5 timeless glasses that never go out of style

Just when we thought our skinny jeans and high-rise pants were “in,” the fashion scene demanded more of us with wide-legged trousers and — gasp — low rise jeans. (Is there any way to keep up with the trends these days?)

While we try (desperately) to navigate today’s rapidly changing fashion, we’re clinging tightly to the timeless staple we love most — eyewear. Because if there’s any look that can stand the test of time, it’s a classy pair of spectacles. 

Speaking of spectacles. If you’re in the marketfor glasses, consider one of these forever classics curated by our very own glasses brand, The Framery.

The cateye

While the cateye may be slender and mysterious on the surface, we’d be willing to bet that it would win an arm wrestling match every time. Just its bold, sweeping browline alone would bring an incomprehensible level of fierceness against its opponent, and don’t even get us started on those cat-like reflexes.

Known for its sassy, upturned ends (that resemble a feline’s ears), the classic cateye has graced us with its presence for decades, adorning fashion icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe. And though it gets a modernized redesign every so often, this ‘50s throwback is here to stay.

Get the look: 

These modernized cateyes will sweep you right off your feet and through the next decade: Gwen, Georgette, Presley, and of course… Marilyn.

The hipster square

Okay, “hipster square” kind of sounds like a Portland-based coffee shop, we’ll give you that. But this geek-chic square frame is known for its masculine lines and subtle curves that perfectly reflect the minimal attitude of its mid-century origins. In the Buddy Holly era where aesthetics were everything, these understated frames arrived just in time to turn up the "coolness" factor everyone was after.

And they are, indeed, cool. These beloved squares made a big comeback in the ‘90s grunge rock scene (probably because they so perfectly hint at unstable dangerousness), taking off again in the early 00’s with vintage-inspired actress Zooey Deschanel, and finally being embraced by every hipster on the planet.

The hipster square is a fan favorite that looks good on any and all genders, so hipster or not, you can’t go wrong.

Get the look:

Get a cup of organic, locally sourced coffee made with the finest beans that you cultivated yourself and check out these picks: Wales, Wren, Hayden, or Frankie.

The aviator

Aviators are all over the runway, which is fitting for a style that came from the literal runway. First worn by pilots to protect their eyes from ultraviolet sunlight, metal aviators are both timeless and effortlessly cool. We can thank movies like Top Gun for making these functional frames such a fashion statement. And probably for the uptick in flying lessons. 

Get the look:

Put on the sunglasses version of the Atlas, Newport, or Summit and take a ride in the danger zone.

The perfectly round

Round frames have existed since the inception of glasses. And while we have a whole plethora of spectacles to choose from now, the OG’s (original glasses) have never left the spotlight. There’s something about their perfectly symmetrical circles that evoke an aura of intellectualism. At some point, someone came along and said, “this is what geniuses wear” and we all just went with it. Plus, if they’re good enough for tech prodigies and wizards, they’re good enough for us.

Get the look:

Wear the Oakley, Quinn, Saaz, or Sedgwick while you solve the Diophantine equation.

The tortoise shell

Alright, so tortoise shell may not be a frame type, but there’s no denying that this gorgeous, marble-toned finish, designed to look like a turtle shell, is a bona fide classic. And you know what else? It has quite an interesting backstory. In the 1920s, glasses makers used actual tortoise shells to embellish frames. But tortoise shell glasses today are made with poured acetate.

Get the look:

Dawn a pair of fancy loafers and head to our tortoise filter at The Framery.

Are any of these timeless styles calling your name? You can try them on virtually right now using your web camera. When you find the frame you like, select the “virtual try-on” toggle below the product image and follow the prompts to get started. How cool is that? Aviator cool, at least.