Hall of Frame: Glasses with bold and distinctive frames are the new corporate accessory

In the new workplace wardrobe, the tie is vanishing—that flash of colour that could showcase your mood, your hobbies and, on a Friday, even the cartoon character you liked. So what takes its place? Socks are good, but only a sliver is visible; watches are expected but tend to signal status rather than personality; and jewellery can feel fussy.

Enter the once-discreet frames. If eyes are the windows to the soul, frames are the curtains—and the latest workplace ones are anything but beige.

“Glasses with bold and distinctive frames have firmly established themselves as the ultimate professional power accessory, emerging as a form of self-expression for mature professionals who traditionally relied on luxury watches, silk ties, or fine jewellery,” says Amarbir Singh, India head, Kering Eyewear.

Retailers are happy about the shift.

“Frames are worn throughout the day and are far more visible, making it a natural medium for personal expression,” says Sarvash Kalra, director, Dayal Opticals. He adds that professionals in their late 30s to 50s now approach frames with the same intent once reserved for a fine watch. “The frames are reflective of personal taste, while still operating within a largely restrained overall look.”

Once rimless and barely-there frames were the workplace uniform. Not anymore. Eyewear in 2026 is all about considered impact—stronger shapes, refined colours and a sharper take on familiar classics. Styles that do well include sculptural acetate with thick carved frames and structured metal frames with angular bridges and squared lenses. While quiet neutrals such as champagne, caramel and smoke keep frames understated, there has been a shift toward green, navy, oxblood and burgundy.

Ronak Sheth, founder of Opium Eyewear, says professionals are ditching the discreet look in favour of frames with attitude. “Customers are looking for brighter colours, stronger silhouettes and more distinctive frames, rather than defaulting to simple, understated styles. Even when they aren’t opting for colour, there is a definite preference for thicker, more substantial acetate frames that make a statement,” he says.

SPECS APPEAL

At GKB Opticals, customers over 35 years account for about 70% of clientele. “And the 35+ customer is fashion-savvy and not afraid to go beyond traditional colours like black and brown, and rimless eyewear,” says Priyanka Gupta, director, GKB Opticals. “They are no longer seeking frames appropriate to their age but frames that reflect their personalities and lifestyles.”

Dayal Opticals is seeing a similar shift. “Older consumers are becoming more experimental. Customers who bought safe, understated frames are now exploring colours, textures and new silhouettes,” says Kalra. “They are no longer buying purely for utility; they are engaging with eyewear as a style decision, which marks a clear departure from past behaviour.”

The change, says Sheth, is not about older consumers trying to look younger; they are just dropping the idea that certain styles belong to certain age groups. “The distinction between what is considered ‘young’ and ‘old’ eyewear is becoming less rigid,” he says.

Perhaps the biggest change is not just what frames people are buying, but how many they are buying.

“Consumers are using different frames for different occasions, times of day and moods,” says Sheth. “There is a growing feeling that you don’t need one pair of glasses to do everything.”

EYE CANDY

That is turning eyewear into something closer to a wardrobe than a prescription purchase. “Consumers are building an eyewear wardrobe that works across different aspects of their lifestyle,” says Emma Lithander, head of merchandising, John Jacobs. “Refined shapes, a modern design language, bolder silhouettes and unexpected colours allow consumers to express their style while maintaining a polished, versatile look.”

The biggest indicator of this is multiple purchases. When eyewear was viewed primarily as a functional product, people looked for one pair that worked for everything. Today, customers are buying different frames for different outfits and occasions.

Dayal Opticals is seeing the same pattern. “There is a rise in multi-pair ownership, customers buying separate frames for work, weekends and even seasonal rotation,” says Kalra. “This behaviour is a clear indicator that eyewear has moved beyond function to become an integral part of one’s fashion vocabulary.”

Gupta of GKB Opticals agrees. “A sign that people view eyewear as a fashion accessory is that many own multiple pairs of eyeglasses, with one being conservative enough for office, while the other serves a more stylish purpose,” she says.

What changed? For one, the office itself. The post-pandemic workplace is less rigid about personal expression, while social media has made eyewear trends considerably harder to ignore.

Kalra says, “Eyewear today operates in a far more visible and discussed space, largely driven by social media, which has made consumers more aware and open to experimentation in a category that was once approached conservatively.”

He also points to an unlikely catalyst: masks. “During the pandemic years of mask usage, attention was drawn to the upper half of the face. That heightened focus has persisted, leading many customers to approach eyewear as a more deliberate and expressive choice than before.”

Gupta attributes the shift to a combination of influences: “The development is due to social media, celebrities’ and influencers’ styles, changes in office environment and international fashion influences.” Perhaps the biggest change is psychological. “What matters most is that people view eyewear as an addition to their style.”

Singh puts it more bluntly: “Older consumers are adopting styles traditionally associated with younger shoppers, as no one wants to look old.” He says the trend is fuelled by “higher discretionary income, changing mindset on ageing and the influence of ‘silver influencers’.”

The result is a new kind of workplace accessory: You can keep it classic or you can let your frames do the talking.