Featured

Woman with purple oversized glasses resting her cheek on her hand against a bright yellow backdrop, wearing a burgundy blazer.

Eyewear trends: lilac and purple

27th August 2026

The colour purple – a universally flattering shade for the face – is back in frame fashion this season

In eyewear fashion, purple tends to crop up regularly. In our 15 years online, we’ve seen this colour and all its lilac and violet variants return in different seasons – every three to four years, at the very least. Colour experts in general say purple is flattering and versatile precisely because it mixes blue and red, cool and hot tones, and for the face the effect can be impactful or more subtle depending on the saturation of the shade and the different effects of transparency and opacity.. Above and below: WOOW Eyewear’s new model ‘On Off’: strong and expressive – this interesting asymmetrical frame comes in a bold transparent violet paired with temples in a delicate Havana print

Purple oversized sunglasses with multicolored spike accents along the frame, view from side. (Informative product shot) — From Spain, something spectacular from NINA MÛR created with the artist OKUDA San Miguel

MIDO 6-8 February 2027. Welcome to Eyewearland

SILMO Paris - The Optical Fair. 25th - 28th September 2026

LOFT Santa Monica Show October 16th and 17th

Spanish eyewear brand NINA MÛR loves this colour palette, and features it in their Limited Edition with the Spanish artist OKUDA San Miguel. For the natural plywood frames, the tone has a striking vibrancy, rendered in matt and matched with bright details corresponding to OKUDA’s distinctive and colourful style. The collection was announced this summer and will be on show for the first time at SILMO PARIS, find out more at .https://www.eyestylist.com/2026/06/artist-collaboration-okuda-x-nina-mur/ and www.ninamur.com

Tucana by ARCUS Paris – an eyewear brand with a jewellery concept – the frames are hand-drilled and pierced with decorative elements by the designer, Amanda Cheng

From the French brand Arcus, the Tucana sunglasses are bold and edgy and come in this bright violet shade with the signature silver piercings. Arcus Paris has just announced a partnership with Marc Le Bihan and will have their eyewear collection in their stores; a launch pop-up event in Paris at 39 rue Etienne Marcel (28th October to 6th October) will mark the launch of the optical line. ARCUS Paris was founded in 2023 by Amanda Cheng, a Malaysian-born designer. Find out more at www.arcusparis.com

This is an Eyestylist Exclusive and AI was not used to write the feature. The frames featured are new and current for the new season.

Open black and tan leather eyeglasses case with brown-framed glasses inside on a light speckled surface.

Reviews

Diffuser Tokyo: fine leather eyewear cases with SOMÉS Saddle

5th August 2026

The Japanese accessories brand launched its handcrafted patchwork leather eyewear cases at Mido earlier this year – they are among the most popular styles of the season in this collection, thanks to a level of refinement and finishing that is rare in the business

Diffuser Tokyo, the Japanese eyewear accessories brand known for design excellence and innovation – continues to grow its accessory collections produced to compliment fine eyewear. The patchwork leather eyewear cases are among the latest pieces, and showcase outstanding craftsmanship by one of Japan’s finest leather manufacturers, SOMÉS Saddle. The cases feature a unique patchwork construction made from premium-quality leather, fine stitching and attractive detailing that also ensures the products will withstand the test of time. Above: leather case by Diffuser Tokyo with SOMÉS Saddle, one of their outstanding new pieces for 2026

Diffuser Tokyo: handcrafted leather eyewear case with a mix of leather finishes

“It is a product that is rarely seen, even within the leather goods industry, and we believe it truly reflects the highest level of Japanese craftsmanship….” Masaki Hirose, Diffuser Tokyo

Diffuser Tokyo: the minimal pouch-style design made with SOMÉS Saddle

SOMÉS Saddle is a Japanese leather goods manufacturer known for its equestrian saddlery and finely crafted leather bags. Many of the products they create are handmade using specialist techniques developed for equestrian equipment where characteristics such as strength and durability are essential. Diffuser Tokyo is a leading maker of fine eyewear accessories. The brand has collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned eyewear brands. Find out more about the full collection at https://www.diffuser-tokyo.com

Close-up of a woman wearing oversized brown sunglasses against a marble wall backdrop.

