2018 Guide to Stylish Eyeglasses

These dual-color glasses are darker on top, fading to a lighter color on the bottom, or the top bar is acetate and the bottom metal. In both cases, the focus is on the upper frame. For those of us with thin or sparse brows, the effect is like instant brow makeup with an illusionary eye lift thrown in — below-the-eyes circles and puffiness don't even get a glance. Stick to eyeliner-like black or brown, like Salma Hayek or Allison Janney, in styles such as Warby Parker Laurel in Tea Rose Fade ($95, warbyparker.com) or the Shuron Ronsir Zyl ($117, framesdirect.com).

Andy Warhol made round, clear plastic glasses rad, but we make them elegant. Think of see-through glasses as a chic alternative to traditional rimless glasses. They offer similar "invisibility" for a look-at-me-not-my-glasses effect, but the translucence is undeniably funky, not frumpy. Check out those on Oprah Winfrey, Annette Bening and Katie Couric, and get a similar update from hybrid vintage/modern frames such as Joseph Marc 4143 Norton in Crystal ($95, coastal.com) or Derek Cardigan 7033 in Ice ($95, coastal.com). Choose transparent frames with a barely there tint of blush or yellow to add extra warmth and brightness to your skin, such as Warby Parker Louise in Elderflower Crystal ($95, warbyparker.com) or Warby Parker Chelsea in Grapefruit Soda ($95, warbyparker.com).

Skinnier frames leave the strong definitive outline intact but get a boost from details such as the slightly extended temples on the glasses of Blythe Danner and Sally Field. It's just like extending your eyeliner for a bigger, more emphatic eye. Black always has a rock 'n' roll hipster message, but take it up a notch with skinny Ray-Ban RX7046 in Matte Black ($140, glasses.com) or Warby Parker Tansley in Jet Black ($145, warbyparker.com). Look for tortoiseshell with more yellow, red, orange or pink in the mix such asMichael Kors Ylliana in Pink Tortoise ($179, glasses.com) or Eyebobs Case Closed Rx (from $199, eyebobs.com). All of these glasses have a look that says edgy, formal and sophisticated at the same time.

For many of us, LASIK surgery or contacts are not an option. So why not make the most of wearing glasses and choose ones that feature a flattering or favorite hue, such as Swarovski SK5163 (Fancy) in Shiny Blue or Shiny Violet ($123, framesdirect.com) or Marc Jacobs Marc 227 in Lilac ($99, framesdirect.com)? Colorful frames are also mainstream favorites of news anchors, TV hosts, journalists, actors and politicians who like the subtle boost of navy blue, red or green on screen. Keep it tonal like Gayle King, or work your frames as an accent or signature style like legendary TV talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael did — and still does at 82 — with her red glasses

Over-the-top eyeglasses make a spectacle in a good way — they are the equivalent of showing up in a silver metallic biker jacket, a leather dress or over-the-knee boots. The newest look is huge bold glasses like the marbleized ones chosen by Oprah Winfrey and Lesley Stahl, or the matte nude pink frames on Julianne Moore. More discreet are black frames with pastel lenses see-through or mirrored, like Bette Midler's cat's eyes. How about just opting for riveting readers like Eyebobs TV Party Readers in 24, green and red tortoise ($89, eyebobs.com) or the Quincy in Olive Green/Tortoise Fade ($18.95, readers.com) to make eye contact a sure thing?