When I was in elementary school, I wanted glasses so badly I’d spend at least half an hour before bedtime straining to read fine literature (mostly Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High selections, with some Goosebumps thrown in for good measure) in the dark… to no avail. I was incredibly jealous of my younger sister—speaking of SVH, not sure whether to categorize her as the Elizabeth to my Jessica or vice versa—who had gotten a prescription and a pair of very Sally Jessy Raphael glasses in the second grade while I was “stuck with” 20/20 vision.
At 30, I still haven’t gotten over it, and that’s a good thing, as I recently started actually needing glasses. (Up until this point, I accrued a massive collection of sunglasses and non-prescription eyeglasses to try to ease my lifetime longing for lenses.) And when I forwarded an email touting Coach’s new-season sunglasses and eyeglasses around the office, I discovered that I’m not the only one… What follows is a roundup of editor-favorite styles that hit all the big 2019 eyewear trends, so be prepared to shop (whatever the result of your latest eye exam—they look cute and provide UV protection even without a prescription).
“As I love to tell my vision-impaired boyfriend as he applies his contacts each morning, I have perfect eyesight, so my need of these geek-chic frames is purely stylistic.”
“Take it from me: Classic retro eyewear is key to looking low-key cooler than you probably are. Also, these universally flattering frames will be continually stolen out of your glove compartment because they look so good on everyone.”
“In case you haven’t heard, square frames are a major trend to invest in.”
“After getting yelled at by my eye doctor for not owning a pair of emergency glasses (because contacts can fail you from time to time), I decided to pick up this simple stylish pair.”
“Red sunglasses may seem intimidating, but this pair surprisingly is easy to pull off. It’s always sunny in Los Angeles, so I see myself wearing these at least a few times a week.”
“It’s really hard for me to find a pair of glasses that I like on myself. Maybe it’s because I have big ol’ eyes or maybe I’m just too picky. All I know is this style is classic, chic, and look damn good. They’re perfectly round and not too hipster-y for me.”
“I don’t know about you, but I love a good pair of retro-looking sunnies. This pair in particular hits my musts: oversize and square—the logo print is just an added bonus. Winter can be depressing, but these shades are anything but that, and is the perfect way to add some fun to my wardrobe.”
“Tortoiseshell was a major trend in 2018, especially where accessories like glasses and jewelry were concerned. I expect that to continue right on into the New Year, so I’m investing accordingly.”
“I pretty much always go for a square-ish pair of eyeglasses, but I have yet to pull the trigger on all-black frames—looks like that’s about to change, though. Also love a bit of retro appeal…”
“Speaking of which, how about a round of applause for this fresh update on the good-old cat-eye?”
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