The Rise of Eyewear in Men’s Fashion

There’s no doubt that glasses and sunglasses are having their moment in men’s fashion. And it’s not just because of the recent resurgence in popularity of retro and vintage styles.

Glasses have become an essential part of many men’s style arsenals, whether they’re used for fashion or everyday function. But they’ve only solidified their place in fashion over the past few years. Part of this rise in popularity is due to “geek chic” styles, which embrace nerdy aesthetics and pair them with fashionable clothing. This has helped to make glasses more acceptable as a fashion accessory, even for men who don’t need them for vision correction.

That said, if you’re looking for some eyewear inspiration ideas, there is an endless array of lenses and frames to start with. Here’s a quick guide to the most popular types of men’s glasses on the market today.

Chunky Acetates

Fashionable and durable, chunky acetates have been popular for a few years now, and it doesn’t seem like their popularity is waning anytime soon. These thick-framed glasses add a touch of boldness and style to any outfit, and they work best on men with larger facial features, such as a larger pair of eyes, a larger nose, a longer face, and so on.

What’s more, these frames come in a variety of colors and materials, so you can find a pair that fits your personal style. A rule of thumb is to match the frame’s dominant color with your natural hair color. For instance, if you have dark hair, go for a pair of black or dark blue frames. If you have lighter hair, go for lighter hues like tortoise shell or ivory.

Fine Metal Glasses

Delicate, well-crafted, and often vintage-inspired, fine metal frames are perfect for the man who wants to add a touch of sophistication to his look without it dominating his whole outfit.

These glasses are usually made from high-quality metals like titanium, stainless steel, or gold, and they often feature intricate details that provide a subtle and sleek look. These frames are also typically made with thin metal wires, which makes them lightweight and comfortable to wear.

Unlike the chunky acetates, fine metal frames go best with men with fine bone structures and smaller facial features. They can also be a good choice for men who want to experiment with different lens shapes and colors, as the slender metal frames provide a delicate canvas for interesting lens designs.

Brow-Line Glasses

These glasses have been around for decades, and they’ve been through a few style iterations over the years. But don’t let its age fool you, the brow-line style is an absolute classic that continues to remain timeless and trendy after all these years.

The defining features of brow-line glasses are the thick upper frames that sit on your brow, hence the name. Hipster and retro subcultures have been key in the recent resurgence of this style, but it has also been seen in many celebrities and fashion icons over the years.

The thick upper frames can make brow-line glasses a bit heavy, but they’re typically balanced out by thinner metal wire or plastic arms.

For a comfortable and stylish pair of brow-line glasses, look for a pair with spring hinges and adjustable nose hinges, which allow the arms to flex and adapt to your head size. Specialty eyewear brands like Oscar Wylee offer a wide range of glasses like the browline fit for men of all styles.

Rimless Glasses

For the man who wants his glasses to be as unobtrusive and weightless as possible, rimless glasses are an excellent eyewear option. As the name suggests, rimless glasses don’t have any frames or rims around the lenses, which gives them a sleek, minimalist look.

However, just because rimless glasses lack a distinct frame, it doesn’t imply it’s any less attractive. In fact, rimless glasses can actually help to accentuate your facial features, as they tend to draw attention to your eyes, nose, and facial expressions.

Rimless glasses are also some of the most comfortable glasses on the market, as they don’t have any frames or arms that can cause irritation or pain. And because they’re so lightweight, you’ll hardly even notice you’re wearing them.

A chic and smart fashion item, rimless glasses are a great choice for any man who wants to add a touch of sophistication to his look.

Round Glasses

Another timeless style, round glasses have been worn by some of the most iconic men in history, including John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi, and Steve Jobs.

Round glasses are defined by their circular shape, which can either be lenses that are perfectly round or slightly oval. They often have thin metal frames, and they can come in a variety of colors and designs.

Round glasses are a great choice for men with square or rectangular faces, as the circular lenses help to soften the sharp angles of your face. They can also be a good choice for men with narrow jaws and slim cheekbones.

Modern designs continue to elevate the look of round glasses too. For instance, colored acetates have helped differentiate round glasses to look more fashionable than ever.