t is often said that the right type of accessory can discreetly steal the show and complete any look (read: the finishing touch) erstwhile functioning as both a tasteful conversation starter and a unique means in which to instantly express and convey one's underlying tastes and sartorial spirit.
Case in point: eyewear.
Often perceived as an organic component of many men’s appearances, on one side of the coin spectacles are viewed as being capable of —for those who prefer wearing but one, signature style throughout their adulthood — uniquely functioning as an eminently intriguing extension of one’s creative style persona and as such are a fashionable prerogative for the discerning gentleman of style and substance whose curated tastes are well grounded and merited — they believe that wearing a signature pair illustrates that you are stable, secure, and stylishly astute.
On the opposing side of the coin rests a peculiar set who harbour the will and desire of having a different style — a rotational turnstile as it were -- of eyewear selections for every evolving mood, social occasion, outfit, and season that befall them; in other words, one pair just simply won’t do for this camp of individuals who prefer a tailored form of eyewear flexibility from work to play that allows them to completely control their style narrative and too paint themselves in a new light — from serious through carefree and insouciant -- as they see fit on a daily basis.
These are, of course, two polarizing schools of thought as to the role of eyewear in a gentleman’s wardrobe that nonetheless converge into one prevailing belief: that eyewear is essential, transformative, and ripe for selective picking.
Notoriously difficult to shop for online (seeing as compatibly can only really be assessed through actual wear), there are nevertheless three essential components that must always be accounted for when buying eyewear of any kind (online or in-person) and they are as follow….
Often perceived as an organic component of many men’s appearances, on one side of the coin spectacles are viewed as being capable of —for those who prefer wearing but one, signature style throughout their adulthood — uniquely functioning as an eminently intriguing extension of one’s creative style persona and as such are a fashionable prerogative for the discerning gentleman of style and substance whose curated tastes are well grounded and merited — they believe that wearing a signature pair illustrates that you are stable, secure, and stylishly astute.
On the opposing side of the coin rests a peculiar set who harbour the will and desire of having a different style — a rotational turnstile as it were -- of eyewear selections for every evolving mood, social occasion, outfit, and season that befall them; in other words, one pair just simply won’t do for this camp of individuals who prefer a tailored form of eyewear flexibility from work to play that allows them to completely control their style narrative and too paint themselves in a new light — from serious through carefree and insouciant -- as they see fit on a daily basis.
These are, of course, two polarizing schools of thought as to the role of eyewear in a gentleman’s wardrobe that nonetheless converge into one prevailing belief: that eyewear is essential, transformative, and ripe for selective picking.
Notoriously difficult to shop for online (seeing as compatibly can only really be assessed through actual wear), there are nevertheless three essential components that must always be accounted for when buying eyewear of any kind (online or in-person) and they are as follow….
Beyond that, and for those that revel in getting lost in the details, other styling matters that are of immediate note include: bridge positioning (high, standard, low) and width; frame width (narrow, medium, or wide/oversized) and thickness; screw material (akulon-coated being advised); nose pad positioning; and last but certainly not least, lens type (anti-scratch, polarized, etc.), fabrication (polycarbonate being the most impact-resistant) and style (straight, angular, or rounded).
Styling nuances aside, it must be dually noted that (if chosen with an all-encompassing functionality in mind) spectacles can indeed be seasonless in wear and utility whilst being purposefully presupposed not explicitly to solely boost one’s vanity (or ego) but rather to either confer characteristic dignity, correct diminishing vision or to safeguard against harmful UV exposure (i.e. preventing photokeratitis, macular degeneration and even cataracts) and the premature development of dreaded crow’s feet (which is often brought to the fore by frequent squinting).
That being said, eyewear is (unlike the likes of the pocket square or the bracelet for instance) most assuredly the one accessory I’m sure that all men (of all walks of life) can agree upon is a quintessential wardrobe staple worldwide, irrespective of style preferences, cultural background, or vocation.
Be that as it may, naturally each one of us has his preference in terms of form and how to best leverage eyewear to the effect of molding our faces in a brighter light, however what I do imagine we all share is a sartorial penchant to match our accessories to our distinguishing style of dress; a shared desire, as it were, to wear accoutrements that not only best compliment a vast variety of our looks/outfits but that reflectively convey our unique signature sense of style harmoniously across all (professional, leisure and casual) channels and domains.
Ideally chosen (and sported) in a manner and style that does not draw any undue attention to oneself, when looking for a pair of exquisite spectacles you should also bear in mind (in addition to that stipulated above) that any given pair — from specialized sunglasses through prescription opticals -- should stop just short of the top of your brow and never be wider (in birth) then your face — the latter being an oft overlooked characteristic that speaks volumes unto your refined nature.
Styling nuances aside, it must be dually noted that (if chosen with an all-encompassing functionality in mind) spectacles can indeed be seasonless in wear and utility whilst being purposefully presupposed not explicitly to solely boost one’s vanity (or ego) but rather to either confer characteristic dignity, correct diminishing vision or to safeguard against harmful UV exposure (i.e. preventing photokeratitis, macular degeneration and even cataracts) and the premature development of dreaded crow’s feet (which is often brought to the fore by frequent squinting).
That being said, eyewear is (unlike the likes of the pocket square or the bracelet for instance) most assuredly the one accessory I’m sure that all men (of all walks of life) can agree upon is a quintessential wardrobe staple worldwide, irrespective of style preferences, cultural background, or vocation.
