Eyewear has long since been used as the perfect finishing touch for our looks, regardless of the season. Both timeless and indispensable, sunglasses have transitioned from nuisance necessity to our favourite accessory.
Fashion has constantly been changing and developing through the years and it’s hard to tell what will come next, what we do know though, is that retro is in right now in a huge way. This means not only do we get to see what new and exciting styles our favourite designers are going to come up with next, but we can also finally sport those retro looks we always wished we could get away with.
Let’s have a look at what eyewear trends are coming in 2019 and who is leading the charge.
This year seems all about innovating and exciting shapes. What we have seen on the runways so far seems to be the classic styles with an extreme twist.
From square frames made oversize or regular retro oversize, to cat eye frames gone super slim or the bright and bold novelty frames, we are not short of options for the perfect pair of glasses to frame your face.
Also, big this year is the shield or mirror style, as well as the rimless sunglasses or their cousin – the blended frame, matching the frame and the lens perfectly for that bright, popping and fun fashionista look.
When it comes to designers, obviously our favourite tried and true names are on top of these trends, many opting for the more classic styles.
Our classic aviator styles are coming out from Alexander McQueen, notably for the men; his Am0184s and Saint Laurent’s Classic Aviator Style.
Gucci has also hopped on the bandwagon with their women’s Classic Aviators, or if you’re looking for something a little more daring; their Bee Sunglasses are to die for.
Givenchy has also nailed it with their classic square frames, managing to perfectly encapsulate the runway fashion as well as keeping it sleek and classy.
The classic brands are always safe go-to’s, but if you’re feeling like something new and edgy, there are some up and coming designers who are absolutely killing the sunglasses game and have had us scrolling through their websites for far too long. We can’t seem to get enough of their edgy and daring styles.
From right here in Australia we have Poppy Lissiman who boasts a vegan and handcrafted range. She has also released an amazing super-slim cat eye frame that has been fused with the blended style. Lissiman’s creations have been spotted on both Gigi and Bella Hadid and we think it won’t be long until she has made a name for herself as a must-have eyewear brand.
Other newcomers worth mentioning are Roberi & Fraud, Bonnie Clyde, Smoke x Mirrors and Westward Leaning. Roberi & Fraud has cornered the market on fun, colourful, tiny frames inspired by the 90s fashion trends. They have a vast range and are quickly becoming common amongst the fashion-forward youth.
Smoke x Mirrors is a New York brand but all or their glasses have frames handcrafted in France. They are known for being innovative and fun, letting you trail-blaze in exclusive and bold eyewear.
Last but not least, Westward Leaning is a brand out of San Francisco, and whilst they tend to stick to the classic aviator or wireframe style, they are well known for their philanthropic nature. Partnering with a broad range of non-profit organizations, Westward Leaning shades are stylish and high quality as well as humanitarian.
With this year’s hot trends already launched and available by most brands, you don’t have to wait and can get ahead of the trends now. If you’re not usually a fan of glasses or struggle to find a pair that you think suits you then this is the time to change that.
Provided you’ve got great style and love a bit of flair, the theme for this year really does seem to be ‘anything goes’ and we can’t wait to get amongst it.