Must-Have Eyewear Frames for 2014

My Favorite Frames for 2014

You don’t see it much on this blog, but I’m an avid wearer of glasses. Not the kind where I’m only pretending to have a major malfunction with my eyes because I think wearing glasses with the lenses poked out is totally cool, but the kind where I’ve needed them since I was a kid and now I can’t see a foot in front of my face without some optical aid. Why don’t I show it more often here? Because I’m embarrassed about how I look. I come from a day where your only options were rectangle or round, and there wasn’t much variety between stores. So because I opted to feel embarrassed and hadn’t fully embraced the concept of wearing spectacles, I’ve been fairly behind on my eyewear trends. That ends now!

I’ve been contacted by a few companies interested in helping me find some updated frames, and I jumped right down that rabbit hole without hesitation. This is the first of a series of posts where I will talk about where to get affordable yet fashionable frames for everyday wear–for the modern bespectacled. Let’s start off with my wishlist–It will cover frames across all different kinds of budgets, from super-tight generic brands ($) to great value designer frames ($$$).

1. Collette Dinnigan – Specsavers, $299
Tortoiseshell frames are very fashionably on-point for AW 2014. Animal prints are always popular during this season and the baroque cutouts on the sides add a touch of elegance, while the shape of the frames are not too out-there to be worn every day. These are definitely one of my favorite frames here, but are a touch on the pricier side of the spectrum.

2. Savannah – SelectSpecs, $15.50
Fifteen bucks, I kid you not. A cheap-as-chips variety of partially-transparent animal print, these glasses come in a classic wayfarer shape with metallic decorations on the corners. The print kind of reminds me of dalmatians and according to reviews, wearers find them lovely and light, which is important when choosing large frames like these.

3. Carrera – Clearly, $129
These frames are reminiscent of the style I currently wear, complete with black borders and green inner. I love this style and the fact that they’re made from a lightweight plastic–my current frames are metal and the paint is starting to chip off, eek! Definitely a style for those who like to play it safe but want a little something quirky as well.

4. Starlet – Specsavers, $39
What kind of list would this be if I didn’t include a pair of traditional “hipster” glasses? The trend is slowly waning in the fashion world for this shape of glasses but is still a very strong contender because of the classic style that just seems to work on many faces. (It was popular for a reason!)

5. Alex Perry – Specsavers, $299
Another one of my favorites from Specsavers, these come in a gentle cat-eye shape with gold flecks on the outer corners of the frames. They kind of remind me of an owl’s eyebrows (in a good way), so they tie in further to the more organic look that designers are trying to emulate nowadays.

6. Alyssa Milano – Clearly, $79
An acrylic version of a softened cat-eye, these glasses were designed by Alyssa Milano (who would have thought that she possessed the talent to fight demons and design glasses in only one lifetime?). They look great on her and come in three neat shades–purple, brown, and black. The black ones featured here have a really neat tortoiseshell detailing throughout the inside of the glasses, which can’t really be seen from the outside, but definitely add just the right touch to this pair.

7. Savannah – SelectSpecs, $15.50
Another uber-budget style, these frames come in a classic rectangular shape that I am oh-so familiar with wearing and a highly polished acrylic exterior filled with a deep cobalt blue. Semi-transparent coloured glasses are for people who want their frames to stick out and make a statement, but the shape of these frames are not so out-there that you’ll get weird looks from people.

8. Astrid – Specsavers, $149
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying blue glasses, and these could definitely be an option, with the metal feeling a bit more demure and toned-down from an acrylic pair. These would offset a pair of blue eyes beautifully but not detract too much attention away from the face.

9. Love – Clearly, $79
For pastel-loving princesses, these cat-eye frames are the kind I wish I was brave enough to wear. Part of me thinks it will look girly and sweet and epic and all those good things, but another part of me thinks I may end up looking like Hipster Ariel, so I daren’t.. or do I?

10. Ray Ban – Clearly, $159
These glasses remind me of the fabulous extreme cat-eye frames that Forever Amber wears, and that’s possibly why I love them so much. She looks absolutely bangin’ in her purple gradient cat-eyes, but it can’t be an easy style to match with outfits! Ombre is still very much ‘in’ for 2014, and these frames rock the trend.

So there you have it, ten of my favorite styles from three different companies at three different price points suitable for any taste or budget. In the weeks that follow, I will be reviewing these three suppliers, their service, and the quality of the products they sell, so that you can feel 100% confident when shopping for your next pair of glasses.

Even if you intend to poke the lenses out after you get them (you hipster).

I would like to extend my thanks towards Specsavers, Clearly, and SelectSpecs for your support towards this series. Certain styles shown above have been provided to me for purposes of review, but the opinions are my own–always have been, always will be.

4 Comments

  1. Wow, #5 is seriously gorgeous! I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 10 and all my life I’ve had the boring old wire rimmed ones… time for an update, methinks. So glad you have some from specsavers – my prescription sunnies from them are coming in this weekend and I can’t wait to get my hands on them!

    xo Quantum
    The Scientist Who DIYs

    • Demi

      Specsavers are having a great sale on at the moment too, so some of the designer glasses have dropped down to $99.. seriously amazing.

  2. Oh I love #9! Going to your typical eyeglass stores always lacks a certain uniqueness or even stylishness in my experience, which is why opted for vintage frames and spent way too much getting custom lenses. I love this list though! Makes me want to get another pair c;

    • Demi

      Number nine totally reminded me of you! I had to double check to see if they weren’t actually yours, and then I saw that you have blue frames. I reckon these would look beautiful on you as well, especially since I hear someone’s thinking about dying her hair pink again.. :P

      I’m going to have too many eyeglasses to deal with after this series is over. One for every occasion! (That’s sensible, right?)

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