The Weekend Read✨Spec-tacular Style: A Colourful Guide to Glasses that Flatter

Jenny Goldsmith | Read in 10 minutes

Hello!

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekend Read, where we’re putting your specs in the spotlight. Whether you’re peering through prescription lenses, popping on readers, blocking out blue light, or strutting into the sunshine with your favourite shades, glasses aren’t just a practical necessity, they’re a fashion statement, a personality amplifier, and quite possibly the final accessory that brings your outfit together.

Through the Ages: A Brief History of Eyewear

The story of glasses begins way back in 13th-century Italy, where scholars and monks used simple magnifying lenses, often held in front of the eyes by hand. By the late Middle Ages, these crude instruments evolved into wearable frames with rivets and rudimentary side arms. It wasn’t until the 1700s that spectacle arms were designed to hook over the ears, making eyewear more stable and accessible.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, glasses began to take on new forms. What was once purely functional became fashionable. Think 1950s cat-eye frames adorned with rhinestones, the oversized round glasses of the 70s, or the sleek metal rectangles of the minimalist 90s. Today, glasses are worn as a personal style statement by everyone from celebrities to CEOs, and the variety available has never been richer or more exciting.

The Weekend Read✨Spec-tacular Style: A Colourful Guide to Glasses that Flatter

More Than Meets the Eye: Understanding the Different Types of Glasses

Glasses now come in a dazzling array of styles to suit every need. Prescription glasses are the most common and are essential for everyday vision correction. Reading glasses offer magnification for close-up tasks, perfect for when small print becomes a challenge. Sunglasses not only shield the eyes from harmful UV rays but also elevate your look with flair and drama. And let’s not forget speciality glasses—blue light blockers for screen time, anti-glare lenses for night driving, or photochromic lenses that adapt to light conditions.

Each type serves a purpose, but they all share one thing in common; they’re part of your visible identity. How you choose them should reflect not just your visual needs but your personality, wardrobe and colour palette.

Face Shape Meets Frame Shape: The Key to a Flattering Fit

When choosing glasses, one of the most important factors is your face shape. The relationship between the shape of your face and the structure of your frames can dramatically influence how flattering your eyewear looks.

Each shape has its ideal frame companions. An oblong face is considered the most versatile, with balanced proportions and high cheekbones. Most styles work well here — square, rectangular and even round frames. If your face is more rounded, you’ll benefit from angular, structured frames like rectangles or geometric shapes, which help add definition. Square faces, with strong jawlines and broad foreheads are softened beautifully by round or oval frames that balance angles. Heart-shaped faces with wider foreheads and narrower chins look great in bottom-heavy frames or cat-eye styles that draw attention upward. Diamond-shaped faces which are narrower at the forehead and jawline but wider at the cheekbones are flattered by oval frames or dramatic cat-eyes that accentuate the eyes.

Understanding your face shape is a game-changer. It doesn’t just help with glasses, it informs haircuts, necklines, and even earring choices.

Colour Counts: Choosing Frames That Flatter Your Complexion

Just as we dress in colours that complement our skin tone, the same principle applies to our eyewear. After all, your glasses sit front and centre on your face and they should enhance your natural colouring, not fight against it. This is where understanding your seasonal colour palette is invaluable. Choose frames in your wow colours. After all, your glasses sit across your communication zone - when people look at you, they're the first thing people see. This is why your glasses need to have the wow factor.

If you’re a cool-toned Winter or Summer, look for frames in silver, gunmetal, icy pinks, burgundy, or cool blues. These shades will harmonise with your skin tone and create a cohesive look. Warm-toned Springs and Autumns look fantastic in gold, warm blues and browns, purple and warm red. Think of your frames as an extension of your colour palette, an anchor point that ties together your make-up, clothing, and accessories.

In today’s eyewear market, the colour possibilities are endless. The trick is choosing the right hue that doesn’t overpower your natural colouring but rather enhances it. Just like your perfect lipstick shade, the right glasses can make your whole face light up.

Personality and Your Perfect Pair

Your clothing personality is another great guide to selecting glasses. Dramatics often gravitate toward oversized frames with bold lines or edgy silhouettes. Classics tend to prefer timeless styles that are more understated, using the neutral tones within their colour palette. Naturals like frames that are lightweight, comfortable and durable, often in neutral or earthy tones.

Gamines love quirky, petite, and angular frames with contrast or pops of colour. Ingenues go for delicate, vintage-inspired styles, often in soft shades with pretty details. Romantics look best in curved, feminine shapes and rich, luxurious tones with sparkly details. Your glasses, like your wardrobe, should echo your personality and lifestyle. They are an extension of you.

Trends to Watch: What’s Hot in Eyewear Now

Eyewear trends are evolving faster than ever. Clear and translucent frames continue to gain popularity, offering a modern, minimalist aesthetic that suits nearly every palette. Tortoiseshell is enjoying a renaissance — this time with unexpected twists like green, blue, or purple flecks. Oversized frames are everywhere, from square and bold to exaggerated cat-eyes.

