Pantone 16-1546 is Living Coral and the Pantone Colour of the Year. It’s popping up all over the place. From various styles of eyewear to furniture, makeup to clothing, shoes and more!

According to Pantone, the colour is, “Vibrant, yet mellow, and is a nurturing colour. Symbolizing our innate need for connection, optimism and joyful pursuits in our fast-paced and digital world. Other words that Pantone uses to describe the colour are, natural, lively, sociable and spirited.” Below, our very own Dana Sacco, Optician, is sporting Stella McCartney cat eye sunglasses with living coral along the top of the rims. A fun and eye-catching way, pun intended, to wear the Pantone Colour of The Year.

We spoke to Peggy Gillis at Rousseau Fine Furniture to better understand how 2019 can really make the most of this fresh addition to your home decor palette. Peggy says: “Living coral is the perfect colour, not red, pink or orange but an energizing in between timeless shade. It works beautifully with emerald green, navy blue, but also adds some zest to spaces that are predominantly neutral grays and beiges. Add coral fearlessly with a stunning lamp or chair, or with less commitment, a toss pillow, piece of wall decor or a pretty vase!”. The eyewear industry is a reflection of the top fashion trends and those looks will percolate into every aspect of our lives. As Emilie Hill of the London Telegraph writes “It has only been a couple of weeks that Gigi Hadid was seen in New York wearing head to toe coral” (read more )

While many of us may not be able to pull off that look adding a handbag, scarf or sunglasses will definitely keep your look in the of the current trend. Christina at the Paint Store Plus says: “We are still seeing a lot of neutral walls but we are bringing in pops of colour with accessories. Painted furniture is still a strong trend and we are introducing more vibrant colours such as living coral into our spaces with accent pieces.” So be brave and empower your spiritual energy with a colour that exudes happiness! You can find out more information about Pantone colours here.

2018 saw the influx of so many vintage trends. New interpretations of iconic aviators, round shapes and cat eyes hit the store shelves and clients loved it! 2019 is going to accelerate these looks and add in shapes you haven’t seen in decades but with a new twist. Read on to see what trends are coming your way in the new year and the compelling and irresistible styles you can choose. It’s an exciting time for eyeglass wearers.

Boutique designers are all about innovation this year

Up and coming style makers are making waves with their cutting edge designs. Consumers are demanding innovation and the style makers have heard them loud and clear. They are creating designs out of recycled materials that cater to consumers who are looking for environmentally sustainable materials that offer texture and reduced carbon footprints such as eco-friendly plating.

What’s trending for 2019

Independent professionals like Dana Sacco Owner and Optician from Inspired by Rossland Optical are always in the know with upcoming fashion trends. “The incredible thing about our profession is that we have access to the top trends in the industry before they hit the stores and top designers offer premium accounts opportunities to pre-buy advance seasons” says Dana.

COLOURS

The most significant trend we are seeing from designers are bold and colourful frames. Gold and rose gold will continue to dominate the metallics especially when paired with mirrored lenses - a new technology for Transitions brand lenses offers an exciting new technology called Style Mirrors; a clear look indoors turning to a mirrored lens outdoors. Nude, blush, champagne, smoke and shell pink crystal frames will continue to be strong. Warm neutrals are especially beautiful on darker skin tones and are hottest in matte finishes.

STYLES

Cat eye glasses are also back in a big way and so look out for the uber vintage embellishments such as jewels, rivets, pearls, mother of pearl to name a few. A continuing trend is the classic retro aviator and the new sleeker single bridge aviator frames showcased in sun wear and eye glass collections. Some of the other 2019 style trends include:

Round and oval frames
Bold square frames
Retro oversized frames
Square metal frames
Hybrid shapes – oversized squares with soft corners

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With so many trends, what style should you choose? Our experts have the best advice on which frames to buy

It’s all about getting the right fit. The best glasses for you are shapes that exaggerate your best features. Follow your eyebrow shape and line up your frames with your cheekbones. However, some of the most distinctive looks break the rules. To achieve that, use opposite shapes to create your desired look. Flat eyebrows juxtaposed with a round frame or arched brows with an even greater arched cat eye.

Ask yourself, what is your signature colour?
New York fashion week Fall 2018 featured unusual colour pairings, colour blocking and our favourite polka dots. The Pantone colour of the year 2019 is called living coral so stay tuned for fabulous pops of colour against unusual pastels that will match not only fashion trends but also the trends you will see in decor.

We suggest a colour that you don’t have a lot of in your wardrobe. Why? That way, you don’t have to match your wardrobe to your frame colour. If you wear a lot of denim going with a blue frame can be too monochromatic. Selecting the right contrasting colour has a more dramatic effect. A blue-based red, for example, works well with denim.

If your fashion style is “pure fashionista” and Black is always your favourite colour, check out some of the new hybrid shapes and matte finishes that will turn a plain black frame into an interesting accessory like a fun piece of jewellery.

But, before you go for just plain black frames, remember a pop of colour can be a mood booster. When Dana Sacco, Licensed Optician was styling Audra Leslie President, Graymatter Marketing, Audra was hesitant to introduce colour into her eyewear. Dana’s advice?. “A colourful frame can have the same effect as lipstick, giving you a little boost on a drab day!” This resonated with Audra and now she has her Classic polished black Tom Ford glasses and a rich espresso tortoise with bold red accents from Etnia Barcelona. Each look rounds out her wardrobe perfectly.

If you want an update but your style is classic and you want a more timeless look, embrace elements of a predominant trend.

When you think of round frames do you think Harry Potter or Diane Keaton? What does vintage mean to you? Marilyn Monroe or Tom Cruise? Consider your generation and consider the overall look you have created. Now reach for eyewear that has those clean classic lines. If its round, go for a traditional black plastic frame. If it’s vintage meets 80's revival, a Ray Ban might be in order. Dana’s advice: “ Don’t just re-do what you have, it looks dated! Update your look with a nod to the trend with a fresh approach to classic style! Even the classic tortoise shell frames have had an injection of 2019 style with so many shades of tortoise to choose from even pink tortoise and tortoise with a subtle splash of cobalt blue.

Use technology to your advantage

The fantastic thing is that technology as simple as the camera on a smartphone can let you experiment with all the different looks almost as quickly as selecting a Snapchat filter.

If you still aren’t sure what frames to choose this year, remember that a great optician knows style. Dana is known for her direct approach, “I’m always honest with my patients. If I don’t like a frame on them I will tell them.” Opticians study fashion, they learn so much from their industry partners. Tap into their expertise!

Frames aren’t the only important thing to consider in 2019, for the down-low on high-quality lenses, you can read our expert information here.

GET ON TREND WITH THE PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR

Christine's Frame of the Month (January 2018 - December 2018)

EYEWEAR TRENDS FOR 2019 – WHAT STYLE WILL YOU CHOOSE?