Some Designers Are Going Asymmetrical

Is geometric symmetry an absolute necessity in eyewear design?

Judging by some of the latest eyeglass and sunglass models from some specialty makers, it may not be. Strange and unexpected asymmetrical designs are some of the more recent trends in the eyewear industry that are surprising retailers and consumers alike. But what exactly is the appeal of these oddities? Certainly, wildly asymmetrical eyeglass frames may not flatter the face. But doing so may be a lower priority for some designers than simply drawing people’s attention.

Indeed, the asymmetric frames that are becoming popular aren’t meant to accompany any particular outfit, haircut, personal image, or facial structure. In fact, many of these frames aren’t based around any specific cultural cue or jumping-off point; they’re largely original designs unto themselves, with no reference to any identifiable style or subculture. They’re designed to make the wearer more memorable and to endow them with “personality.” And on these levels, they seem to have succeeded.

If you asked an average person to describe many of these glasses, they might be hard-pressed to come up with terms that could adequately detail the shapes, styles, patterns, and colors of these frames, as their designers seem not to have been motivated by anything more than personal whims.

But are asymmetrical frames really all that new? As it turns out, the concept of asymmetrical glasses dates back at least to the mod/psychedelic era of the 1960s and 1970s. But the new school of today’s asymmetric designs is quite unlike anything that’s come before. The impetus for many of these designs seems not to be drawn from asking questions like “why?”, but rather, “why not?”.

So, who, specifically, are these asymmetrical designs made for? Certainly, they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Most likely, the buyer of such idiosyncratic and eccentric frames is likely to be just as artistic a character as the glasses themselves; after all, it takes real daring to wear something that calls so much attention to itself while not necessarily flattering the appearance of the wearer.

Are asymmetrical designs going to take over the market for glasses? Probably not anytime soon. The desire for aesthetic balance and forms that are more traditional — forms that flatter the face — is too powerful for the market to ignore. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how much of an effect these glasses will have on the eyewear industry as a whole going forward.