Design + Inspiration

Trends for summer 2026: sculptural oval sunglasses

23rd June 2026

Oval sunglasses inspired by the 1990s continue to be a feature of the independent eyewear collections. The most alluring styles from independent designers are sculptural with subtle curves and definition in the eye-catching detailing and handcrafted bevelling

A feminine classic, worn by icons and adored by designers, the oval sunglasses style is a summer essential again this year. Reemerging as a favourite shape for several seasons, this summer the style comes in interesting sculptural iterations, with playful layering and thicker constructions creating a new distinctive character in each look. Above: Tanger by Lafont Paris

Red oval sunglasses with brown gradient lenses, front view and arms extended outward. — Tanger by Lafont Paris

Lafont Paris interprets the femininity of the oval style through its historic archives. Model Tanger is the latest in a long line of Lafont ovals, dating back through decades and produced in the Jura using traditional artisanal techniques. Like the collector’s Pacifique and the layered or “sculpted” Electre before it, model Tanger is a striking model this season – a celebration of femininity with a distinguished retro feel that conveys the brand’s rich heritage. Historic creative eyewear brands such as Lafont Paris continue to develop creative eyewear collections by means of their close and long-standing relationship with their makers in the Jura and a fastidious attention to specialist design concepts with fine workmanship to interpret every nuance and detail with precision. Find out more at www.lafont.com

Selima Optique has a legacy of styling eyewear icons; Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wore Selima sunglasses in the 1990s – model Carolyn, pictured, is based on the original Aldo oval sunglasses

One of the most influential oval-shaped styles of the 1990s – the Aldo by Selima Optique – has had an enduring success. The original model Aldo was worn by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy at the time, and became her signature eyewear shape. The Carolyn sunglasses, based on the original Aldo were worn by the actress playing Carolyn – Sarah Pidgeon – in the 2026 TV series Love Story. This frame comes in a variety of colours including auburn tortoise and classic black. www.selimaoptique.com

Pink plastic sunglasses with rounded lenses, viewed from front-left on a white background. — Cal Akoya by the Belgian brand Komono, an oval lens in a modified oval-cateye design – an example of a trendy, thick-rimmed, structural acetate piece

Cal Akoya by Komono is part of “Turritella”, an edition that celebrates vibrant colour, fluid forms and the power of creativity rooted in nature. These frames have curves, contours and details with an organic look inspired by Turritella shells – the elongated tower shells that have a distinctive twisted effect. www.komono.com

This feature is by Clodagh Norton / www.eyestylist.com. We selected three frames by independent eyewear brands to reflect the current popularity of the sculptural oval-shaped eyewear designs. AI was not used in the process. All rights reserved.

Design + Inspiration

Trends update: sport inspired eyewear, a continuing theme

10th June 2026

Sport influences remain strong – and growing (AW 2026/27) – in ready-to-wear and mainline sunglass and optical collections – look for tech details created with a particularly luxurious finish, a consistent exploration of the potential of functional details for enhanced comfort and a noteworthy use of sports details to inspire new design concepts with a superior build and contemporary edge…all the examples selected and cited by Eyestylist.com show focus on technical excellence and performance for particular wearer needs – without compromising on style and good design

Sport influences in the main line collections are nothing new. Yet this season and into 2027, sport inspiration is a driving focus for some eyewear designers. Even the subtlest details, shapes or material finishes may be informed by a sports aesthetic, with new iterations of masks and wrap sunglasses in the premium, luxury and avant-garde collections.

There have also been a number of intriguing collaborations between independent eyewear brands, fashion labels, and even events which propose luxe, sports-infused performance models that perfectly fuse qualities from different worlds. They include KITON x L.G.R, Article One x Mission Workshop and Brett x Wheels and Waves – and announced just in the last 24 hours, RONALDINHO x DITA, in light of the upcoming World Cup. This collection is billed as “a shared vision of artistry, performance, and individuality”.

Above: KITON x L.G.R, a collaboration collection launched earlier in the year, the styles were developed to translate KITON’s sartorial aesthetic into an essential elegant, high-tech accessory, “capable of combining style, performance, and optical innovation”. The style pictured is an 8-base curved wraparound which features Barberini mineral glass polarised sun lenses – www.lgrworld.com

Front view of white sunglasses with green lenses on a white background. — Article One – Manistee sunglasses

Frames by Article One, including those featured in its collab with Mission Workshop blend performance and a tasteful minimal design aesthetic for sports enthusiasts who seek a pared-back contemporary design for all activities. Retangular and confident, the Manistee sunglasses brings quiet athleticism through the double-bar format and subtle surface sculpting. Custom integrated spring hinges and adjustable pads ensure a precision fit, while TR18 polarized lenses add performance to the optics. Acetate with hand polished and matte finishes, highlight its depth and crafted presence. Find out more about the collection at www.articleoneeyewear.com

