My Favourite Eyewear Looks of 2019

It’s that time of year when many of us look back and reflect, and in my previous post, I picked out my favourite celebrity eyewear looks of 2019. This blog post is a compilation of the eyewear I’ve worn this year. I hope it shows what a fabulous and functional accessory a pair of glasses is. I hope too that it will highlight some independent eyewear brands that offer something a little bit different. Please click on the photographs to see the original blog post and which contains all of the relevant details.

LA Eyeworks: Date Shake

The first pair is “Date Shake,” a pentagonal acetate frame by LA Eyewear. I have probably worn these more than any other eyewear this year because they are varifocals, (the Essilor Exclusive 4D) and I wear them nearly every day when I’m at work in practice.

Feb31st: Simo

I’ve become good friends with the team at Feb31st. This Italian independent eyewear company originally produced bespoke designs from sustainable wood. Their catalogue now includes metals, but the ethos remains the same.

Feb31st: LOL

I designed my “Lots of Love” heart-shaped eyewear when I was at 100% Optical in January. It is a fascinating process and it’s lovely to know that my frame is completely unique. It even has my name engraved on the side. What’s not to love?

Feb31st: Shula

I love the different coloured layers in this design. This cat-eye with its the easy-to-wear colours  is among my most worn sunglasses.

Feb31st: Noel

The beautiful shades of blue and green of the Noel caught my eye immediately and it works beautifully with clothing in a similar palette.

Louis Stone: Icy Leopard

This grey leopard print frame from Louis Stone works with so many outfits. I particularly like it with this snake print dress in similar colours to the frame.

Pala Eyewear: Zola

These iridescent frames and round silver flash lenses make for something a little different. They’re the Zola by Pala, another gorgeous brand I met at 100% Optical. Their motto is “Wear, Love, Give” and they provide grants to eye-care projects in Africa. Such projects include building a new vision centre, or dispensary, purchasing equipment and supporting an outreach programme. These are all sustainable, long term solutions that facilitate eye-care, eye-tests and the provision of spectacles.

Pala Eyewear: Farai

These 60s-style berry crystal acetate square sunglasses hold their own and complement and enhance the outfit. They’re the perfect colour match and the geometric shape contrasts beautifully with the soft romantic silhouette of the dress.

Fresh For Pandas: EZ034

FreshforPandas is a London based online store which specialises in fresh eco-friendly wood and bamboo eyewear. The company’s aim is to contribute to the reduction of plastic use. They have an extensive range of handmade bamboo and wooden eyewear which they ship from a carbon-neutral warehouse facility in Manchester. These green half-wood sunglasses have a slightly retro feel to them. They are the Clubmaster EZ034. This brand has wholly green credentials, regardless of colour.

Fresh For Pandas: 3005

This round oversized design, (model 3005), is a striking combination of striped wood and lightweight stainless steel. It’s chic and elegant yet it has a softness to it. It makes a style statement but an attainable and an approachable one.

Bird Sunglasses: Blackcap

This style is the award-winning Blackcap by Bird Sunglasses. I met Ed Bird, the founder of the company, when I was at 100% Optical. It’s a Devon-based start-up owned by Ed, his two brothers and his wife. Bird’s mission is to create eyewear which looks good and does good. The company uses sustainable materials including FSC-certified wood, repurposed aluminium and recycled packaging. Every pair purchased brings solar light to families in Malawi, Zambia and Uganda through their Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid.

Roav: Scarlett

ROAV Eyewear boasts the world’s thinnest folding frame- just 8mm when folded, (the same as an iPhone). They fit into the smallest clutch bag or pocket. They were designed and engineered in LA and because they are composed of the fewest parts possible, they weigh just 15g (three teaspoons of sugar). This is the Scarlett, a beautiful, elegant cat-eye which is purrfect with my 1950s-inspired outfit.

Otis Eyewear: Little Lies

These grey tortoiseshell sunglasses are “Little Lies” by Otis Eyewear. Otis has its roots along the rugged, surf-rich Australia coast. Not only that, the lenses are made from mineral glass which is created from natural elements like sand and soda ash. It’s endlessly recyclable and harmless to humans and animals alike.

Otis Eyewear: Winston

Mineral glass is inherently scratch-resistant, so is an excellent good option for dusty or sandy environments. (I prefer sand to dust of course), because the lenses won’t scratch when wiping grains of sand off them.

Aspinal of London: Amalfi

These sunglasses are the Amalfi by Aspinal of London. The Amalfi is the signature woman’s piece within the collection. and it’s easy to see why. The design is a beautiful exaggerated Italian-style eye-shape, finished in a glass-like crystal acetate. It is supersized and flamboyant and it features Aspinal’s iconic lion’s head hardware.

