Vintage Eyewear Designs Still Going Strong In 2023

Vintage fashion never goes out of style. Many people—especially younger generations—have taken a liking to vintage clothing because it comes with a unique sense of style and creativity. It sets you apart, especially in this age of fast fashion and constantly changing style trends.

Moreover, vintage fashion applies outside of clothing, such as accessories like eyewear. Many popular eyewear designs worn in the past decades are still fashionable, giving their wearers a distinct style. If you’re interested in vintage eyewear, here are some designs that are still going strong this year:

Tortoiseshell Glasses

Tortoiseshell material originally came from hawksbill turtles. This patterned material was used majorly in the 17th century—especially in European areas—for jewelry cases and decorative items. Soon, it became a trendy material for eyewear in the 1920s and beyond as a sign of style and wealth, with Jackie O being among the most famous fashion personalities to sport this design.

Today, tortoiseshell frames are still trendy among fashionable individuals because of their design and versatility. Since these have been around for a long time, they come in various styles, including circular frames, luxury designs, and retro shapes. The Margot from Scout, for instance, has classic round frames, while the Gants’ London Retro has a distinct oval shape. With these options, you’ll find tortoiseshell glasses that fit your taste.

Cat-eye sunglasses

Cat-eye frames became a hit in the 50s and 60s, especially among women. This design was created to elevate women’s style, as their fashion at the time consisted of military-inspired clothing and boxy apparel due to fabric rationing after WWII.

At present, you’ll see many cat-eye sunglasses for sale because their feline-inspired silhouette remains timeless and elegant. Moreover, they have become available in various frame and lens colors and styles that appeal to various fashionistas. For example, the pink cat eye acetate sunglasses by Victoria Beckham are the perfect pair for those with feminine styles, thanks to their light pink frames.

Thin metal frames

Thin metal frames are another classic eyewear design from the early 1900s and later. Metal wires are easy to bend around lenses, and they’re also durable, which is why they’re a vintage style that’s still going strong in 2023. Because of this, many brands have created their own styles of eyewear with thin metal frames.

One example is Modstyle’s Eclipse Bordeaux. It has a rounded, steel metal rim around the lenses, giving it a look that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The brand originally released this in the 1990s, and recently brought it back because the unisex frame is very on-trend and suitable for many style-conscious consumers. It’s available in even more colorways, including black and gold, bone and gold, and tortoiseshell and gold.

Granny glasses

Wearing eyeglasses is often associated with aging. After all, it’s very rare to see an older adult who doesn’t wear glasses due to declining vision. While some may think that eyewear styles worn by older people aren’t fashionable because they are characterized by small oval or square lenses, the fashion world thinks otherwise.

Granny glasses have been around since the 1920s, but only recently were they worn as a fashion statement. Miu Miu’s Fall 2023 fashion show even features granny glasses with oval lenses and plastic frames as a salute to the Grandma Core style that has taken over many people’s styles. In doing so, they brought back a vintage design and made it stylish for people of all ages.

Vintage eyewear designs are unique and timeless. If you’re searching for a new pair of vintage specs or sunnies, try out these popular designs we’ve laid out for you.