Eyeing up the latest frame fashions

With the spring/summer 2010 clothing and footwear lines already in stores this season, there are also some creative ideas around on how to complete your new season look with the latest in eyewear trends.

Whether you want to accessorise your eyes with over-sized, exaggerated frames, a wild animal print look or simple frames to accent your natural skin tones, having to wear glasses need not be a mundane, practical shopping experience.
The eyes are the windows to the soul and as such, it is important not to hide them away behind unflattering spectacles. The frames you choose should enhance and accentuate your eyes and not take away from them.
With a wide range and scope of designer frames to choose from, the latest eyewear collections offer fun frames with butterfly, cat-eye, goggle and shield styles, as well as vivid prints, oversized angular frames and bright coloured plastic frames.
Speaking about the key looks that are in style this season, Jenny Hennigan, dispensing optician at Specsavers in Ennis says, “The secret to choosing new specs is to go for something that reflects your personality. When it comes to choosing the most fashionable eyewear, the plastic fantastic look has emerged as a key trend this season.
“Favoured by celebrities such as Kelly Osbourne, Eddie Murphy and Billy Piper, this look is also popular as a fashion accessory for non-prescription wearers.”
Classic black and white combinations are apparent in a number of designer clothing lines this season and so drawing from this, there are equally classic looks available in eyewear.
“Black and white is very Chanel-inspired and is an easy-to-wear classic trend that never dates. There are lots of very feminine ruffles and layering around in a nod to the new romantics. To complement this fashion trend, Jasper Conran 27 is always popular,” she explained.
Meanwhile, with a revival of prints and structured styles throughout this season’s fashion collections, these trends have been mirrored in spectacles.
“Prints are aggressive this season. They have become less floral and have leaned towards more graphic designs and techno prints. You can complement your structure by co-ordinating your specs for a sharp-angled and exaggerated tough chic look.
“Furthermore, bold blocks of orange, red, yellow, green and turquoise are especially popular this season and are particularly favoured by designers such as Ungaro and Balenciaga. These statement specs are great for getting noticed,” Ms Hennigan concluded.

Top tips for choosing frames
1. Consider the width of your frames; if they are too narrow on your face, they will make your eyes look close together.
2. Angular or geometric styles are best for a round face.
3. Frames should be no higher than the line of your eyebrows. The lower edge should not sit on your cheeks even when you smile.
4. A thin or clear bridge can add width between close-set eyes and a coloured bridge will make wide-set eyes appear closer together.
5. If you have a long nose, a low-set bridge appears to shorten it. A high-set bridge is best for a short nose.
6. A triangle face is best suited to strong shapes, so try to add balance and avoid small, narrow frames.
7. Oval frames are best for a square face, so avoid thin, angular styles.
8. An oval face is well balanced so be adventurous and try modern geometric shapes that are stylish and fashionable.
9. A heart-shaped face can wear slender, rounded or square styles and should avoid styles that are wider at the top.
10. A long face with high cheekbones and a deep forehead requires wide frames with a strong top line, so avoid small square shapes.