Be that as it may, naturally each one of us has his preference in terms of form and how to best leverage eyewear to the effect of molding our faces in a brighter light, however what I do imagine we all share is a sartorial penchant to match our accessories to our distinguishing style of dress; a shared desire, as it were, to wear accoutrements that not only best compliment a vast variety of our looks/outfits but that reflectively convey our unique signature sense of style harmoniously across all (professional, leisure and casual) channels and domains.
Ideally chosen (and sported) in a manner and style that does not draw any undue attention to oneself, when looking for a pair of exquisite spectacles you should also bear in mind (in addition to that stipulated above) that any given pair — from specialized sunglasses through prescription opticals -- should stop just short of the top of your brow and never be wider (in birth) then your face — the latter being an oft overlooked characteristic that speaks volumes unto your refined nature.
: The Clip-On Sunglass : Being naturally conspicuous whether worn for anonymity (read: going mysteriously incognito), strictly for protection (sunglasses), or out of functional need (i.e. prescription reading glasses), eyewear by-large is an accoutrement genre often under-appreciated in regards to its innately expressive powers of transformation and its abilities to accentuate, highlight, or flesh out character qualities in one’s face that would otherwise be indiscernible or underplayed — from cheek bones through thick brows and square chins.
In such a manner, it should come as no surprise as to why Wayfarers, square-framed tortoiseshell opticals, and masculine aviators remain go-to design classics whose staying power and universally flattering nuances all but ensure that every successive generation rediscovers (and restyles) them for itself. They are, after all, failsafe, truly timeless works of functional art (read: wearable architecture) with an alluring ease of wear and built-in sartorial cachet that we can tailor to suit our tastes as we so see fit.
So with that — as well as the desire to please both opposing eyewear doctrines outlined above — in mind, here are some of the finest (from classic through avant-garde) spectacles to consider investing in today whether you are looking for a singular signature style to ascribe to or perhaps yet another specialized frame to add to your ever burgeoning collection.
Arriving fashioned within an inspirational style guide that details a variety of sure to please fashionable eyewear guises from the split-personality prescription spectacle (with full UV protection) and summer-ready flash lens sunny through that of the Lennon-esque round bookish reader, and available from the likes of both trusted affordable brands (Warby Parker, Komono, Topman and H&M) and luxury purveyors (Persol, Cutler & Gloss, Ray-Ban and Dior Homme) alike, each one of these fine specimens is capable of pleasing a great many varied tastes for years to come.
Shop and wear wisely (ladies) and gents!
In such a manner, it should come as no surprise as to why Wayfarers, square-framed tortoiseshell opticals, and masculine aviators remain go-to design classics whose staying power and universally flattering nuances all but ensure that every successive generation rediscovers (and restyles) them for itself. They are, after all, failsafe, truly timeless works of functional art (read: wearable architecture) with an alluring ease of wear and built-in sartorial cachet that we can tailor to suit our tastes as we so see fit.
So with that — as well as the desire to please both opposing eyewear doctrines outlined above — in mind, here are some of the finest (from classic through avant-garde) spectacles to consider investing in today whether you are looking for a singular signature style to ascribe to or perhaps yet another specialized frame to add to your ever burgeoning collection.
Arriving fashioned within an inspirational style guide that details a variety of sure to please fashionable eyewear guises from the split-personality prescription spectacle (with full UV protection) and summer-ready flash lens sunny through that of the Lennon-esque round bookish reader, and available from the likes of both trusted affordable brands (Warby Parker, Komono, Topman and H&M) and luxury purveyors (Persol, Cutler & Gloss, Ray-Ban and Dior Homme) alike, each one of these fine specimens is capable of pleasing a great many varied tastes for years to come.
Shop and wear wisely (ladies) and gents!
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 — BAUSCH & LOMB x RAY-BAN -- |  — BAUSCH & LOMB x RAY-BAN -- |
— GARRETH LEIGHT --
 — TOPMAN --  — ILLESTEVA --  — DIOR -- |  — WARBY PARKER --  — WARBY PARKER -- |
— FINLAY & CO. --
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— RAY-BAN --
 — TOM FORD --  — RAY-BAN -- |  — ORLEBAR BROWN --  — PERSOL --  — RALPH LAUREN — |
— H&M --
— WARBY PARKER --
| A tasteful and renowned means in which to outwardly express one’s underlying spirit and character in a variety of ways, be it in a playful, intellectual, creative, professional, well bred, or rakish/renegade manner, a proper pair of spectacles that best coordinates with your signature aesthetic (read: effortlessly accentuates your character) while reinforcing your endearing style impression is — for any gentleman of style and substance — not only a seasonal (read: to safeguard against the ravages of the sun) but sartorial prerogative. Statement making or purposefully discreet, prescription or sunglass, irrespective of need nor styling intent it should go without saying that every gentleman should be in possession of a fine pair of eyeglasses that he can turn to no matter the social eventuality nor innate styling desire. |  Giorgio Armani: Aviators |
So, here’s to investing wisely in the quintessential accoutrement of choice for men worldwide, to following in the (hallowed) wake of some of the most finely attired and sartorially renowned gentlemen whose endearing mark upon fashion history is one underscored by their trusty (often trademark) spectacles, and too writing our own uniquely bespectacled personal tale of adventure as we go about our business whilst sporting our go-to eyewear of choice with true style and sartorial conviction.
The Right Pair of Sunglasses For Your Facial Shape — Gentlemen's Gazette
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