Wearing specs and braces is no longer a nerd alert. In true geek chic fashion, corrective appliances for the eyes and teeth are now as fashionable as the kids who need them. Here are this year’s back-to-school trends in glasses and braces.
Girls’ glasses
Retro-modern cat’s-eyes and almond-shaped silhouettes join classic aviator and oval shapes. Turquoise and pink remain popular shades, with ombré effects making the “fade” a particularly 2014 choice. Embellishments include a wide array of prints (animals, florals, hearts, even Aztec-inspired graphics) and gemstone appliqués.
Girls' frames by Laura Ashley (top) and Jessica McClintock (bottom)
Boys’ glasses
Ryan Gosling was recently spotted wearing a pair of specs with a keyhole bridge, so naturally the style’s already available for younger guys. Rectangular shapes are anything but square, and sport-inspired wraparounds are finding their way off the field. As far as colors go, everything from olive drab to neon and back to clear invisibles hit the spectrum.
Boys' frames by Face a Face (top) and Lafont (bottom)
Braces for boys & girls
Multifusion braces color-coordinate the metal brackets and the rubber bands that surround them.
Seasonal smiles are the rage when you peg your braces bands to colors of the current holiday.
Brackets are now available in kid-friendly shapes, from stars to hearts, for a metallic glint of style.
Custom designer retainers carry any logo, color or graphic you can think of.
