BY JODY JOHNSON

Metal, the classics and retro.

We’re not talking music, but rather what’s hot for eyewear this fall season.

“Metals are starting to see a resurgence as consumers look for a change from the acetate frames that they have been wearing for the last couple of years,” says Beverly Suliteanu, vice-president of product development at WestGroupe.

WestGroupe’s frames that feature a combination of materials are enjoying a surge in popularity.

Metal inlays, bridges and accents are all ways to make acetate frames more interesting. The infinite applications of metal make it the perfect material to complement the ever-changing spirit of the fashion world.

The titanium Evatik E-9128 frames are hot this season. They boast screwless hinges for smooth temple movement and beta titanium temples to ensure all-day comfort. Laser-etched temple stripes combined with two-tone colouring add a sporty vibe to an otherwise clean design.

“Sleek and sophisticated are two words to describe Evatik model E-9128,” says Suliteanu.

Slimmer and defined frames are also back in style.

“Chunky plastics are being replaced with a more refined look, while still maintaining a retro or vintage vibe,” says Suliteanu. “The key shapes for women range from new angular shapes to softly rounded and cat-eye. Popular men’s shapes include round, P3 and rectangular.”

WestGroupe’s KLiiK Denmark K-560 frame is a handmade acetate frame with an updated retro look. The riveted hinges, metallic end caps and exposed circular pins on the temples create the classic look and feel of this frame. It is embellished with a pretty press pattern along the top and the sides of the eye shape for added depth and texture.

Suliteanu says top trending colours for this season include pastel hues, neutrals and bold blues as well as greens and reds for both men and women.

Metallics such as gold, copper, rose gold and silver are also trending as metal frames increase in popularity.

To help fill an industry need, Tura Inc. has added women’s titanium designs to its collection.

“We have the ability to produce stylish titanium designs that are comfortable, hypoallergenic and all in keeping with the Tura brand DNA — high-quality frames for today’s fashionable woman,” says Tura’s brand manager Julie Allen.

The Tura R124 frames feature a classic, modified rectangular lens shape with a pierced open rectangular design on the temples, which provides comfort by perfectly combining its lightweight character and fashion with the jewelry link temple design. It comes in burgundy, gold and navy.

For men, Tura Inc. is expanding its Geoffrey Beene XL eyewear collection. Fitting patients with a wider head is easier than ever. Frames in this collection are far from bulky and special attention is paid to the head fit and overall quality of the frame.

Style G430 has a flat metal sheet construction with wire backing, thus giving this frame a modern look. The high-quality stainless steel material and thin profile provides the wearer with a lightweight frame and comfortable fit.

This season’s new generation of eyewear at Luxottica is distinguished by a single element: metal. Be it ultra-fine, featherweight titanium, classic golden rims or futuristic laser-cut aluminum, metal bends to the shape of visual identities, merging effortlessly with other materials.

The Ray-Ban RX7097 is a modern design which raises the bar by introducing a fine metal double bridge on an optical style for the first time ever. Thin nylon profiles in trendy transparent tones of grey, fuchsia, turquoise, black, brown and havana, are coupled with a super fine metal double bridge in bronze or golden metal for a unisex appeal and easy-to-fit contemporary style.

Shape is key for the upcoming autumn/winter 2016 trends at Zyloware Eyewear.

“Whether it is super thin metals or plastic materials, thinner, lightweight frames are offering quite the contrast to the heavy, chunky styling of past seasons,” says Nikki Maglione, Zyloware’s product development manager.

“You still see the prominence of the cat eye with new modified versions of this feminine, feline shape,” according to Maglione.

Round and square shapes also continue to be found in men’s and women’s collections.

“You can see these trends in the Leon Max and Randy Jackson collections. Oversized squares that first emerged off the runways are a key look in classic shades of black, tortoise and amber shades,” says Maglione.

The Zyloware Leon Max collection recently introduced a variety of pastel colors that have been extremely popular – specifically styles 4029, 4030, 4031 and 4032.

For the fashion-forward male, Maglione says Zyloware has had a positive response towards the Randy Jackson Limited Edition styles, such as the X120, X121, X122 and X123. Each style is unique and the non-traditional shapes and colour combinations have been a huge hit.