What style and shape of eyewear do you enjoy? Do you have a signature accessory? What is it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Since I was a bespectacled kindergartner delightedly rocking a pair of violet cat-eyes, I've often dealt with frames that slide down to my low bridge. The 'standard' fit, it seemed, catered to European facial features. But today, there's a significant shift. Eyewear companies that recognize the importance of size inclusivity are emerging, designing for wider faces, higher cheekbones, and lower bridges, which are more common in people of African, Asian, and Native American descent. It's inspiring to see BIPOC eyewear businesses leading the charge in embracing diverse facial features and skin tones. Many of our designers infuse their styles with exuberant nods to our cultural heritage with pattern play and pops of color. These Black-owned eyewear brands will get your specs game—optical and sunnies—tight for fall.
Anwuli Eyewear
Atlanta Optometrist Dr. Nwamaka Ngoddy founded Anwuli (Igbo for "Joy") in 2019 to provide stylish, hypoallergenic, and nickel-free eyewear designed with African facial features in mind. The longer temples extend past and around the ear to ensure a proper fit, and the frames rest comfortably on lower bridges. Explore styles on the Anwuli website, which includes a practical fit guide and a store locator to find a retailer near you.
● ‘Uche’ in an autumnal olive is a vibe, $300.
● The brainy, double-bridge "Ijeoma" in tortoise/toffee, $305.
●The semi-rimless ‘Ada’ stuns in plum and gold, $290.
● ‘Ifunanya’ is a rounded aviator in navy and gold, $300.
● ‘Azuka’ in burgundy commands attention, $290.
EENY Eyewear
Haiti-born, Brooklyn-raised Marie "Diamond" Deneus' first design came to her in a dream. Dozens of eye-catching, handcrafted styles later, her bold aesthetic is at the heart of EENY, Exclusive Eyes New York, with the motto Get your eyes fly. Don't be shy! You'll find no distinction between women's and men's frames at EENY. "Designed with intention" for all people, their statement styles are genderless. Visit them at The Brooklyn Pop-Up (brooklynpop-up.com) or enjoy "buy three, get one free" when you purchase online for shipping or in-person pickup in Harlem. All frames are $249.93.
● Classic shapes merge in the gold-plated ‘Diamond.’
● ‘Miss Kitty,’ a captivating spin on the cat-eye.
● The two-toned ‘Prolific,’ is available in various color combos.
● ‘St. Marc’ is an ode to the designer's dad.
● ‘Thoth’ in "brown mix" conjures tiger stripes and vintage Fabergé Tigress ads.
Shades of Shades
In goods from bandages to makeup to bodywear, "nude" long signified a singular Eurocentric skin tone. Now, Marsha Douglas-Sydnor has made inroads toward color inclusivity in luxury eyewear. When she couldn't find sunglasses that blended seamlessly with her complexion, she created them. In 2018, she launched Shades of Shades®️ to offer "nude" eyewear to complement all women, from the palest-skinned to the most deeply melanated. Made in Italy of gold-plated metal and Mazzuchelli acetate, customizable in 14 shades, the frames are available in five styles and beautifully packaged and shipped for free in the U.S.
● ‘Bordeaux’ in mocha exudes dramatic flair, $340 sun; $270 optical.
● ‘Syndee’ in sesame gives bold glamour, $340 sun; $270 optical.
● ‘Kingston’ in dolce is a modern update of the classic aviator, $395 sun; $325 optical.
● ‘Montreal’ in custard speaks sporty elegance, $298 sun; $228 optical.
● ‘Aire’ in chai is a timeless feminine staple, $325 sun; $255 optical.
Vontélle
When Tracy Vontélle Green and Nancey Harris had their fill of discomfort and headaches induced by ill-fitting glasses, they ventured into the eyewear industry to provide fashion-forward, size-inclusive frames to an untapped niche, honoring their African, Caribbean, and Latin roots. Since launching Vontélle in 2019, they've become Queens of the Collabs, with successful partnerships with artists, celebrities, retailers, and even Nickelodeon, with whom they created a children's eyewear line inspired by network characters. Their comprehensive website not only offers virtual try-on and prescription services (FSA/HSA cards accepted) but also details their philanthropic initiatives to address vision health disparities in urban communities, along with an informative blog.
● An angular interpretation of a cat-eye, the earth-toned ‘Star Giza Half Pyramid’ evokes ancient Egypt, $299.
Among their many collaborations are:
● Official by Vontélle x America's Best. ‘Zora,’ a bold, oversized take on tortoiseshell, is a mere $89.95 at the national chain.
● Vontélle x Kendra Dandy. ‘Flower Power Cheetah,’ oversized and strut-worthy, features illustrator Dandy's animal print and floral mashup, $199.
● DEEMED Collection by Kadeem Hardison throws it back to Dwayne Wayne's iconic flip-up glasses on the hit show A Different World. The gold ‘Dwayne’ and silver ‘Cleotis’ aviators, $189, feature patent-pending magnetic flip-up sunshades. Sales benefit the Kadeem Hardison Scholarship Fund.
● Vontélle x Harlem Haberdashery. The sassy, outsized ‘Sugar Hill Red,’ what’s not to love? $289
Divine Inspiration: Serving Sororities
Of the nine historically Black Greek letter societies that comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council, affectionately known as the 'Divine Nine," four are sororities: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta. So whether your call is "skee-wee," "oo-oop," "EE-yip," or "Z-Phiiii," you can represent your sisterhood with fly frames.
- "Sacred" in pink and green is an AKA flex, EENY Eyewear, $249.93
- "Fortitude" for the Delta's crimson crush, Divine by Vontélle, $199
- "Harlem Renaissance Denim" hits Zeta's blue notes, Vontélle x Harlem Haberdashery, $349
- and perfect for the Sigma sisters, the golden "Aurora" with hints of royal blue, Divine by Vontélle, $199 (not pictured)
Prices are subject to change.
What style and shape of eyewear do you enjoy? Do you have a signature accessory? What is it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
