mounted on translucent plastic frames. The more popular designs today are retro-style design which nods back to the 70’s.  Clear and white designs remain popular for their neutral colorway which makes them an easy match to any wardrobe

Among women, the trend is towards thin metal, cat-eye frames painted in posh designs such as tortoiseshell or horn-rimmed brown. Esprit and Ralph Lauren are among the top brands in the category. Among professionals, angular glasses are the more emergent trend. These glasses with hard angels and geometric shapes usually in black prescriptive glass frames that emphasize the eyes and allow a smart, bold, strong look for the average office professional.

In the last few years, the aviator and round glasses returned from the 80s and have established themselves as permanent classics in the eyewear industry. Aviator sunglasses, dark lenses in over-seized rectangular and teardrop shaped frames, more popularly associated with the eyewear giant Ray-ban, has become a street staple worldwide. Designs of aviator sunglasses today have largely remained loyal to its predecessor while keeping its relevance through upgrades like the slightly-rounded double wireframe design which gives even the most casual outfit look cooler and even sophisticated.

Meanwhile, the round framed sunglasses, made famous by music icon John Lennon during the late 70’s and 80’s, have remained an iconoclastic alternative, radiating an non-conformist spirit while matching the common everyday minimalist look as well as a range of style from the avant-garde to the ultra-modern. Round frames have also found their contemporary ally in coloured, reflective glasses that seem to be perfect with wire-frame, an ultra-modern  upgrade to the classic design that still communicate posh and that extra edgy spirit.