All eyes on you

Your glasses can be as important an accessory as any addition to your wardrobe. They can make a statement or simply add sparkle to your outfit.

"They are such an accessory," said Ange Roth of Epic Optical. "They're on your face, so what better way to make a statement."

Just as with any fashion, eyewear styles change from year to year.

What's out?

Metal frames, unless they are combined with plastic. Think gray metal with gray plastic temples or gold metal with green plastic temples. Again, it's all about color.

What's new?

Everything old is new again. For men, it's the retro look from the 1960s and '70s: plastic frames, chunky rounds in tortoise shell or horn-rims in bold black.

For women, it's all about color. Purples and pinks are big. Retro is also back with cat-eye. "Anything large and angular with bright colors," Ms. Roth said.

Glasses, Ms. Roth said, become part of the person, so there's no better way to change your image. "They're all about how you see and how people see you," Ms. Roth added.

Style: NDG-1

Maker: Oliver Peoples

Description: Classic styling with retro flair, the color storm offers an appealing, updated look that goes from the office to the ballfield. Made with beta-titanium and zyl (Italian acetate).

Price: $360.

Style: Color 101

Maker: Robert Marc

Description: These are hand-crafted with high-quality materials such as zyl (Italian acetate) and titanium. The frames have a cotton, rather than petroleum, base. Tortoise-shell and green show the mix of colors possible on the fall season's frames.

Price: $515

Style: Vue 3

Maker: Sama

Description: Small frames carry a modern, sleek design. Made of pure titanium, they offer the wearer a minimalist look with a hint of color and a view of style and function.

Price: $420.

Style: Aba

Maker: Lafont

Description: These unisex acetate frames are part of the Re-edition line. They're made in France where tradition meets technology. Notice the retro look. Think it goes back to the 1970s? Try again. The style hit the eyeglass runway in the 18th century. Various tortoise styles are available.

Price: $390.

Style: Gal

Maker: Eyeworks

Description: "For women, it's all about color," said Ange Roth. This fun, modern frame says it all in purple and pink in the retro cats-eye shape.

Price: $210.