For the trendy hippies amongst you there was the classic John Lennon frame, a small metal with thin plastic rims that clipped in place. (Or not!) The joy of these was that the side arm attached to the front, so if you bashed them then the lens, the side, and the whole spec frame collapsed into a mangled pile of metal and glass.

The NHS stepped back from supplying our eye wear, and with the exception of Elvis Costello, The Proclaimers, and Harry Hill, we all moved on from our square plastic glasses. The eighties exploded in a riot of colour, huge shapes, and total lack of taste. (You only have the catch the opening credits of Ashes to Ashes to see what I mean) We also had a penchant for tints in lurid shades of pink and burgundy.

How times change – in 2009 the 524 is the epitome of geek chic – see Madonna, Lily Allen or Mark Ronson. The trend for colour is back, but this time in more subtle layers, patterns or laminates. We love detail, bling, and pattern – for boys and girls! Designer names are everywhere, and even Marc Jacobs and Paul Smith have taken some inspiration from those classic British NHS creations. Those were the good old days!

This look is characterised by chunky, heavy plastic frames in black or tortoiseshell brown, with a shape reminiscent of the old NHS plastic frame. It’s been in fashion for ever, and all eye wear collections feature some version of it. Variations on the theme can be squarer, more rounded, flat or curve topped.

Although high fashion, this type of glasses frame is practical – perfect if you are short sighted as it will cover up thick spectacle lens edges. It is sturdy and strong, and black or brown are always a chic choice for boys and girls alike. Even blondes like Chloe Sevigny have been seen wearing them, hers fade to clear at the lower edge. Katie Holmes, with her dark brunette colouring, favours solid black.

Try to make sure the top rim of the glasses frame sits in line with your brows – choose a curved top rim if your brows are arched, men or girls with straight brows can go for the classic square shape. Zachary Quinto and Josh Hartnett have been seen in shapes that suit their features perfectly.