If you are going to buy one pair of glasses, please buy tortoise shell, black, or a a blendable neutral. But if you are going to buy two (or more) pair of glasses, then this post is for you.  I wear glasses at least 5 days a week, so having a few fun pair in my rotation is essential.  I honestly don't think you can make a better choice on your second pair of glasses than to go bold on color -- and red glasses are my statement of choice for fall and winter 2014.

Prodesign 1705 via

The dust is just settling on New York Fashion Week's Spring/Summer 2015 shows, and as always the street style was as much on display as the designer's runway looks.  Sunglasses were on prominent display again this year, but one trend was a resounding winner: Mirrored Sunglasses.  Whether you paired them with classic aviators or bold plastic frames, wore them in the new-again round shapes or more traditional lens cuts, or sported the mirrors in color hues from blue to red, these sunglasses were everywhere.

Amber tinted mirrored sunglasses give an edge to a more feminine bow-tie blouse and a-line skirt via

Similar effect here -- a soft, feminine dress when paired with mirrored wayfarers and a color block clutch can look quite edgy via

Jessica Minkoff, Marie Claire's Senior Marketing Editor wears blue mirrored sunglasses outside of the Rodarte show via

Mirrored shades get the architectural treatment via

Blue mirrored shades and sneakers give a nice contrast to this board-room ready blouse and skirt via

Model Behati Prinsloo pairs mirrored aviators to bring her 90's inspired grunge street style into 2014 relevancy via

Blue mirrored shades were popular with men too as seen via

The take away?  Mirrored sunglasses are very versatile -- you can pair them with almost any look and add an element of futuristic edge.  While the look is definitely strong, if you talk to people in the optical industry, you might hear some negative feedback.  Mirrored lenses can have some associated glare (the front surface is nothing but reflection when you add mirrors), so if you are glare sensitive or want sunglasses with the best vision of your life, don't get mirrored lenses.  But if you are wanting to embrace a really fashion-forward trend that is here to stay (for the next season at least), mirrored lenses are definitely a style to embrace!

Are you feeling the trend?  Please post any links to mirrored sunglass styles that you are liking and I will be happy to feature them in a coming post!

photos via Melissa DeLorme Photography

The glasses trends of 2014 have been pretty resounding: cat-eye has been back with a vengeance, and even if you were at first tempted to think "been there, done that," it may be time to reconsider.  Whether you choose to mix in metal details or go with bold color pairings, cat-eye frames are feeling new again because designers aren't relying on the shape for the visual interest.  If you really want to embrace everything that is 2014 this fall, you can't go wrong by selecting a cat-eye shape with a color effect.  For today's post, our featured cat-eye frame has a two-tone fade effect, where the darker brown color near the top fades to clear plastic towards the bottom of the eyepiece.  If you are someone who has tended to stick with rimless frames, going with light or clear tones is a great way to try the more fashion-forward plastic frames without feeling caged inside your glasses.  The last thing you want is a big black frame constantly disrupting your peripheral vision if you are used to seeing no rim at all.  Totally clear plastic frames can be quite difficult to wear, however, since they can easily skew towards safety-glasses in appearance. Utilizing a slight color fade to break up a clear plastic can be just what you need to successfully pull of this look!
Need some frame inspiration to achieve your cat-eye fade effect for fall?

If you are feeling a little more adventurous, try the horizontal cat-eye fade by Cutler and Gross

Or try the fade effect in sunglasses with these Vera Wang cat-eyes

Hopefully everyone has wonderful plans for the fourth -- be it relaxing at home or enjoying some time outdoors (hopefully if you are going to North Carolina beaches things will be clearing up later this holiday weekend from Hurricane Arthur).  No matter where your travels take you, the 4th of July is typically a time spent outside so be sure to protect your eyes with your favorite pair of sunglasses.  Here's some Independence Day inspired looks if you need some last minute suggestions to get you in the spirit:  Red  Alexander McQueen Sunglasses via
White Michael Kors Jemma Aviators via


Blue Mirrored Ray Bans via



And if you want it all---Sheriff & Cherry Americana Sunglasses via

 The color pairing here really gives the frame dimension, making for a more sophisticated look than your average colorful pair of plastic frames.



All photos are via Melissa DeLorme Photography

Is there one glasses frame color that will never go out of style? Your best bet: tortoise shell.  There may not be a single more versatile color in the universe. We've all been brow-beaten by our grandmothers to not to mix black and brown, but tortoise shell can mix with anything.  It's brown, it's black, it's got gold and ivory undertones.  It just works.  If you are trying to find a frame that will last for years, and be a glasses-staple in your wardrobe, I always recommend shopping in this color range.

They are called "frames" for a reason.  Glasses can enhance your natural face shape attributes (just check out my posts on the best frames for your face shape to see how).  With a neutral like tortoise shell, you can let the shape of the frame make the statement for your look (and your own natural beauty shine through).  Overtly oversized frames are quickly fading into the past, so skip the extra large frames in the men's section.  2014 is trending much more natural -- look for a frame whose depth, or vertical length, is about two times larger than your eye, and where your eye is well centered in the horizontal width.  Bigger than this was popular in years past, but will look quite juvenile by 2014 standards.



Two: Pop of Gold

Looking for something with a little more punch?  I love pairing tortoise shell with gold for a stronger statement.  Gold is still your metal of choice in 2014, and there are no signs of the gold phenomenon fading any time soon.  Tortoise shell naturally has gold highlights, so the color story flows quite naturally.  Look for a pop of gold in the temples or in a two-tone effect along the face of the frame.

One thing is always true about fashion: we love to recycle the past.  Glasses styles are definitely no exception, and this spring no vintage look is having a bigger moment than horn-rimmed specs.  It is popping up everywhere from Ray Ban's classic Clubmaster shades being relaunched in every spectrum of the rainbow, to ophthalmics embracing a new take on the geek-chic look that has become played out in the oversized trends of years past.

With (hopefully) one last blast of winter leaving the Carolinas, it's been hard to go back to wearing sweaters for the last few days.  How can you make sweaters feel less tired?  By pairing them with a fashion forward pair of glasses of course.  Once again, cat-eye frames are a major staple of the Spring 2014 runway.  Here's a look at how resident glasses style expert, Dr. S, is styling her transition into spring.



Cat-Eyes can be worn by most any face shape, but the more subtle the up-turn of the frame at the temples, the more universally flattering the frame. Below, the BCBG frame featured cat-eye effect is very minimal, for a more subdued (and very wearable) look.


Dark frames transition easily from winter into spring, or any season for that matter.  You can mix and match with every possible outfit when your glasses are dark brown or black.  Everyone needs a darker color of frames for the sheer versatility.  You can dress them up or dress them down.  These are your staple pair of glasses, but that doesn't mean they have to be boring.  When you pick a dark, basic color, aim for a little bit of style in the frame shape, and that's where the cat-eye look can be a great option!





If you really want to transition your look into spring, though, pick a pop of color!  The cat-eye shape really stands out when a bright color is used along the temples.  A bright blue here gives this frame a much stronger pop, but any bright or bold color will treat you well this spring.  Violet, pink, and orange are very popular accent colors this season too.

Frame: Clearvision, BCBG  Style: Julietta   Color: Blue/Tan

All photos in this post are from the talented Melissa Delorme Photography