Jason Ng of Cassius Eyewear on Getting Bespectacled

Designers say fashion repeats itself every 20 years, rendering itself en vogue once more. A mere glance at the catwalks will prove this theory to be true: shoulder pads are back, the perm is being re-debated, and neon is the new black. Another trend sweeping across the fashion shows -- and the faces of anyone who is anyone in the modish crowds -- is glasses. Whether they be tinted or clear, if your face isn’t framed then you’re not a picture worth looking at. Jason Ng, founder and creative director of Cassius Eyewear, unveils the secret to finding the perfect pair of specs.

('’)

What makes eyewear so important?
It’s not just a practical and functional purpose; it’s been elevated to very much a cult and fashion statement in the 20th century.

What is your opinion on eyewear becoming the ultimate fashion accessory?
In the early 1900s, the use of sunglasses became widespread among the pioneering stars of silent movies. It was commonly believed that this was to avoid recognition by fans, hence the “cool” factor often associated with eyewear, but the real reason was they often had perennial red eyes from the powerful arc lamps used in slow-speed film stocks. The celebrity status remains true today, with stars rarely seen without eyewear fueling our fascination with glasses.

How can a pair of glasses compliment a face?
In general, the frame size should be in proportion to face size. For a diamond-shaped face, rimless frames or soft ovals minimize the width of the temples and highlight the eyes. Widen and shorten oblong faces with frames that don’t extend beyond the widest part of the face. Decorative temples also add width to a long face. Almost any frame will complement an oval-shaped face, so they’re lucky. Typically a geometric-shaped frame (rectangular) makes a round face appear longer and sharpens features. Reduce sharp angles of a square face by choosing soft, curvy frames, such as cat-eyes or ovals. Soften a narrow jawbone on a triangle face by accentuating the eyes with frames that angle out at the top corners or styles with rimless bottoms.

What color frames best suit certain skin complexions?
All complexions fall into one of two color bases—blue (cool) or yellow (warm). A cool complexion has blue or pink undertones, and a warm complexion has a yellow cast. Hair colors are also considered warm or cool; strawberry blonde, platinum, blue-black, and white are cool. Warm hair colors include golden blonde, flat black, brown-gold, and auburn. Frame colors for warm colorings are camel, khaki, gold, copper, peach, orange, coral, off-white, fire-engine red, warm blue, and blonde tortoise. For cool, the best hues are black, rose-brown, blue-gray, plum, magenta, pink, jade, blue, and dark tortoise.

What are the rules when it comes to buying glasses?
The frame should follow your eyebrow closely. Your pupil should be in the center of the frame. The frame should feel comfortable without pulling or pinching your face.

Vera Wang once said: “To me, eyewear goes way beyond being a prescription.” What are your thoughts?
I’ve a lot of respect for Vera Wang and the brand name she has carved out for herself. I totally agree with her sentiments. I only hope that Cassius Eyewear achieves the type of global recognition associated with eyewear as Vera Wang has with lifestyle.