Karen Millen: Green Cat Eye

These sleek green cat eye sunnies by Karen Millen are large enough not to be overwhelmed by the embroidery and tassels on this beach dress, but simple enough not to make it too “busy.”

Karen Millen: KM5029

This Karen Millen cat eye shape is sophisticated and elegant. The frame adds visual texture which stops this simple navy dress from looking “flat.”

Morel: 20038K

An elegant black cat-eye style with “lace” detail compliment the black and white lace of my dress. it They’re chic, lightweight and very comfortable to wear and are from by French independent eyewear company Morel.

Bolon Essilor

Clear spectacle frames flatter all skin tones and compliment every imaginable outfit. They work particularly well with light, (both colour and weight), clothing because they don’t detract or compete. These by Bolon are very lightweight and very comfortable, an important consideration in hot weather. I have got sapphire blue Transitions Style Colours in the frame, in a varifocal so I can read on the beach. These lenses adapt to surrounding light conditions and darken in bright light.

Tarian Eyewear: Ponza

Independent eyewear designer Jeremy Tarian is as passionate about ceramics as he is about eyewear. He launched his eponymous eyewear collection in 2010. Tarian frames are traditionally made and assembled in France (Jura) and Japan. The Ponza is made from acetate and steel and it comes in several different colourways. I love the contrast of the “wood” with the dark pink.  The frame is lightweight and comfortable, the latter being a prerequisite for me.

Kata Eyewear: Unsu

This is “Unsu” by Kata Eyewear. Kata was introduced in the mid 1990’s. It’s a Japanese collection designed around four fundamental pillars – simplicity, innovation, responsibility and authenticity. This frame is stylish but not overly feminine; it could almost be a unisex design. The lightweight acetate frame in its soft shade of khaki is beautiful and understated.

Toplook Eyewear: Victoria

This crystal clear eyewear is the Victoria by Toplook, a young independent Canadian brand. It is super-lightweight and comfortable and the mellow, transparent peachy tone flatters my warm skin tone. It’s delicate and understated yet it still manages to make a statement.

Tom Ford: TF5512

This gorgeous blush and brown frame is the Tom Ford TF 5512. The tones are soft, mellow, easy to wear and the perfect compliment to this autumnal outfit.

Coach Eyewear: HC6134U

This eyewear by Coach has a beautiful denim and taupe glitter finish with rose detail on the side The frame is incredibly lightweight and don’t leave any marks on my nose. And so impressed am I with  the Essilor X4D Varilux lenses that I had them put into this frame too.

Stepper Eyewear: SI 30094

I’ve left STEPPER until last because it is an independent eyewear brand that I work with on a regular basis. Every two months I write a blog post for their website. I have got to know the people behind and within this family-run German brand very well and I couldn’t love it more. The head of the family, Hans Stepper, is an octogenarian and a former optician. His daughter Saskia is an incredible woman whose passion and drive have made it their business global success. But, the family values are always, always there.

Stepper Eyewear: STS 30001

The Stepper STS 30001 is a succulent matte shade of raspberry. It is made from super-lightweight TX5 with contrasting dark grey sides. Because of this, it works best with clothing that also has blue (or cool) tones. This raspberry pink eyewear is simple and elegant and eminently wearable.

Stepper Eyewear: STS 30022

This piece of independent eyewear is a divine mid-blue. All Stepper plastic frames are made from TX5, a nylon-derived polyamide which is 25% lighter than conventional plastic material. It’s hard-wearing, hypo-allergenic, durable and scratch-resistant.

Stepper Eyewear: STS 30012

This is the perfect eyewear to compliment autumn florals because of its soft tone. This beautifully feminine matte peach frame  is exactly the right colour to bring out the mellow tones in the tunic.

Stepper Eyewear: STS 40168

This beautiful green and blue stainless steel matches this blue and green outfit perfectly. It’s delicate and lightweight and in keeping with the ladylike look.

Stepper Eyewear: SI 30121

For an elegant, chic and understated look, a little black frame is the perfect choice to compliment a little black dress. Black will never go out of style and it will accessorise any outfit without stealing the show. I’m wearing the STEPPER SI 30121.

Stepper Eyewear: EX 30015

This Swarovski-crystal set frame is perfect for those that believe understated is overrated. The Ex 30015, from STEPPER’S Exclusive range packs a glamorous party punch. My friend Michelle (https://www.michelle-tyler.com), described this eyewear as jewellery for the face.

Thank you to those eyewear brands that have collaborated with me and have gifted frames throughout the year. I am passionate about promoting eyewear as an accessory as well as a necessity and I want all spectacle wearers to embrace and enjoy them. If any eyewear brands would like to work with me in 2020, please email whatlizzyloves1@gmail.com.