When it comes to eyewear, sunglasses always get to have the fun. With myriad styles designed for almost every occasion—whether oversized and glamorous, or sporty and tinted—the styles lean heavily toward aesthetics. It’s easy to treat them as fashion candy: try on a few pairs, pick the one that vibes with your outfit, and call it a day. Glasses, though? That’s a whole other level of commitment.
The frame shape, material, colour, even the lens—where do you even start? It’s no wonder the process can feel a little daunting. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be stressful. Especially now, with more people buying glasses purely for the look (yes, even without prescriptions) and pop culture proving their style power—just think of Jonathan Bailey’s recent glasses moment that had the internet buzzing, glasses can be stylish too, and fun.
To help us navigate this maze through the art (and science) of choosing the right pair, we spoke to Shamus Hwang, head designer of homegrown eyewear brand O+—a brand born from nearly 50 years of multigenerational expertise spanning retail, wholesale and manufacturing. With O+, design is never just about aesthetics. “Each pair is created not only for character and personality, but also for lifestyle and eyecare needs,” Hwang explains. “We design eyewear not just focusing on how it looks, but also how it feels on your face.”
Together with his advice, we broke down the intimidating process into a guided, step-by-step journey, with our own curated picks to make your search a little easier (and a lot more chic). Here’s his expert framework for choosing the perfect pair of glasses, with our curated edit of styles to help you along the way.
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Choosing the right shape
Most people start with face shape—and yes, the classic rules still apply.
“Rounder frames tend to complement angular faces, and angular frames can balance softer features,” says Hwang.
But he also reminds us not to be overly rigid: “From our experience, the frame that looks best is one that the wearer feels most confident in. A frame should be an extension or expression of who you are.”
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For softer features: Taylor With Respect glasses, price upon request
Available at Jamco Optical.
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Pick your hue
Colour plays a huge role in whether your glasses blend or stand out. Contrasting tones make frames pop, while neutral shades melt into your face.
Hwang shares: “Choose contrasting tones for the frame to stand out and neutral hues for a more casual look.”
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Neutral classic: Yellows Plus, price upon request
Available at Yellows Plus.
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Pop of colour: Mykita Farah glasses, price upon request
Available at Mykita.
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Select the material:
The material determines how your glasses feel hour by hour. Titanium is light and sleek but needs design tweaks to stay comfortable.
“A titanium frame is designed to be ultra lightweight,” Hwang explains, “but there needs to be sufficient grip so pressure isn’t concentrated on the nose. We thicken the beta-titanium at the temples, which balances the weight, and finish with rounded acetate tips for comfort.”
Acetate, meanwhile, tends to feel sturdier and more expressive, often favoured for fashion-forward or oversized designs.
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The featherweight: Lindberg glasses, price upon request
Available at Lindberg.
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Hybrid nation: Japonism glasses, price upon request
Available at Japonism.
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Choosing the type of lenses
Frames may set the style, but lenses shape the experience. And here, customisation is everything. “There are lenses that best fit every need and occasion,” Hwang explains. “Tinted lenses for outdoors, transitions that shift with the light, digital lenses that reduce strain, driving lenses that cut glare, all of these can be tailored to your lifestyle.” He notes even age and pupil size matter when it comes to getting the most out of your lenses.
“Another thing to note is that all tinted lenses can also carry your prescription, which is perfect for people who prefer not to wear contacts all the time, but still want to use sunglasses.”
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Screen-heavy days: Louis Vuitton anti-blue light glasses, $790
Available at Louis Vuitton.
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On-the-go lifestyle: Persol transition glasses, price upon request
Available at Persol.
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The more, the merrier
Your “perfect pair” may actually be a perfect rotation. Hwang suggests building an eyewear wardrobe the way you would shoes or bags. “Even if you only like one eyeshape, you could have it in different colours with different lens options. That way your eyewear blends seamlessly into different parts of your life.”
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Asymmetrical chaos: Masahiro Maruyama glasses, $1,100
Available at Masahiro Maruyama.
