Eyestylist

Finding the perfect frame fit – like the perfect shoe – needn’t be a challenge…if you know where to look! Eyewear creators enhance their collections with beautiful frames that compliment smaller faces – with original and creative designs; contemporary materials; and extraordinary colours. Among our favourite selections is Mlle+41 (above) –  an innovative design by theo in Belgium. The dramatic shape gives the appearance of a larger frame, but is scaled to fit and flatter smaller faces, and the distinctive finish is a mix of shiny and brushed acetate. www.theo.be

Bright and cheerful is Blakey in HD acetate by l.a. Eyeworks in a zingy colour christened Red Hen. The frame is created with a 44mm eye size – but radiates a big presence. The neatly tailored edges and end-tip details add to the luminosity of the design. www.laeyeworks.com

Shimmering turquoise acetate highlights Tantot by Lafont Paris. The uncluttered, contemporary shape is comfortable and lightweight, and an excellent silhouette for smaller faces. Check out more designs at www.lafont.com

Stainless steel and Polyamide unite in a 3D laser design – D14 – by Tom Stevens at Stevens Eyewear in The Netherlands. The sleek frame in a smart duo of navy blue and a matt grey trim is crafted in the Tom Stevens atelier, where traditional spectacle making combines with the latest technology. www.stevenseyewear.com

This glamorous frame – PMO35 by J.F. Rey – is especially adapted for women with small faces. Animal print acetate is teamed with a stainless steel brow trim in gold and bronze, and an echo of Art Deco. Feminine and chic! www.jfrey.fr JG

No longer are there one or two key sunglass trends in a season. This year, the choice in shapes, dimensions and colour combinations by independent designers extends down a very creative path. The much loved classic round designs have been joined by squares, octagons, multi-sided lenses and slightly rarer triangular eye shapes, as illustrated in Smoke & Mirrors Sodapop sunglasses (5) where a small modified triangle is superimposed on a pearlescent white “main” frame. www.smokexmirrors.com

Hybrid designs – two shapes in one – are also a good example of what’s new and trending.

The innovative French label Peter & May Walk have created some wonderful catwalk designs with this concept in mind – model Cloud Cuckoo Land is a favourite with its round outer eye shape in a two-tone colour display and cute, flirtatious cat eye lens within. More details at : www.peterandmaywalk.com

Fakoshima, the conceptual Russian brand best known for its eye-popping sunglasses, has launched Struktur, a Bauhaus inspired collection of optical frames with sharp lines, subdued colours, and an architectural approach to the shapes and their defining details. Style 08/02/06 mixes the form of a cat eye with a flat top: it’s a gutsy design that converts the more feminine upswept shaping into a design that provides a unique statement for both men and women. www.fakoshima.com CN