Common wisdom dictates that style and practicality don’t always go hand in hand. It’s why we have handbags so micro that they barely fit your keys, and towering stiletto heels that you’ll suffer for because they’re so damn fabulous. But Vivienne Westwood — the enduring punk icon of high fashion — has always embraced a view of fashion that is rooted in everyday life. “Fashion is life-enhancing,” the designer once said, an encapsulation of her ethos that the things we wear can change the way we experience the world.
Specsavers
It’s no surprise then that the brand set about creating a line of eyewear that marries pragmatism with contemporary style. Cue: the Vivienne Westwood eyewear collection exclusively at Specsavers. Taking inspiration from iconic Westwood motifs — including the signature red and blue tartan, as well as its signature orb logo — the Vivienne Westwood collection, exclusively at Specsavers, consists of 13 optical frames and three sunglasses. Pieces are made with Westwood’s well-established commitment to sustainability in mind, with each frame partially made from Eastman Acetate Renew, a cutting-edge material made of recycled single-use plastic and bio-based materials.
A longtime fan of vintage silhouettes, I was immediately drawn to a rose-gold wire frameWhen I was given the opportunity to road test the new collection for a week, it quickly became clear that Westwood’s signature sense of punk-cool irreverence seamlessly translates into the world of eyewear. A longtime fan of vintage silhouettes, I was immediately drawn to a rose-gold wire frame, which was finished with tortoiseshell acetate tips. Worn on the morning-coffee run for the best part of a week, I racked up no fewer than four separate compliments from strangers, and resolved to begin wearing my glasses more often.
Grace O'Neill
Grace O'Neill
On the sunglasses front, I couldn’t get past these shades, finished with rococo-inspired metal frames and a chic pink perspex detail. Taking the shape of a delicate, angular cat eye, these frames complement almost every item in my wardrobe. On (not quite warm enough) spring-morning strolls through west London, they added a touch of old-world glamour to my trusted vintage Levi’s jeans and oversized sweater trans-seasonal uniform.
Westwood tapped brand favourites Freddie Finch and Maria Keidj to model the collaboration, styled with pieces from Westwood’s spring/summer 2022 collection, which saw iconic prints and silhouettes from her 1990s archive repurposed in a move that was in keeping with the designer’s revolutionary, sustainability-first approach. It was also a testament to the enduring relevance of Westwood’s vision. Corsets, dresses and accessories crafted in the 1980s and 1990s are still cult favourites with the likes of Bella Hadid and Kim Kardashian, proving that some designers are so cool, they simply never go out of style.
View the exclusive Vivienne Westwood frame range. 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.
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