Mini style guide with a huge perspective: spectacles and fashion – an unbeatable team

There are some people that have the same fashion style from morning to night – for almost every day of their lives. Finding the perfect pair of spectacles for these straightforward souls is quite easy. But what about the spontaneous people, the individualists or the fashionistas, who never settle for just one pair of spectacles, but change them constantly according to their mood? They can find inspiration in the compact guideline from BETTER VISION, a mini style guide that helps you to find the perfect model of spectacles – depending on the occasion or your style preferences. Here are our suggestions for how you can combine fashion and spectacle frames in order to achieve your own trendy fashion mix.

Once upon a time, they were a tiresome necessity for an unfortunate few who would grind their teeth as they put them on to maintain clear vision – today, spectacles have become the most popular fashion accessory. The current hype surrounding the visual aid, which was once a subject of ridicule, has gone so far that hip contemporaries now wear spectacles fitted with plain glass lenses, simply because they want to be one of those stylish spectacle wearers. Even in Hollywood, spectacles have almost become a must-have accessory. The red carpet ceremonies are full of stars and starlets sporting the latest eyewear trends. But what is the correct way of using this accessory? It's actually very simple: anything you like goes. The shape of the spectacles naturally has to suit the shape of the wearer's face. In other words, the shape of the spectacles should contrast the shape of the face, rather than mimic it. For instance, a round face should be complemented with angular spectacles. Your trusted optician will be able to provide you with expert advice regarding the different options you have.

And although spectacles are yet another accessory to which the freedom of fashion applies – however, there are a few ground rules that should be considered to prevent your look from being too eccentric:

If you are looking for spectacles that will have a positive effect on your career and complement both elegant and conservative outfits, then a classic and understated spectacles frame is the best option. Rimless spectacles would be a suitable choice in this occasion, as they complement any kind of suit for both men and women. A classic metal frame would also be a suitable alternative. Although they may appear a little harsher, angular spectacle frames, made of horn or black plastic, are totally fashionable. They provide an attractive contrast to the pencil skirt and blouse combination or the slim-fit shift dress. As a general rule, you should avoid bright colour combinations or overly conspicuous design elements when choosing spectacles for a business environment.

Anyone who favours a sporty look during leisure time certainly knows how to show their true colours. Multicoloured spectacles tend to make life quite difficult, especially when it comes to choosing what to wear, as plain coloured clothes are the only real option. Differently, anyone happy to wear their favourite colour again and again can create fashionable twists to add a bit of variety. The trend of dressing up in a pair of regular jogging trousers with a blazer and high heels can be taken one step further by adding a splash of colour. Green, purple, red and blue are the most popular colours in dominant plastic frames. If you prefer the college style look in your free time, then classic aviator spectacles or timeless horn-rimmed spectacles are the best options for staying in fashion. Even the actress Uma Thurman has been spotted wearing horn-rimmed spectacles while shopping.

Whether students, artists (of life) or advertising freaks – for many spectacle wearers, spectacles are not only an accessory and visual aid, but also an expression of their attitude to life. These creative types can be recognised by their retro-style, dark plastic spectacle frames. For decades, these so-called "nerd spectacles" were considered to be old fashioned, but today they are a must-have for fashionistas, celebrities and the creatively inclined. The spectacles that have always simply been referred as "horn-rimmed spectacles", work with any style – despite how eccentric, extravagant or sexy the style is. However, more on the nerd spectacles are mentioned below.

Another red hot tip among trendsetters are the circular spectacles that have been made popular by Whoopi Goldberg for years. Beatles fans would surely interject at this point and say that John Lennon also made a significant contribution to the success of this style of spectacles, but regardless if they are made out of plastic or metal, they are a hip and fashionable accessory. The round or angular creative spectacles are perfectly suited to 70s-style outfits comprising flared trousers and fringed waistcoats as well as flower-print dresses, maxi skirts and hot pants. They can also be teamed with the simple, sophisticated and traditionally black outfits dominated in the creative industries.

What are your options if you can't do without your spectacles, but you need something that will complement your evening look? Many stars opt for rimless spectacles when they grace the red carpet, as Faye Dunaway did. Michelle Pfeiffer, on the other hand, has been spotted wearing horn-rimmed spectacles at least once – a beautiful contrast to her delicate features. The concept of "opposites attract" is definitely the thing to keep in mind when combining spectacles with evening wear. If the dress is elaborate and an eye-catcher, it is certainly advisable to opt for a more modest style of spectacles – unless, of course, you like to model yourself on Sophia Loren. In that case, the motto is "Don't be modest; if you've got it, flaunt it". The actress loves to wear large, sophisticated spectacles. Women, who prefer to go out in a suit, should match this look with a pair of round spectacles. This helps to soften the severity of the look. In contrast, a pretty dress can be teamed perfectly well with angular spectacles.

Anyone that flits between different occasions and styles, but wants to be able to wear the same pair of spectacles, will find satisfaction in the "half-frame spectacles" trend with a pair of so-called nylon spectacles. This model is by no means insignificant in comparison to other styles, because it suits everybody and can be worn in combination with any look and for any occasion. Half-frame spectacles appear quite serious on the one hand, but they also look very fashionable at the same time.

Let us revert to the nerd spectacles that we mentioned earlier. For many celebrities, they are an essential fashion must-have and are clearly very popular with the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Hugh Grant. The patterned plastic frames, either in black or brown, are actually quite standard in the fashion world, but at the same time, they are a fashion statement. It would be hard to find an occasion or outfit, for which this accessory would be deemed unsuitable. Apparently, some people are such big spectacles fans that, in the absence of having a visual impairment, they wear nerd spectacles fitted with plain glass lenses or even without any lenses at all.

These spectacles can become a fashionable trademark. A prime example of this can be seen in the case of the Greek singer Nana Mouskouri. She has been known for and associated with her black, dominant spectacles for decades, which she wears with romantic-style dresses and elegant evening looks. She consciously makes a virtue of necessity. In her earlier years, she was ridiculed for wearing the supposedly old-fashioned spectacle frames. Today, she can only be considered a trendsetter, because the rather severe looking and black model that she wears would also be best placed in the nerd spectacles category. Please do excuse us for simply talking about one pair of spectacles, as the international star naturally has several pairs. It is rumoured that the singer has more than 100 different models of this style of spectacles.

• Contrasts are always a good thing. This means: a romantic-style, silk dress looks great in combination with horn-rimmed spectacles, whereas a more severe looking outfit benefits from the softness of round, hippy-style spectacles.
  
• Show your true colours! A purple blouse can most definitely be teamed with bright red spectacles. However, take care when wearing pastel colours. Only metal or plastic frames in black, brown, or a similar pastel colour, are suitable in this case.
  
• Spectacles with a conspicuous design are quite difficult to match with different looks. You better stick to one colour when choosing what to wear.
  
• Be careful of going over the top! Spectacles with elaborate embellishments, large springs or oversized screws are sufficiently eye-catching on their own. These types of spectacles are best teamed with a simple outfit to keep your look from being "over the top".
  
• Suitable for every occasion: rimless, metal-rimmed or horn-rimmed spectacles truly go with everything and are suitable for every occasion. Our tip: opt for this style when purchasing your first pair of spectacles so that you can be more experimental the next time around.