Photographed by NED MATURA

 

INTO THE THICK OF IT

Take a simple round sunglass and enhance it with extreme proportions, and you’ve got a can’t-beat luxurious style. Its thick acetate temples and elevated bridge are just two focal points of this dramatically designed frame.

BALMAIN Olivier from Akoni Group

RED HOT

The color red continues to remain a popular choice when it comes to sunwear styles with its multiple hues and head-turning capabilities. Shapes such as CatEye, oval and hexagonal are fashionably accentuated with tones of ruby, scarlet and merlot.

From left: SANFORD HUTTON Scarlett CS404 from Colors in Optics; CHOPARD SCHL04S from De Rigo Rem; HEART from Andy Wolf Eyewear; DERROCHE from Etnia Barcelona

DOUBLE UP

Aviator, navigator and pilot shapes will forever be seen as timeless essentials when it comes to eyewear. The double brow detail found on these coveted styles is what consumers continue to flock to for easy-to-wear optical and sunwear frames.

From top: STRAK AMSTERDAM A34-3 from Teka Eyewear; MATSUDA M3145 from Matsuda

SIGNATURE STYLE

Blake Kuwahara has perfected his frame-in-a-frame design concept with crisp and shiny acetates that will always be one of our favorite trends.

FEHN from Blake Kuwahara

TEMPTING TEMPLES

When it comes to eyewear design, it isn’t always about the front of the frame. There is always a little room for some fun to be had on the temples with intricate designs and the addition of adornments including gemstones, crystals and ther metallic hardware.

From top: ROBERTO CAVALLI SRC064 from De Rigo Rem; TURA BRILLIANCE 290 from Tura

KEEP IT CLASSY

There is nothing more refined than a classic tortoise print. You don’t have to go beyond the basics when it comes to this pattern that men and women everywhere have pledged their loyalty to.

From left: VERONIKA WILDGRUBER Niobe from Gramercy Eyewear; CHRIS from Morgenthal Frederics

COLOR STORY

There are always a few specific colors that consumers gravitate toward when it comes to eyewear. The endless amount of pink and red options have always been seen as a style-savvy and easy way to incorporate color into your wardrobe.

From left: FYSH 3741 from WestGroupe; SILDE from Gotti Switzerland; DOWNTOWN from Orgreen Optics; SOPHIA LOREN 1574 from Zyloware

OUT OF THE BLUE

There is nothing unexpected about the continued popularity of blue hued frames. This adored color option has easily become a top-selling shade due to its versatility and range.

From top: JONATHAN PAUL FITOVERS Timeless 004 from Hilco Vision; FERRAGAMO 1109S from Marchon Eyewear; LET THEM STARE from Vintage Frames Company

HISTORICAL SHADES

Leave it to Ray-Ban to persist as one of the industry’s most popular independent brands. Here they have updated a trendy oval shape with thin lightweight metal.

RAY-BAN 3734 from EssilorLuxottica

COLOR CODED

Lens treatments have come a long way since 20/20’s inception. These days, many consumers are loving the ability to wear faded and tinted lenses in different shapes, sizes and colors. With light hues of yellow, pink and red, or dark tones of blue and gray, this special detail will completely change the look of any frame.

From left: CARRERA 3041/S from Safilo; RHONDA from Barton Perreira; SILHOUETTE 5599 from Silhouette

IN THE CLUB

As you’ve seen in 20/20, some eyewear shapes come and go when it comes to popularity and style. One trend that has never faltered is the clubman. This extremely flattering style is defined by a curated frame front that features a thick acetate top and thin metal bottom.

From top: ROBERT GRAHAM Petronas from ImageWear; MIU MIU VMU 11X from EssilorLuxottica; AMERICAN OPTICAL Sirmont from Europa Eyewear

GORGEOUS GREENS

Going green has never been easier with shades of sage, emerald, lime, pine and olive making their way onto eyewear styles. No matter what hue you choose, green is always a great choice for a non-traditional yet fashionable pop of color.

From top: KERAMAS from Costa; COCO AND BREEZY Zion from ESE International; LOWERCASE Atlas from Modo; SERAPHIN Shamrock from OGI Eyewear

TORTOISE REVIVAL

Traditional tortoise has been revitalized with colorful variations of blue, purple, green and pink. This unique change from brown and black tortoise patterns brings a vibrant yet understated look to eyewear.

From left: SEVEN.FIVE Jane from L’Amy America; EVA from Denon Eyewear

PLAID PERFECTION

Looking to make a style statement? This plaid patterned design combines beige and crystal blue acetate to create a sunglass worthy of the runway.

MARGARET from KREWE

CRAZY FOR CATEYES

The craze for CatEyes has continued to remain strong over the past 50 years. What started out as a subtle upsweep of the corners of a frame has evolved into a more dramatic and feminine design detail that is accentuated with mixed materials and trendy color combinations.

From left: KATE SPADE NEW YORK Alvi/G/S from Safilo; L.G.R Twiga from Villa Eyewear

MODERN METALS

Metal frames don’t have to be boring. This specific material has proven to be resilient when it comes to style, craftsmanship and allure with new and updated shapes, sizes and colors.

From top: C-ZONE N3231 from SD Eyes; WOOW Fancy Free 2 from Design Eyewear Group; G.V.X. Giovani from Modern Optical International; BEL AIR from PRESS Eyewear

ROUND OF APPLAUSE

A classic round frame continues to stand the test of time as a flattering and versatile shape. Whether constructed from metal or acetate, this refined shape offers a sophisticated yet stylish option for both men and women.

From top: MINAMOTO 31032 from Charmant USA; SCHULZE from Bevel Specs; UNCOMMON Shelby from ClearVision Optical; KLIIK DENMARK 761 from WestGroupe

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Over the past few decades, independent eyewear brands have created an ongoing renaissance with high-end materials and one-of-a-kind pieces. Morel leads the way with a classic acetate frame in a sophisticated color fade.

LENVIK 2 from Morel

SHINE BRIGHT

Colors with punch and pizzazz are one of the best ways to show off your personal style. From bright and bold yellows and oranges, to neon blues and greens, these vivid hues are perfect for adding flashy colors to your wardrobe.

From left: LOEWE 40132I from Thelios; WESTIE from l.a.Eyeworks

LEADING LADIES

Vintage meets contemporary with this optical style that combines a pearlized beige tone with an intricate shiny stone adornment on the temples.

MARIE CLAIRE 6341 from New York Eye

PATTERN PLAY

Consumers who want to make a statement with their eyewear often opt for frames with unique patterns and prints. With floral motifs or watercolor designs, these eye-catching styles continue to evolve with new ideations of patterned acetates and layered laminations.

From top: PARADIS from Lafont; DRAPER JAMES 7053 from Altair Eyewear; CHRISTIAN LACROIX 1151 from Mondottica USA

For the past eight months, we have been celebrating 50 years of vision with a look back at past 20/20 features, covers, interviews, advertisements and more. In celebration of this milestone, we worked together with longtime partners and industry friends to put together a photo feature that depicts our favorite accessory, eyewear. Each image is dedicated to a specific eyewear trend that has emerged in more recent years or stood the test of time over the past five decades, from classic clubmans and CatEyes, to tinted lenses and color stories. Peruse our selection of 50 optical and sunwear frames that represent the noteworthy trends and styles we can’t get enough of.

–Victoria Garcia