“Retro-inspired silhouettes continue to trend strongly with Boomers, including softened cat-eyes for women and wayfarer shapes for men,” said Ken Weissman, President of Modern Optical. “As for colours, they gravitate toward the youthful effects of deeper, earthy hues. Updated tortoise patterns paired with lighter neutrals are also popular.” He notes while Boomers are fashion-conscious, they place an equal, if not greater importance on comfort. For that reason, he says lightweight materials such as titanium and TR90 are a bonus; however, proper fit is a must. As faces come in all shapes and sizes, extra care is now being taken to
find eyewear that fits securely on the face, particularly for Boomers with a more active lifestyle. “To optimize their vision, Boomers must balance style with practicality when choosing their eyewear. Deeper eye shapes are necessary to accommodate progressive lenses while lightweight materials provide added comfort,” said Weissman. “In addition, eyewear sized specifically for segmented markets such as fuller or petite faces ensures proper fit and therefore greater comfort. Here at Modern Optical, our BMEC Collection, designed for larger men, has seen remarkable growth since its debut five years ago. In addition, our Genevieve Boutique Collection,
designed for teen and petite women also does very well.” Modern Boomers have incredibly active lifestyles, rivalling those of individuals far younger than themselves. As a result, many Boomers require several pieces of eyewear to accommodate a multipair lifestyle. “Boomers are the population most likely to own multiple pairs of glasses because they tend to understand the practical benefits. Whether it’s for computer use, driving, eveningwear, outdoor activity, or just a spare pair, their active lifestyles create different needs. ECPs who offer a variety of affordable frame options will benefit most from this trend,” said Weissman.
Top: Big Result (matte brown/ gunmetal), BMEC Collection. Middle: A341 (tortoise/ blue), Modern Art Collectio. Bottom: GVX536 (blue/tortoise), GVX Collection.
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OPTICAL PRISM | SEPTEMBER 2013