There is no doubt that eyewear styles are driven by a combination of the fashion industry and Madison Avenue marketing. We are constantly researching both in order to figure out where the industry is going at any point in time. As such, we have noticed five particular trends that could be big this year. We encourage our customers to keep an eye on these trends. They could mean the difference between an average year and a breakout year.
1. Cat Eyes
We started noticing an increased emphasis on cat eyes last fall. Cat eyes were extremely big in the 1930s and 40s before fading away and then making a comeback in the late 1950s and early 60s. It looks like we may be on the verge of another cat eye revolution.
Cat eye frames are just unusual enough to grab a person's attention without being so eccentric as to be ostentatious. We look for cat eyes to sell fairly well during the spring.
2. Exaggerated Shapes
If cat eyes are not to your liking, there are rumors that a few exaggerated shapes are in the offing for spring. These are not new shapes by any means. Instead, we are talking oversized circles, rectangles, and ovals. Think Texas, where everything is bigger than life.
3. Colored Lenses
Dark black lenses were all the rage in 2017 due to the much-hyped solar eclipse. It appears as though black lenses could be eclipsed themselves in 2018 by different colors. What colors will be in? That's hard to say, but yellows, pinks, and blues are appearing more often in fashion magazines and paparazzi pics.
Clear lenses could be a dark horse here if marketing proves successful. Bear in mind that people who wear glasses just for looks are not afraid to buy clear lenses.
4. The Goggle Look
There are rumors that a small number of designers are looking at a few models designed to look like goggles. They may be reminiscent of ski goggles, flight goggles, or even swimming goggles. There is no way to know at this point. If the rumor does turn out to be true, there will be a bunch of different directions this year's sunglasses could take.
5. Flat Tops
If there is one trend among the five that we think really has legs, it is the flat top trend. We began seeing flat tops emerge last summer and, unlike cat eyes, they did not seem to wane when summer inventories transitioned to fall. Flat tops could be the wayfarers of 2018.
If you are looking to purchase authentic designer sunglasses at wholesale prices, we invite you to browse the complete Olympic Eyewear inventory. We are a designer and seller of more than a dozen brands of high-quality sunglasses at affordable prices. Our products can be the foundation of a very successful retail eyewear business you build from the ground up.
Rest assured that we will stay abreast of emerging trends to help facilitate a smooth transition of product lines for your retail operation. Check in with us as frequently as you can. We will make sure you have access to the products you need to keep your customers happy.
