Photographed by Stephen Mark Sullivan

When it comes to frame designs, the front of the frame understandably dominates the conversation, since matching frame shape to face shape is key to good frame selection. But don’t overlook the temple as an important element in the overall design—it’s a great opportunity to make a traditional style a little less predictable. Pair tortoise with glitter or matte with gloss for unexpected contrast. For some individuals, strong visual elements such as patterns, jewels or cutouts may be too overwhelming on the front of the frame, but are perfect as surprising side notes.

–Iris Johnson