From John Lennon to Iris Apfel and Andy Warhol, some of the world’s most iconic dressers have long understood the value of a great pair of glasses. They're among the most important — and distinctive — accessories a person can wear. And yet they are often left out when it comes to conversations about personal style, while shoes and handbags get all the air time.

‘I think about glasses the same way I think about earrings or hats — they’re a brilliant finishing detail,’ explains Edinburgh-based influencer Louisa Hatt. ‘Not only do they help showcase your personality, but they’ve been particularly great over the past couple of years with so many virtual meetings. They're the perfect way to express my sense of style when people can only see me from the shoulders up.’

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Rosaline Shahnavaz
This is an image
Rosaline Shahnavaz
‘My style can be quite minimal, so accessories are really important’

Here, for ELLE, Hatt has been trying out pieces from Vivienne Westwood’s latest eyewear collection, created exclusively with Specsavers. Spanning optical frames and sunglasses, the new range calls on classic motifs and prints from the Vivienne Westwood archives, including tartan, hand-painted graffiti graphics, and delicate Rococo-inspired detailing.

For Hatt, the range is a perfect fit. She prefers a less-is-more approach to her wardrobe, with a focus on timeless pieces such as ribbed vests, white T-shirts, crisp men’s shirting, and retro blazers, so accessories are really important. ‘Most days I’ll start with a black or beige tailored trouser and build the outfit out from there,’ she says. ‘I’ll often add a white vest, then chunky boots or a flat sandal. Then it’s time to accessorise – whether it's glasses or jewellery or headbands, accessorising is a fun way to make simple outfits feel a bit different.’

‘When you look at these frames, straight away you think “That’s a Vivienne Westwood piece”,’ says Hatt. She is drawn to an oversized shape with the iconic Westwood tartan printed on the frame, as well as the ‘VW 05’ prescription frames, a rounded-off geometric shape that she describes as ‘really wearable while still being incredibly chic.’

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Rosaline Shahnavaz
‘For me, fashion is a form of self expression’

Hatt wears the collection with pieces from her existing wardrobe, including a fitted bold green midi dress, and a voluminous white cotton dress by cult New York brand Khaite. ‘What I really tried to do was balance minimalism with a touch of boldness, so for styles that had a print on the frame, I’d opt for a simple, monochrome outfit to let the glasses do the talking,’ she explains. Each piece is designed to showcase the wearer’s personality and tap into their rebellious side, a staple ethos of the Vivienne Westwood brand. The designer famously quipped that she ‘can’t think without her glasses’ and has long included eyewear in her fabulous, irreverent runway collections. The only thing surprising about Westwood’s decision to collaborate on a capsule eyewear collection is that it’s taken this long.

Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Tartan Glasses
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Tartan Glasses
Shop at specsavers.co.uk
Credit: Specsavers
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Rose Gold Glasses
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Rose Gold Glasses
Credit: Specsavers
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Tortoiseshell Glasses
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Tortoiseshell Glasses
Credit: Specsavers
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Square Glasses
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Square Glasses
Credit: Specsavers
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Round Eye Sunglasses
Vivienne Westwood at Specsavers Round Eye Sunglasses
Credit: Specsavers
This is an image
Rosaline Shahnavaz

Hatt’s career as an influencer started on a whim. She began taking pictures of her outfits purely for her own personal use, to get a sense of which pieces she was wearing repeatedly and which ones she wasn’t. Over time, she began honing her daily uniform, donating unworn pieces to charity shops in a bid to promote a more circular approach to fashion (a passion she shares with Westwood, a lifelong sustainability champion who uses recycled plastics in the new Specsavers range.) She began to post the pictures on Instagram and amassed a loyal following who liked her classics-first ethos.

‘The greatest piece of advice I can give anyone is that comfort is key’

‘For me, fashion is a form of self expression,’ Hatt says. ‘I love putting looks together and the way an outfit can transform the way I feel as well as the way I look.’ Many of her followers reach out with questions about how to master a sense of personal style, a topic Hatt can wax lyrical about. First and foremost, she says, you need to feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. ‘The greatest piece of advice I can give anyone is that comfort is key. If you feel good, you look good. It boosts your confidence, you stand taller, you look great.’

This is an image
Rosaline Shahnavaz
This is an image
Rosaline Shahnavaz

Building a strong wardrobe of staples you’ll reach for again and again is another key piece of advice. ‘Start by focusing on the basics. Invest in tailored trousers, a structured blazer, a simple white vest... these form the foundation of lots of brilliant looks.’ Finally, she abides by the fashion failsafe that you should always include a great finishing detail, whether it’s a pop of bright colour via your favourite red lipstick, a great earring, or a pair of statement-making glasses. ‘It's an instant confidence boost.’

View the exclusive Vivienne Westwood frame range at Specsavers. Frames are £149 and available as part of Specsavers’ famous 2-for-1 offer on single-vision lenses for the same prescription. See further details below.

Terms and conditions: Cannot be used with any other offer. Second pair from the same price range or below. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single-vision lenses (or 1.6 for £169 rimless ranges). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses of first pair only. Excludes SuperDigital, SuperDrive varifocals, SuperReaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge for extra options.