In my years as a fashion editor, I've learnt more than a few tricks and truths of the trade: clothing can always be altered, trends are fleeting and accessories are the items that can make the biggest difference to any look. The latter is the mantra I stick by most. Your accessories really are the pieces that can elevate an outfit or determine the aesthetic or mood you're going for. You can wear pared-back items (or not, of course!), but with a bold pair of earrings or sunglasses, or even a classic designer handbag or neutral-frame prescription glasses, you set the tone for your overall look.
When it comes to eyewear, this comes into play the most in the sunniest seasons. Is it even a summer look if you're not wearing your favourite shades? I have to confess, whilst I may love shoes and bags, it's eyewear that I probably own the most of. Easy to pack, easy to wear and the easiest way to lift a look, I am guilty of taking more pairs of frames away with me than the days I'm actually going to be there (we all need choices!). And the pairs I get the most compliments on are always those by Vogue Eyewear.
In case you're unfamiliar, let me educate you. Vogue Eyewear is known for its fashion-forward frames, which are always on-trend yet somehow still feel incredibly timeless. Its design credentials are strong, and the quality of each pair feels expensive (often better than what you can expect from a designer pair of glasses, in my opinion), however, they don't have the same high price point; scroll through the new arrivals page and you'll find various sunglasses and eyeglasses starting at just £50.
What's more, the brand caters for everyone, with pairs for women, men, kids and even a separate category for teens (which, as these styles are a petite fit for narrow faces, can also be worn by adults looking for a smaller fit), and a lot of their designs are fairly unisex. There are so many styles to choose from, ranging from classic but low-key (think small, round tortoiseshell frames or this hexagonal aviator style, which I love), as well as others that are more vibrant (check out this oval pink pair—how fun for summer?!)
With spring well and truly here, and with months of long and (hopefully) sunny days ahead, there has never been a better time to invest in accessories that do the work—accessories that look good, go with almost everything and genuinely complete an outfit. To further prove how eyewear can easily tick all these boxes, I've styled three looks with different pairs of glasses from Vogue Eyewear—two sunglasses and one pair of prescription frames.
Style Notes: Most of the time, my wardrobe is neutral. Honestly, 80% of my outfits are black, beige or grey. However, on the odd occasion when I do bring out the colour, I tend to really go for it. I love a gingham print almost as much as I love a puff sleeve and a capri pant, so this look feels very "me" (on one of my more maximalist days). I've opted for these larger, quite square aviator-style frames.
My favourite thing is the lenses; in a pinky-red tone that's not too dark, your eyes are shielded but can still be seen by others. Low-opacity lenses like these are quite the microtrend at the moment, but aside from their style credentials, I think a more transparent lens is just that little bit more sociable, allowing you to chat to people and hold genuine eye contact. Along with the contrasting olive-green frames and gold hardware, they have an almost retro feel. They also come in four other colours, including this chic beige version.
Style Notes: To style my prescription frames, I wanted to go more timeless and a little more low-key. Staying true to my aforementioned neutral-hued wardrobe, I'm wearing some shorts with an oversized leather jacket and white T-shirt—easy, casual and cool. I can say this because it's about my own look, but the clothing itself could be considered a little forgettable. It's the beige glasses that really help take it up a notch.
Prescription glasses have become a huge trend thanks to certain designers championing that "frazzled English woman" aesthetic (which can be decoded as "librarian-chic") over the past few seasons. As such, multiple people in theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK office have started wearing glasses, despite not needing to, myself included! These Pillow frames come in two sizes and five colours, but this transparent pearly cream is my favourite. They blend well with my brown-gold hair and suit my chosen colour palette. If you're looking for something more colourful, the lilac hue is a cute choice.
Style Notes: This outfit just feels like summer, doesn't it? A throw-on-and-go maxi dress is comfortable, classic and requires very little thought, and the pale lemon-yellow shade is the icing on the cake. The same can be said for the frames—fuss-free, and unlike many glasses silhouettes, the cat-eye shape is designed to look great on most face shapes and sizes, elongating your cheekbones and bringing your face upwards.
It helps that they feel effortlessly stylish, perhaps even a little French. These are the type of sunglasses that will go with almost anything, so they're definitely one to keep in your handbag throughout the sunny months. These also come in five shades: standard tortoiseshell, black, lilac, this brown with pink lenses and my other favourite, the white opal with blue mirrored-silver lenses.
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