Vintage styles, particularly round Lennon lenses and thick, 70s-inspired acetates are back in a big way. Pastel hues for Summers — lavender, jade and sky blue — are also trending. Keep an eye out for ombre frames, which blend two colours together for a playful but polished finish.

The beauty of today’s trends is that there’s something for every face shape, personality, and colour palette. Whether you want to make a statement or keep it subtle, the options are delightfully endless.

Specs at Every Age: Confidence Through the Decades

Your style may evolve over the years, but confidence is always in fashion. In your 20 and 30s, experiment with colour, shape, and materials — these are the decades to try something bold and playful. In your 40s and 50's you might look for frames that strike a balance between style and sophistication — something durable yet distinctive.

By your 60s and beyond, don’t shy away from drama. A bold frame can add instant polish and lift to your features. Choose styles that reflect your experience, personality and flair. Confidence is ageless, and great glasses celebrate that. Avoid rimless, gold or silver frames in later years as they can drain colour from your face and look dated. As with your hair colour, when you go grey you need brighter colours near your face to lift and enhance your features. Think vibrant, jewel tones, rich neutrals or soft hues that align with your seasonal palette. Adding colour to your frames keeps you looking fresh, youthful and in focus and definitely not invisible.

Glasses for all Occasions: One Pair is Never Enough

The best glasses not only suit your face, colour palette and personality, they also fit well. Make sure your frames sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose and don’t slide. The width of your frames should align with the width of your face and the arms should sit snugly without pinching.

Your glasses should work in harmony with your wardrobe. For professional settings, opt for sophisticated neutrals or metal tones. For weekends or holidays, switch to something playful, colourful acetates or patterned frames that can transform an outfit from safe to standout. If you wear bold prints or statement jewellery, consider simpler frames to avoid visual competition.

If your wardrobe leans minimalist, your glasses can provide that touch of flair.

Consider building a small collection of frames, just as you would with shoes or handbags. A sleek pair for work, a bolder statement pair for evenings or events, and a casual everyday style will allow you to mix things up and express different sides of your personality. Glasses can lift your mood, enhance your make-up, and define the tone of your entire outfit. They’re not an afterthought, they’re central to your look.

And don’t forget maintenance: clean your lenses regularly and have your frames adjusted if they start to slip. A well-fitted, clean pair of glasses is a joy to wear and it shows.

Seeing Clearly: A Word on Sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than just a summer accessory — they’re vital protection for your eyes and a fabulous style statement. When choosing sunglasses, look for styles that are slightly larger than your everyday glasses. The extra size offers better coverage from UV rays, reducing eye strain and protecting the delicate skin around the eyes.

Polarised lenses are particularly beneficial as they reduce glare, making them perfect for driving or beach days. Look out for different lens tints too - grey lenses offer the most natural colour perception and are perfect for cool undertones whilst brown enhances contrast (great for sports) and work best with warm undertones. Gradient lenses, darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, are stylish and functional, especially when driving or reading outdoors.

When it comes to shape, follow the same face-shape rules as regular glasses. Oversized, square or round frames, classic aviators and cat-eyes all have their place depending on your features and wardrobe personality. Sunglasses trends this year include coloured lenses (rose, blue and amber), thick-rimmed frames, retro-inspired round shapes, and shield-style one-piece lenses that scream high fashion.

So don’t settle for basic. Let your sunglasses express your personality while keeping your eyes protected and your style on point.

Introducing iGreen Glasses

Myself and Judi are both trained eyewear stylists for the Italian brand iGreen. iGreen offer the lightest frames on the market at just 5g, and have a wide selection of frame shapes to choose from. With over 60 colours available, choosing your perfect pair couldn't be easier. Add to this, the sides are interchangeable, again available in multiple colourways. iGreen glasses are bespoke, made from biodegradable acetate in Italy. We offer 1 hour styling appointments, so if you'd like to come and see us, please email your details and we can book you in.

Final Thoughts: Express Yourself!

Think of your glasses like shoes or handbags — an accessory that can change the look of an outfit. Many people now own multiple pairs for different occasions, moods, or seasons. Treat your glasses as a curated part of your wardrobe, switching them up just like you would a handbag or lipstick.

Glasses are no longer just a practical tool for seeing clearly. They are part of your style DNA — refined, bold, playful, or polished. So next time you’re due for a new pair, don’t settle. Explore. Experiment. And most of all, express who you are.

Because seeing well should feel as fabulous as it looks.

Until next time, stay stylish!

Click Here For Your Glasses & Sunglasses Inspiration

Enjoy your weekend! Next week's 'The Weekend Read' is all about The Colour Confidence Challenge. Look out for that next Saturday.

Best wishes,

Jenny & Judi x