The art of seeing
There are eyeglasses you wear because you’ll be squinting without them. Then there are the frames you wear because they’re part of how you see yourself. While classic black or brown eyeglass frames will always have their place, eyewear has become just as much a playground for designers as it has for jewelry, bags, or clothing.
And with it, a whole spectrum of shapes and little details have emerged on frames, giving the realm of ocular accessories a whole new point of view.
These glasses are a garden
Gentle Monster’s silver wraparound frames, Bouquet 02, bloom with botanical details at the temples, giving light and life to the sleek, silver lenses. Adding to the futuristic aesthetic of the brand, the beaded leaves and blooms soften the sci-fi silhouette, while there’s a practical add-on of blue light blocking and 99.9 percent UV protection.
A steampunk spirit
Matsuda is a renowned Japanese eyeglass designer that takes inspiration from 19th-century Art Deco metalwork, Gothic cathedral architecture, and industrial machinery, but with the finesse of Japanese craftsmanship.
Heavy on character and light on the face, the frames look like something a mad inventor or steampunk alchemist would wear. The M3129, in particular, is inspired by the Gothic architecture of Paris, and its pince-nez construction gives the glasses an almost architectural quality.
Nothing like a Lemtosh
Some frames have become classics for a reason. Moscot’s Lemtosh has been a signature of the New York eyewear house for generations, with its instantly recognizable rounded-square silhouette, diamond rivets, and keyhole bridge. The frame balances a slightly bookish charm with the effortless cool of New York’s creative crowd, with frames that look just as good with a white shirt as they do with a more eccentric ensemble.
For those who want a more niche classic
If your idea of a classic pair of glasses goes beyond the usual tortoiseshell frames, Jacques Marie Mage’s Dealan MX RX is a more considered take. The Dealan silhouette gets a substantial update with a chunky 12mm plant-based acetate front, contrasted by slim beta-titanium temples engraved with Art Deco-inspired lines.
Limited to just 500 pieces, it has the character of a vintage frame that doesn’t feel like a reproduction in a bold, cinematic way.
A little retro glamour
A little more polished, but still playful, Miu Miu’s viral oval-frame glasses bring a retro sensibility to everyday eyewear. The gently elongated shape, slim arms, and curved temple tips keep the silhouette delicate. While wonderfully old-school in its proportions, the glossy finish and subtle logo detailing at the hinges give the shape a distinctly modern Miu Miu update.
Straight out of Berlin’s underground scene
Berlin-based brand Kuboraum calls all eyewear “masks.” Handmade in Italy, the brand describes its glasses as “designed on the face of its wearers to highlight their personality and character.”
“A mask is synonymous with mockery and game,” it adds. “Kuboraum masks are synonymous with protection and shelter; they are cubical rooms where we shelter ourselves, free to live our intimacy and look at the world through two lenses.”
All of the glasses seem to encapsulate this well, with very unconventional designs for those unconcerned with looking traditionally polished.
For a pop of color
Sabine Be’s eyewear feels like a little piece of French graphic design you can wear. The brand plays with bold color blocking, unexpected geometric shapes, and almost Matisse-like cutout forms.
The Be Hypnotic and Optical collections are especially playful, with sculptural cutouts, layered acetate, and contrasting temple details that make each pair feel more like an art-school object than a traditional pair of glasses—apt for anyone who likes their eyewear unapologetically fun.
The proudly local statement frame
For those who want a little personality without the designer price tag, proudly local brand Modernò has multiple convincing cases. Their Theo frames feature either black or red-brown frames with chunky yet slightly rectangular shapes that are equal parts retro and contemporary.
What’s more, they’re currently priced at just P480, with 100 percent UV protection to boot.
