In these times of financial meltdown even the conspicuous spenders amongst us are trying our hand at a little restraint. MPs are cutting down on their little luxuries, Victoria Beckham has (allegedly!) downsized her assets, and there’s even talk that Patricia Field won’t be working on Sex and The City 2 if Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe has to be reined in! So if eye wear is a fashion trend like any other, where does that leave us?

Bling has ruled the hot looks for an impressive length of time in the fickle world of fashion. Spectacle frames have sported an ever increasing amount of sparkles, spangles and bright shiny diamonds. Even frames for men have gone a little crazy, with inlaid colours, bright linings and fancy detail. This made eye wear interesting and we all loved the covetable designer detail, but does it reflect the zeitgeist in Summer 2009?

New frame shapes for upcoming seasons embrace the geek chic trend that we predicted way back before Spring. This heavy, solid look, free of fancy detail and sombre in it’s stark styling, may be a reflection of our times. It means you’ll be taken seriously, it’s free of frivolity, and it’s cheap! As it’s a timeless classic you may even have a frame you could dust off from the last time they were trendy – just have your updated prescription put in and tell everyone you’re channelling Lily Allen!