SALT. Optics – model Hatch is a sporty wrap in luxe Japanese acetate

SALT’s 20 Year Collection honours the brand’s history with inspired wrap designs, handcrafted in Japan. The bold sporty acetate wrap shapes are inspired by SALT’s early designs dating back to 2006, interpreted with refinement through Japanese craftsmanship and remarkable attention to detail – and made to elevate any look, from surf-inspired looks to streetwear layers. Interior matting, newly developed hardware, and SALT.’s proprietary stopper hinges reflect a level of precision and durability that sets these frames apart. Finished with 8-base Japanese polarized lenses and a 20th anniversary plaque, each limited-production piece is built to feel elevated, refined, and one of a kind. www.saltoptics.com

Avantgarde label VAVA is also an interested in sports design and how it can influence structure – even in optical frame designs. Their new model WL0118 is a rectangular optical silhouette crafted from German silver and complemented by lightweight aluminium hinges. Defined by a minimalism aesthetic, and an unusual bridge detail, the frame looks unique and modern, with a subtle sports-infused design which gives it edge. www.vavaeyewear.com

Black-framed sunglasses with square green lenses, front view — BRETT x Wheels and Waves – the new WW2026 sunglasses

The French independent label BRETT collaborates with Wheels and Waves (a festival in Biarritz, South of France) to create technical designs combining functionality and attitude. The new WW2026 has a stainless-steel frame, reinterpreting BRETT Eyewear’s aesthetic through the bold and raw universe of Wheels and Waves. On the side shields, a welded metal section evokes the Wheels & Waves logo, like a machined component integrated directly into the frame. The matte, gunmetal, and black finishes reinforce the industrial and minimalist aesthetic, while the category 2 polarized CR39 lenses provide contrast, visual depth, and visual comfort in all riding conditions. Find out more at https://brett-eyewear.com

Luxury eyeglasses with rose-gold frames resting on a crystal pedestal against a dark background, showcasing the product's design.

Design + Inspiration

TVR®OPT introduce first edition in titanium, with Nakanishi 1928®

8th June 2026

A heritage collaboration in Japanese titanium, where archival TAKABO design is reimagined through contemporary Japanese craftsmanship and DUOTONE construction

Following the success of TVR®537 in 2024, TVR®OPT Japan and Nakanishi 1928® have unveiled two designs, TVR®538 and TVR®539, in a new collaboration uniting archival Japanese design heritage with contemporary titanium craftsmanship. Designed by fourth-generation craftsman, Masayoshi Nakanishi, the collection reinterprets TAKABO, an archival design dating back to the late 1930s, once crafted in celluloid and gold, and now reborn through a modern lens. Founded in 1928 in Fukuoka, Nakanishi 1928® has spent nearly a century preserving Japan’s artisanal eyewear traditions, evolving from precious metal craftsmanship to refined handmade frame making across four generations.

The TVR®538 and TVR®539 revive original the TAKABO temple and bridge designs, transformed into a contemporary double-rim titanium construction. Introducing the DUOTONE concept, each frame combines two distinct titanium finishes within a single structure — creating subtle depth, contrast, and architectural refinement. Above: TVR®539 in Black and Light Gold

Eyeglasses displayed on a glass platform against a dark background in a product shot. — TVR®538 in Antique Silver and Black

“One frame, one life — creations made with true dedication carry the memory and spirit of their maker”

— Masayoshi Nakanishi

The Nakanishi family crest is subtly engraved on the temples, reinforcing the brand’s lineage and cultural heritage. This collaboration also marks a significant milestone for TVR®OPT, known for its work in Zylonite, as it ventures into titanium eyewear for the first time. Partnering with Nakanishi 1928®, renowned for its expertise in metal frame artistry, brings authenticity and depth to this new direction.

Beyond aesthetics, the layered inner rim offers enhanced lens coverage, making the collection particularly suited for prescription wearers while maintaining a sleek metal profile. Available in two silhouettes — a refined semi-orbal shape and a classic oval — the collection balances vintage proportion with contemporary wearability. Inspired by traditional Japanese architectural joinery, the frames feature an interlocking screw assembly, resulting in durability with lightness and precision. Karakusa engravings elevate the design across the bridge, rims, and temples, while the Nakanishi family’s ancestral kamon is engraved as a subtle tribute to its samurai lineage and enduring heritage.

Find out more about the new models on Instagram at www.instagram.com/tvropt/ This feature was written by Clodagh Norton at Eyestylist.com. All rights reserved. AI was not used in the creation of this feature.