Geek chic is in. In fact, it’s been trending for the last two years. It all started when Vogue proclaimed prescription glasses the ‘sexiest’ thing to wear in 2023—and celebs like Julia Fox and Bella Hadid began donning slim, rectangular frames while running errands and posing on the red carpet. That appears to have done away with the accessory’s traditionally ‘dorky’ and even ‘nerdy’ reputation. So much so that, according to an April 2025 YouGov survey, one in 10 UK adults now prefer glasses over contact lenses because they find them more stylish and comfortable.
That said, Glasses2You reports that prescription specs as an everyday fashion accessory will be one of this year’s biggest trends heading into the summer. The question is how to turn yours into a piece of wearable art that polishes every outfit you put on—and the trick lies in picking the right pair. Try these tips on for size:
Consider your face shape
The first step in picking specs perfect for helping you accessorise involves asking yourself a straightforward question: ‘what glasses suit my face?’ The simple shape of a pair of frames can significantly alter how you look once you put them on—which is why you need to make sure it complements your own facial contours. Essentially, your goal here is to pick a pair of glasses that balances your face shape and helps it look more symmetrical, taking your visual appeal to the next level. As per Glasses Direct, you’ll most likely fall into one of seven common face shape categories that can guide your decision: oblong, diamond, square, heart, triangle, oval, and round.
Simpler, symmetrical faces will easily pair well with contrasting frames, such as square faces with round glasses and round faces with boxier specs. For more elongated oblong and oval faces, opting for oversized, curved designs over compact and narrow rectangular glasses will prevent you from overemphasising the length of your bone structure. Meanwhile, asymmetrical face shapes like diamonds, hearts, and triangles will suit rimless specs with frames that aren’t too top- or bottom-heavy, as they’ll help balance everything out.
That said, how do you determine what your face shape is in the first place? Consider tucking your hair out of the way, looking into the mirror, and marking your face’s outline on the glass with a lipstick or dry-erase marker.
Complement your skin tone and hair colour
If you intend to use your prescription glasses as a fashion accessory, you’ll have to match the shade of its frames to you—just like you do your clothes—for the same reason why people get colour consultations. The process of ‘getting your colours done’ continues to grow more popular as more people use it to guide their wardrobe choices and craft looks that better enhance their overall appearance.
Fortunately, reaping the same benefits from your glasses can be easier than checking if you’re more suited to a ‘summer’ or ‘autumn’ palette. All you need to do is use the theory of colour harmony to match your glasses to your skin and hair. ‘Harmonious’ colours sit beside each other on the colour wheel. A great example group is red, orange, and yellow. You can start by determining whether your skin’s undertone is warm, neutral, or cool by looking at the veins on your wrists—blue or purple veins for cool, green for warm, and a mix of both for neutral. You can also pinpoint the dominant colour characteristic of your hair, such as red, blonde, or brown.
From here, simply choose a harmonious glasses frame shade to match. Warm skin tones, for instance, will go great with earthy tortoiseshell or gold metallic frames, while cool ones will match blue, silver, or silver metallic specs. Those with neutral skin tones can freely pick anything. You can also apply colour harmony principles to your hair—such as by pairing red or brown frames with auburn or brunette locks.
Go for a signature style
Once you’ve pinpointed the best shape and colour for your stylish new glasses, have fun shopping! Looking for frames that both uniquely suit you and carry your signature style will help you better use these accessories to show off your personality. Think different textures, embellishments, and oversized specs à la Iris Apfel.
The best part about this step is that you can truly take the time to experiment. Play with different colours, check out the weight of various frames, and see how accent details like logos and even jewels can add to the drama and flair your new glasses provide. If you need ideas on where to start, you can always look to luxury brands for inspiration—you’ll find that plenty of them bring timeless glasses looks to the next level.
One standout here is the latest line of optical accessories from Christian Louboutin. Though best known for his red-soled heels, the iconic designer’s new eyewear collection—which spans both sunglasses and prescription specs, takes classic frames and makes them even more stylish. With models like the Dolly and Greggo transforming classic cat-eyes and even retro, pilot-style frames using palmette pattern crafted metal and bejewelled red studs, it’s clear how prescription glasses can go beyond simply enhancing your features to showcase your unique style.
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