Cat-eye blue light glasses

What is a cat-eye frame?

A cat-eye is a frame whose top outer corners sweep upward, like a wing. The lower edge stays softer and rounder, so the whole shape tilts the eye line up towards the temples.

The silhouette dates from the 1950s, when it was usually cut from heavy acetate with a dramatic point. It has never fully disappeared since. Modern versions are generally slimmer, with a gentler lift and thinner rims, which is what makes them wearable at a desk rather than only on a night out. How far the corner sweeps is the single detail that separates a subtle cat-eye from a theatrical one, so it is worth looking closely at product photos taken from the front.

Who do cat-eye glasses suit?

Cat-eye glasses suit round, oval and heart-shaped faces particularly well, because the upward angle adds structure and lift where a face is soft or narrow at the chin.

Round faces benefit most. A face with few hard lines gains a clear angle at the cheekbone, which makes the whole face look more defined. Oval faces carry the shape easily thanks to their balanced proportions. Heart-shaped faces are a good match too, since the extra width at the top of the frame follows a broader forehead and the soft lower edge does not exaggerate a narrow chin. Faces with very high, sharply angled cheekbones can find a pronounced cat-eye a little too much of the same idea, and a gentler sweep is the better option there.

• Round faces: gains an angle and lift at the cheekbone
• Oval faces: balanced enough for any degree of sweep
• Heart-shaped faces: the frame follows a wider brow
• Square faces: choose a soft, rounded cat-eye
• Sharply angled cheekbones: keep the lift gentle

Subtle or statement: which cat-eye should you choose?

If it is your first cat-eye, choose a subtle one with a slim rim and a modest lift. The shape looks bolder on your own face than it does on a product page.

A gentle cat-eye reads as a professional frame with a bit of character. It works in an office, sits well on camera and goes with almost any outfit. A heavier acetate with a pronounced wing is a statement piece, and well worth owning if that is what you want, but it changes how people see your whole face. Embellished versions, such as rhinestone detailing on the corners, sit firmly in the statement camp. Many people start with a slimline frame and add a bolder one later once they know they like the shape.

How should cat-eye glasses fit?

The upswept corner should line up roughly with the outer end of your eyebrow, and the frame should be no wider than your face at the temples.

When the wing sits higher than your brow, the frame looks like it is floating above the face. When it sits well below, the lift is lost and the shape reads as a slightly odd oval. The bottom edge should clear your cheeks when you smile, and your eyes should sit near the centre of each lens, not towards the top. Because the top corners carry extra material, a well-balanced cat-eye should still sit level; if it tips forward, the nose pads or bridge are not doing their job.

• Wing tip level with the outer end of the eyebrow
• Frame width within your face width at the temples
• Lower rim clears the cheeks when you smile
• Frame sits level without tipping forward

Which colours work best for cat-eye frames?

Tortoiseshell is the classic cat-eye colour and the most forgiving. Black is sharper and more graphic, and soft pinks, blush and champagne tones make the shape feel lighter.

The wing gives colour somewhere to go, which is why two-tone and gradient frames suit this shape so well. A blush-and-tortoiseshell mix, for example, keeps the pattern at the top where the eye is drawn and fades towards the cheek. Black cat-eyes are the most dramatic and pair well with a simple outfit. Metallic and embellished versions are a matter of taste: great for evenings, a little much for a Monday spreadsheet session for most people.

Are cat-eye glasses too dressy for work and screens?

No, not if you choose a slim, gently swept version. It reads as polished rather than showy, and it holds its outline well on a webcam.

For long days at a screen, frame weight matters more than style, so a slimline cat-eye is the practical choice over a chunky acetate. The lens is what does the work at a monitor: ours filter blue light from screens, and the anti-glare coating cuts reflections from overhead lights and windows. Our current cat-eye styles, including the Slimline Cat-Eye Blue Light Readers and the Cat-Eye Blue Light Reading Glasses, are reading-glass versions that also magnify the page, so check the strength options on each product page before you order.

A useful way to judge a cat-eye for daily wear is to put it on first thing and forget about it. If you are still aware of the corners by lunchtime, the frame is either too heavy, too wide or sitting too low on your nose. A good cat-eye should feel like any other pair of glasses and only look different.

Is the cat-eye only a women's shape?

No. It has historically been marketed to women, but there is no rule, and subtle cat-eyes with a gentle lift are worn by all kinds of people.

If you like the idea of an upswept frame but want something less obviously feminine in its styling, look for a darker colour, a thinner rim and a very modest sweep. The effect is a frame that lifts the face slightly without announcing itself as a cat-eye at all. If you want a softer alternative, oval frames offer a similar gentleness without the wing, and round frames add curve with more personality.

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