Beyond wearing glasses and sunglasses for eye care and vision correction, many people turn to the eyewear industry to satisfy their style and fashion cravings. The global eyewear boom is experiencing rapidly shifting preferences and lifestyle changes among consumers. As such, industry experts expect the global eyewear market size to grow to $76 billion by 2027.
Given how the market and consumer base continue to grow, external factors such as ongoing innovations and fashion trends help shape what eyewear looks like. Below, we’ll look at some of the hottest trending eyewear frames to help you keep up:
Bayonetta glasses
Hailing back to the “geek chic” trend from the 90s and early 2000s, Bayonetta glasses are named after the titular character from the popular video game. The eyewear may seem like deceptively simple; black eyeglasses with long square or oval frames. However, because of their popularity in the 90s and 00s movies like The Devil Wears Prada, there is a timelessness to this unassuming, chic glasses style.
At the forefront of the Bayonetta glasses’ comeback is model Bella Hadid. She sported the accessory throughout her Instagram page’s recent posts. Coincidentally, the Bayonetta renaissance fits well with another major fashion trend that Hadid is spearheading. This is called the “Office Siren” — an aesthetic based on 90s American office wear.
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Chunky-style frames
If you’re on TikTok, you’ve probably seen the Prada shades craze that took over the fashion side of the platform in 2023. Chunky frames have been in for a while. Many luxury sunglasses brands are cashing in on the trend. Luxury brand Prada was the face of this trend. Its Symbole sunglasses took over the Internet and Hollywood, from NBA athletes to Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.
Black seems to be the go-to color for these chunky frames. However, other luxury brands offer different frame and lens color options for those looking for a bold accent piece. For example, Versace’s VE4361 Biggie comes in bold neon Green and Yellow fluo colors. At the same time, Burberry’s BBE05 has more decadent color options like Light Havana and Bordeaux. Perfect for those who want a splash of color while maintaining subtlety.
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Maximalist designs
Perhaps an acquired taste, maximalist eyewear design is not for everyone. Capitalizing on “more is more,” maximalist eyewear is ideal for those seeking a break from minimalist, sleek, and black frames. Recently, Gentle Monster announced its lineup of jelly sunglasses. This is a collection of playful eyewear inspired by various types of gummy candies.
These GUMMY and YUMMY models come in matte-finished and translucent looks and feature a spectrum of pastel gradients. In line with the maximalism, all eyewear from the new collections features a wraparound silhouette that is sure to pop out from your face and comes in a large pouch reminiscent of the plastic packaging that gummy candies usually come in.
3D-printed frames
Finally, in this digital and technological age, an exciting eyewear development outside of AI and smart glasses. This is the rise of 3D printing in the manufacturing and design process. Designer John Mauriello recently experimented with a series of 3D-printed sunglasses. Much like the maximalist frames mentioned above, these boast incredible aesthetics based on the four elements — earth, wind, water, and fire.
Beyond high-art experimentations, 3D printing eyewear can create opportunities for luxury brands to develop high-end and exclusive eyewear that caters to their market. Specific 3D printing techniques can even promote sustainable eyewear production using eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient hardware.
