The advent of eyewear may have been a matter of pure practicality, but it has since evolved into a means of self-expression, allowing wearers to make a statement and embody new fashions. As maximalism makes its grand return to haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, designer eyewear gracefully positions itself at the center of it all.
According to eyewear data from Globe Newswire, there has been a significant increase in demand for adult eyewear and a growing popularity of innovative designs in women’s eyewear. The billion-dollar industry is expected to hit a CAGR of 12.51%, mainly driven by the luxury sunglasses and eyeglasses market.
It’s the perfect storm to dive into, especially if you know which designer eyewear trends you can lean on to embrace the true essence of high-fashion maximalism.
Finding The Right Bright
Bright pops of color are all the rage in the maximalist trend, but it’s all about finding the right tones and patterns to differentiate between a haphazard clash and a thoughtfully considered mix-and-match vision. Purposeful elements will help you avoid looking messy while going all out with bold candy-colored palettes. For your eyewear, you’d want a model like the Ray-Ban Xan Bio-Based in Apple Green or Dolce & Gabbana DG4445 in Yellow. These are unapologetically loud designer sunglasses on Sunglass Hut, designed by experienced creators who are able to preserve the high-end nature of the look while capturing the maximalist essence. This is a great way to experiment with color and how you build a relationship between your clothes and your accessories. A good color combination can ease you in if you’re starting to dip your toe into the all-out potential of this aesthetic. On the other end of the spectrum, you can also follow the lead of online maximalist mainstays like Sara Camposarcone to see how she uses bold palettes in her clothing.
Oversized Everything
The art of the oversized garment is not unique to the maximalist style, but it becomes distinct when you incorporate all manner of pieces into it. What may seem like asymmetrical and disjointed pieces all come together to create an eclectic look that somehow makes sense as a whole. Oversized sunglasses perfectly fit into this approach, pairing well with most ensembles when plucked from the careful collections of luxury designers. Don’t be afraid to go for a size that you might feel is cartoonishly big because this is where modern maximalism has found its revitalized footing. Just look at the gigantic red rubber boots by MSCHF. Created as a wearable piece of art, the collective soon saw huge celebrities like Janelle Monáe don a pair and match it with oversized sweaters. Pairing this with an equally unique frame like the oversized Burberry BE4291 can perfectly tie your look together.
Embracing Texture
Part of the beauty of maximalism is how it frees you from the need to stick to clean lines and symmetry. You can embrace different textures by playing with a variety of pieces, materials, and patterns. There’s something for everybody with a world of tassels, beading, stitching, and more. For your sunnies, you can’t go wrong with rhinestone-studded frames or limited-edition pieces with distinctive engravings and highlights, such as the Versace VE2150Q. As designer brands lean into exclusivity and highly distinguishable designs, so should the rest of your attire. If you look at curated shows from Fashion Bomb Daily, models and guests go through a flurry of high fashion maximalist outfits with fully mirrored bodysuits and hats, dramatic layered and sleeved gowns, coordinated animal print pieces, and graphic patchwork jeans with colorful oversized sunglasses.
Styling Retrofuturism
Trends in fashion are cyclical, with maximalist style always returning in vogue because it blends classic and progressive expressions of self. Its deepest origins date back to the Baroque era, but the way the aesthetic works today draws much inspiration from the retrofuturisticideals of the ‘80s and ‘00s. Here, you can perfectly embody that vibe through a model like Oakley’s OO9280 BXTR or the Sphaera line. Feel free to mix, match, layer, and remix your look to create something unapologetically sci-fi yet curated.
