‘I’ve had great fun with our latest collection – like a child in a sweetie shop! I’ve been working on filigree detail and very delicate jewellery-type designs for this autumn. I love the idea that specs can be an extension of your personality, framing your eyes and drawing attention to the face. So I like to put the interesting features around the sides and top edges of the frame, which lifts the whole face, and is much less painful than Botox!  Lacy patterns and cut out designs are big for us this year.’

‘Our collections tend to be minimal in detail but very strong on colour. Winter white, cream and pearl grey are nice between seasons, with stronger blacks and reds for after the summer tan has faded! With nautical, Breton jumper style fashions being seen everywhere in the summer, we’ve also used navy this year, which has been out of vogue for some time. It’s a nice soft alternative to black, and an excellent choice for men who want something different, especially if you have a bit of silver around the temples!”

‘We’ve seen a big swing in popularity over the past year from our slim rimless styles to chunky plastics and really thick metal sides. We’re going with that trend and heading towards the preppy rounded shape and big, bold lenses. Even our geeky plastics are softer rather than edgy squares this season. It’s quite an American look – they favour ovals and round shapes and never really did rectangular. Sizes have gone up over the last two years, with our average best sellers two sizes bigger.”

So there you have it – from the proverbial horse’s mouth, now we just need to get stocked so you can get shopping!

Fashion is heading back to the eighties, and the colour palette for autumn is very dark, while the sharp silhouettes do the talking. Slightly more understated and grown up detail therefore needs to be scattered over our accessories for a touch of glamour. It’s a nod to nostalgia, so sprinkle some subtle fairy dust over bags, shoes, jewellery and of course, the ever important eyewear! Boden have got some delicious jewelled pumps, check out French Connection for some diamante encrusted jewellery, and Top Shop for belts, bags, and the essential sequin jacket!

Just leave some room in your shine quotient for your glasses. Eye wear with inlaid stones, frames with engraving and added shiny stones. Frames fronts are still simple, with the sides providing all the interest. Wide sides give you plenty of room to pile on the pretty detail, and this could give the accent colour to your on trend hound’s-tooth black-and- white or grey, black and gothic clothing colours.

Glasses with bling

Pick a warm accent colour that you bring in with shoes or bags too. Berry shades are beautiful for glasses as long as you are not too pale. If you are fair, try a paler shade of tortoiseshell or a translucent plastic that lets the light shine through. Balance dark clothes with specs that bring the colours in, but don’t over power your face. It’s all a bit more genteel, a touch more understated this year – the perfect excuse to update your eye wear!