Eyewear has always been personal. But somewhere along the way it became something more – less a necessity, more a statement.
The frame you choose now sits alongside your coat and your bag as a deliberate part of how you move through the world, and the conversation happening in optical stores across South Australia reflects that.
Fotini Paraschos has watched this transformation up close. As Merchandise Manager at Health Partners Optical, she’s responsible for buying frames across the company’s South Australian stores – which means she sees what people reach for, what surprises them, and what’s making its way from the runways to the frame wall season by season. This winter, she says, two distinct directions are emerging simultaneously, and they couldn’t be more different.
The first is the statement frame. Oversized acetates in rich, saturated tones – deep burgundy, forest green, warm caramel – are coming through strongly, alongside chunky geometric shapes with real presence. The second is almost its opposite: a move toward minimalism, with thin metal frames and translucent colours for those who want something more restrained and refined. “Both directions are equally strong right now,” says Fotini, “so there’s something for everyone depending on whether you want to make a statement or keep things understated.”
Underpinning both is a broader cultural moment. The recent The Devil Wears Prada sequel put eyewear squarely centre stage, with major houses including Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Tiffany & Co. all featuring prominently throughout. Those bold, chunky acetates made an impression well beyond the cinema. “We’ve noticed it driving real enquiry in our stores,” says Fotini. “People come in having seen something on screen and wanting to try it for themselves.” Runways set the direction first, but it’s film, television and the faces people are watching day to day that make trends feel wearable rather than aspirational.
That cultural influence runs deeper than any single film. The normalisation of glasses as a style choice – rather than a medical necessity – has gradually changed who walks through the door and what they’re looking for. Where customers once arrived with a prescription and a preference for something unobtrusive, many now arrive with references: a frame they’ve seen on someone they follow, a colour they want to try, a shape they’d never have considered a few years ago. “Social media has played a big part in giving people the confidence to experiment,” says Fotini. “Seeing different styles on the people they follow makes it feel more accessible – and there’s far more choice now in design and colour, which means people can find something that genuinely reflects their personality rather than just settling for what fits.”
Finding the right frame
The question of where to start can feel overwhelming – particularly in a store with one of the largest frame ranges in South Australia. Fotini’s advice is to begin with an open mind and try on something you wouldn’t normally reach for. “Face shape is a useful guide, but comfort, fit and personality are just as important. I always encourage people to try styles they wouldn’t normally pick themselves – and they’re almost always surprised by what suits them.” The right frame, she says, should do two things: feel comfortable and make you feel confident. If it doesn’t manage both, keep looking.
The question of all-day comfort has also been transformed by materials. Lightweight frames mean that even an oversized acetate can be worn from morning to evening without noticing it’s there. The old trade-off between a frame with personality and one that’s practical to live in has largely dissolved. Where once a bold choice meant accepting a degree of discomfort, the two are no longer in tension. And for those who find it impossible to narrow things down to a single pair – Fotini’s answer is simply not to. “Why stop at one pair? Having a couple of different frames to move between is one of the easiest ways to refresh your look without any real effort.”
That breadth of possibility is something Health Partners Optical is particularly well placed to offer. With one of the largest frame ranges in South Australia, the stores carry designer statement pieces alongside classic everyday options and more modest price points – catering to different face shapes, lifestyles, prescriptions and budgets under the one roof. For Fotini, the scale of the range is less about volume than about what it makes possible for the person standing in front of it. “The difference between finding a frame you’re happy with and finding one you love often comes down to having enough choice to actually discover something unexpected.” It’s a distinction that matters – and one that’s hard to appreciate until you’ve experienced it firsthand.
For anyone tempted to play it safe this winter, Fotini makes a case for going a little bolder. “Eyewear is one of the easiest ways to refresh your look without making any major change. A richer colour or a slightly bolder shape can be surprisingly wearable – and in my experience, those are often the pairs that get the most compliments.” The risk, in other words, is considerably smaller than it feels standing at the frame wall.
As for what she’s wearing herself this season? A bold acetate in a hexagonal shape – tortoiseshell with green and white tones, and notably lightweight. The trend she’s most pleased to see return is the 1990s-inspired shapes: smaller ovals and refined metals. She currently has her eye on a pair of Miu Mius. Some things, it turns out, are hard to resist even when you spend your days surrounded by frames.
Health Partners Optical carries one of the largest frame ranges in South Australia, with all health funds welcome. With six locations across South Australia, your local store is never far away. Visit healthpartners.com.au to find your nearest optical store.
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