Eyewear Trends 2009 - 2010

Fashion trends often repeat themselves, and eyeglasses trends are no exception. Eyewear designers constantly look back over eras in history to find past trends that they can reinvent into something new and exciting. Here are some of the up coming trends, forecasted for 2009 - 2010:

Cubic - or the "Sara Palin" glasses

Characterized by boxy forms and 90 degree angles, cubic eyeglasses are inspired by sharp edges squares and rectangles. This style of eyewear not only has undeniable chic and modern qualities, but also projects a professional and intellectual air. Angular frames in black and silver with chunky side arms are fashion forward with a cutting-edge, futuristic feel.

Cubic eyewear is at its sensational best when paired with suits or edgy outfits. If these looks aren’t your style, then pair them with something a clean cut plain white look. This will really make the eyewear stand out.

The icon which is maybe most recognize these days with the symmetric official-though-trendy look is the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

Palin with no doubt has the eyes for fashion and eyewear, and she treats her glasses as an accessory or jewelry, which position her as both stylish and serious. Differing from the common cubic frames reviewed above, Palin tends to go for rimless or semi-rimless glasses, and her fine, sometimes personal custom pick makes her into a fashion influence. Here are some examples;

"Geek chic" – from Buddy Holly to Johnny Depp

The arty-smart look, which can be summarized as "The bigger, and weirder, thes better". This type of eyewear is celebrating a surge in popularity due to the current ‘geek chic’ trend among hipsters ― making everything that was once nerdy or unpopular, fashionable again.

Rock-revolutionary Buddy Holly was the first who rocked conventional thinking and appearance wearing those famous over sized, geeky simple glasses. Pictured wearing his big chunky plastic frames he has been quoted by John Lennon as "Making it OK to wear glasses" and also influenced Elton John to wear glasses during his performances.

In today’s accessorized pop culture, it seems that every fashion and art icon makes sure to hold a pair of those Buddy Holly classics. Take a look at Johnny Depp for example, who tends to mix them with tailored suites, exchanging the official geek look to one full off sex-appeal.

These geek chic glasses are best worn to casual occasions and art affairs like film screenings, parties, luncheons, museums and galleries.

The Wayfarers

Wayfarers were designed in 1952 by optical designer Raymond Stegeman, and from the very beginning won great popularity. The Wayfarers were selling well constantly for 10 years, but became really successful after a guest star appearance on Audrey Hephburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's.

This frame, which was originally marketed as sunglasses for pilots, started to appear very quickly on Hollywood stars as eyeglasses.

Nowadays, the Wayfarer made a great comeback although it was never absents from the streets.

Cut-out details

Cut-out details have been spotted all over the fashion world, from cut-outs in leather and suede shoes, to cut-out patterns in gold dangly earrings. Such a feature is incredibly attention-grabbing especially if the color showing through the cut-out pattern is of a contrasting color to the material itself. For instance, a pair of black glasses with sidearm cut-out details would look stunning on someone with blonde hair, as the light hair peeking through the cut-out would highlight the dark-colored glasses.

If you’re a woman, wear these glasses with your hair up, as most cut-out details on glasses occur on the side arms. You don’t want your hair covering your glasses’ best feature.

Oversized

Oversized handbags, oversized t-shirts, and now oversized glasses- Bold, super-hip people should try their hand at big glasses and sunglasses.

Wear these glasses with anything you want – as long as it’s funky. But just as a tip, make sure their frame’s shape is flattering to your face, since round big ones might not be the best choice for very round full faces, or for a very small thin one.